III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 575 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

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.