[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 575 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 575

    Expressing the support of the Senate for veteran entrepreneurs.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 22, 2008

  Mr. Stevens (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
Cochran, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Craig, and Ms. Snowe) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the support of the Senate for veteran entrepreneurs.

Whereas the veterans of the United States have been vital to the small business 
        enterprises of the United States;
Whereas the Nation should honor its veterans and in particular those veterans 
        with disabilities incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during 
        active service with the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas Congress passed the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business 
        Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-50; 113 Stat. 233) to assist 
        veterans interested in starting or expanding small businesses;
Whereas the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 
        required the President to establish a goal of awarding not less than 3 
        percent of the total value of all Federal prime contracts and 
        subcontracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses;
Whereas Congress approved the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-183; 
        117 Stat. 2651) to expand benefits for veterans;
Whereas the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 gave agency contracting officers the 
        authority to reserve certain procurement contracts for service-disabled 
        veteran-owned small businesses;
Whereas President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13360 (60 Fed. Reg. 
        62,549) in 2004, calling on Federal agencies to more effectively 
        implement the legislative changes to the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        631 et seq.) included in the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small 
        Business Development Act of 1999 and the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003;
Whereas, despite those Acts of Congress and the issuance of Executive Order 
        13360 by the President, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses 
        still struggle to receive a fair share of Federal contracts; and
Whereas Federal agencies have consistently fallen short of the statutory 
        contracting goal for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses set 
        by the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 
        1999: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the strong support of the United States for 
        its veterans and veteran entrepreneurs; and
            (2) calls on Federal agencies to work to improve Federal 
        contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned 
        small businesses.
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