[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3564 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 392
117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3564

    To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business 
                    Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 2, 2022

  Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following 
   bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small 
                     Business and Entrepreneurship

                              May 25, 2022

               Reported by Mr. Cardin, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business 
                    Program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship 
Training Act of 2022''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Boots to Business Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term `covered individual' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, 
                including the National Guard or Reserves;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) an individual who is participating 
                in the Transition Assistance Program established under 
                section 1144 of title 10, United States Code;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) an individual who--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) served on active duty in any 
                        branch of the Armed Forces, including the 
                        National Guard or Reserves; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) was discharged or released 
                        from such service under conditions other than 
                        dishonorable; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) a spouse or dependent of an 
                individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or 
                (C).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Establishment.--Beginning on the first 
        October 1 after the date of enactment of this subsection and 
        for the subsequent 4 fiscal years, the Administrator shall 
        carry out a program to be known as the `Boots to Business 
        Program' to provide entrepreneurship training to covered 
        individuals.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business 
        Program are to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) provide assistance and in-depth 
                training to covered individuals interested in business 
                ownership; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) provide covered individuals with the 
                tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a 
                business opportunity, draft a business plan, identify 
                sources of capital, connect with local resources for 
                small business concerns, and start up a small business 
                concern.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Program components.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business 
                Program may include--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a presentation providing 
                        exposure to the considerations involved in 
                        self-employment and ownership of a small 
                        business concern;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) an online, self-study 
                        course focused on the basic skills of 
                        entrepreneurship, the language of business, and 
                        the considerations involved in self-employment 
                        and ownership of a small business 
                        concern;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) an in-person classroom 
                        instruction component providing an introduction 
                        to the foundations of self-employment and 
                        ownership of a small business concern; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) in-depth training delivered 
                        through online instruction, including an online 
                        course that leads to the creation of a business 
                        plan.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator 
                may--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) collaborate with public and 
                        private entities to develop course curricula 
                        for the Boots to Business Program; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) modify program components 
                        in coordination with entities participating in 
                        a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in 
                        section 738(e) of the National Defense 
                        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 
                        U.S.C. 1071 note).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Use of resource partners.--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The 
                        Administrator shall--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) ensure that Veteran 
                                Business Outreach Centers regularly 
                                participate, on a nationwide basis, in 
                                the Boots to Business Program; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to the maximum 
                                extent practicable, use a variety of 
                                other resource partners and entities in 
                                administering the Boots to Business 
                                Program.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Grant authority.--In 
                        carrying out clause (i), the Administrator may 
                        make grants to Veteran Business Outreach 
                        Centers, other resource partners, or other 
                        entities to carry out components of the Boots 
                        to Business Program.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Availability to department of 
                defense.--The Administrator shall make available to the 
                Secretary of Defense information regarding the Boots to 
                Business Program, including all course materials and 
                outreach materials related to the Boots to Business 
                Program, for inclusion on the website of the Department 
                of Defense relating to the Transition Assistance 
                Program, in the Transition Assistance Program manual, 
                and in other relevant materials available for 
                distribution from the Secretary of Defense.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Availability to veterans affairs.--
                In consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
                the Administrator shall make available for distribution 
                and display at local facilities of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs outreach materials regarding the Boots 
                to Business Program which shall, at a minimum--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) describe the Boots to 
                        Business Program and the services provided; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) include eligibility 
                        requirements for participating in the Boots to 
                        Business Program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this subsection and every year thereafter, 
        the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small 
        Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on 
        the performance and effectiveness of the Boots to Business 
        Program, which may be included as part of another report 
        submitted to such committees by the Administrator, and which 
        shall include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) information regarding grants awarded 
                under paragraph (4)(C);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the total cost of the Boots to 
                Business Program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the number of program participants 
                using each component of the Boots to Business 
                Program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) the completion rates for each 
                component of the Boots to Business Program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) to the extent possible--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the demographics of program 
                        participants, to include gender, age, race, 
                        relationship to military, military occupational 
                        specialty, and years of service of program 
                        participants;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the number of small 
                        business concerns formed or expanded with 
                        assistance under the Boots to Business 
                        Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the gross receipts of 
                        small business concerns receiving assistance 
                        under the Boots to Business Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) the number of jobs created 
                        with assistance under the Boots to Business 
                        Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) the number of referrals to 
                        other resources and programs of the 
                        Administration;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) the number of program 
                        participants receiving financial assistance 
                        under loan programs of the 
                        Administration;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) the type and dollar amount 
                        of financial assistance received by program 
                        participants under any loan program of the 
                        Administration; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) results of participant 
                        satisfaction surveys, including a summary of 
                        any comments received from program 
                        participants;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) an evaluation of the effectiveness 
                of the Boots to Business Program in each region of the 
                Administration during the most recent fiscal 
                year;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) an assessment of additional 
                performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business 
                Program, as identified by the Administrator;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) any recommendations of the 
                Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business 
                Program, which may include expansion of the types of 
                individuals who are covered individuals;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) an explanation of how the Boots to 
                Business Program has been integrated with other 
                transition programs and related resources of the 
                Administration and other Federal agencies; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) any additional information the 
                Administrator determines necessary.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship Training 
Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.

    Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Boots to Business Program.--
            ``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `covered individual' means--
                    ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the 
                National Guard or Reserves;
                    ``(B) an individual who is participating in the 
                Transition Assistance Program established under section 
                1144 of title 10, United States Code;
                    ``(C) an individual who--
                            ``(i) served on active duty in any branch 
                        of the Armed Forces, including the National 
                        Guard or Reserves; and
                            ``(ii) was discharged or released from such 
                        service under conditions other than 
                        dishonorable; and
                    ``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual 
                described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
            ``(2) Establishment.--During the period beginning on the 
        date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September 
        30, 2027, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be 
        known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide 
        entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.
            ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program 
        are to--
                    ``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to 
                covered individuals interested in business ownership; 
                and
                    ``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools, 
                skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business 
                opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of 
                capital, connect with local resources for small 
                business concerns, and start up a small business 
                concern.
            ``(4) Program components.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program 
                may include--
                            ``(i) a presentation providing exposure to 
                        the considerations involved in self-employment 
                        and ownership of a small business concern;
                            ``(ii) an online, self-study course focused 
                        on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the 
                        language of business, and the considerations 
                        involved in self-employment and ownership of a 
                        small business concern;
                            ``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction 
                        component providing an introduction to the 
                        foundations of self employment and ownership of 
                        a small business concern; and
                            ``(iv) in-depth training delivered through 
                        online instruction, including an online course 
                        that leads to the creation of a business plan.
                    ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
                            ``(i) collaborate with public and private 
                        entities to develop course curricula for the 
                        Boots to Business Program; and
                            ``(ii) modify program components in 
                        coordination with entities participating in a 
                        Warriors in Transition program, as defined in 
                        section 738(e) of the National Defense 
                        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 
                        U.S.C. 1071 note).
                    ``(C) Use of resource partners and district 
                offices.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) ensure that Veteran Business 
                                Outreach Centers regularly participate, 
                                on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to 
                                Business Program; and
                                    ``(II) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, use district offices of 
                                the Administration and a variety of 
                                other resource partners and entities in 
                                administering the Boots to Business 
                                Program.
                            ``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out 
                        clause (i), the Administrator may make grants 
                        to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other 
                        resource partners, or other entities to carry 
                        out components of the Boots to Business 
                        Program.
                    ``(D) Availability to department of defense and the 
                department of labor.--The Administrator shall make 
                available to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
                of Labor information regarding the Boots to Business 
                Program, including all course materials and outreach 
                materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for 
                inclusion on the websites of the Department of Defense 
                and the Department of Labor relating to the Transition 
                Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance 
                Program manual, and in other relevant materials 
                available for distribution from the Secretary of 
                Defense and the Secretary of Labor.
                    ``(E) Availability to department of veterans 
                affairs.--In consultation with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs, the Administrator shall make 
                available for distribution and display on the website 
                of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at local 
                facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
                outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business 
                Program, which shall, at a minimum--
                            ``(i) describe the Boots to Business 
                        Program and the services provided; and
                            ``(ii) include eligibility requirements for 
                        participating in the Boots to Business Program.
                    ``(F) Availability to other participating 
                agencies.--The Administrator shall ensure information 
                regarding the Boots to Business program, including all 
                course materials and outreach materials related to the 
                Boots to Business Program, is made available to other 
                participating agencies in the Transition Assistance 
                Program and upon request of other agencies.
            ``(5) Competitive bidding procedures.--The Administration 
        shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect 
        to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the 
        Administration under the Boots to Business Program.
            ``(6) Publication of notice of funding opportunity.--Not 
        later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting 
        applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to 
        Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice of 
        the funding opportunity.
            ``(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than 
        annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate 
        and the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness 
        of the Boots to Business Program, which--
                    ``(A) may be included as part of another report 
                submitted to such committees by the Administrator 
                related to the Office of Veterans Business Development; 
                and
                    ``(B) shall summarize available information 
                relating to--
                            ``(i) grants awarded under paragraph 
                        (4)(C);
                            ``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to 
                        Business Program;
                            ``(iii) the number of program participants 
                        using each component of the Boots to Business 
                        Program;
                            ``(iv) the completion rates for each 
                        component of the Boots to Business Program;
                            ``(v) to the extent possible--
                                    ``(I) the demographics of program 
                                participants, to include gender, age, 
                                race, ethnicity, and relationship to 
                                military;
                                    ``(II) the number of program 
                                participants that connect with a 
                                district office of the Administration, 
                                a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or 
                                another resource partner of the 
                                Administration;
                                    ``(III) the number of program 
                                participants that start a small 
                                business concern;
                                    ``(IV) the results of the Boots to 
                                Business and Boots to Business Reboot 
                                course quality surveys conducted by the 
                                Office of Veterans Business Development 
                                before and after attending each of 
                                those courses, including a summary of 
                                any comments received from program 
                                participants;
                                    ``(V) the results of the Boots to 
                                Business Program outcome surveys 
                                conducted by the Office of Veterans 
                                Business Development, including a 
                                summary of any comments received from 
                                program participants; and
                                    ``(VI) the results of other germane 
                                participant satisfaction surveys;
                    ``(C) an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of 
                the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic 
                region covered by the Administration during the most 
                recent fiscal year;
                    ``(D) an assessment of additional performance 
                outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as 
                identified by the Administrator;
                    ``(E) any recommendations of the Administrator for 
                improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may 
                include expansion of the types of individuals who are 
                covered individuals;
                    ``(F) an explanation of how the Boots to Business 
                Program has been integrated with other transition 
                programs and related resources of the Administration 
                and other Federal agencies; and
                    ``(G) any additional information the Administrator 
                determines necessary.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 392

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3564

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business 
                    Program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              May 25, 2022

                       Reported with an amendment