[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 38 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 162
118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 38

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2023

  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

                             July 25, 2023

               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 2023''.</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.--During the period beginning 
        on the date of enactment of this subsection and ending on 
        September 30, 2028, 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 and 
                district offices.--</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 district 
                                offices of the Administration and 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 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.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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--</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>    ``(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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) shall summarize available 
                information relating to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) grants awarded under 
                        paragraph (4)(C);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the total cost of the Boots 
                        to Business Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the amount of program 
                        funds used for domestic and international 
                        travel expenses;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) the number of program 
                        participants using each component of the Boots 
                        to Business Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) the completion rates for 
                        each component of the Boots to Business 
                        Program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) to the extent possible--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) the demographics of 
                                program participants, to include 
                                gender, age, race, ethnicity, and 
                                relationship to military;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) the number of 
                                program participants that start a small 
                                business concern;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VI) the results of 
                                other germane participant satisfaction 
                                surveys;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) an assessment of additional 
                performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business 
                Program, as identified by the Administrator;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) any additional information the 
                Administrator determines necessary.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship Training 
Act of 2023''.

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, 2028, 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) an in-person and virtual, as 
                        applicable, 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 and virtual, as 
                        applicable, 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) Travel costs.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to the other 
                        provisions of this subparagraph, of the total 
                        amount of grant funding that a Veteran Business 
                        Outreach Center participating in the Boots to 
                        Business Program receives from the 
                        Administration, the center may not expend more 
                        than 35 percent of that funding on costs 
                        relating to international travel with respect 
                        to the Boots to Business Program.
                            ``(ii) Costs not included in cap.--Costs 
                        relating to the salaries of, or stipends for, 
                        instructors under the Boots to Business Program 
                        shall not be included for the purposes of the 
                        limitation under clause (i).
                            ``(iii) Petition.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--A Veteran 
                                Business Outreach Center may petition 
                                the Administrator for the center to 
                                expend additional funds beyond the 
                                limitation under clause (i) for the 
                                purposes described in that clause.
                                    ``(II) Notification requirement.--
                                If the Administrator grants any 
                                petition submitted under subclause (I), 
                                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 notification 
                                regarding that decision by the 
                                Administrator.
                    ``(C) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
                            ``(i) collaborate with public and private 
                        entities to develop course curricula for the 
                        Boots to Business Program;
                            ``(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); and
                            ``(iii) consult with Directors of Veteran 
                        Business Outreach Centers regarding the 
                        necessity of instructor international travel 
                        and the feasibility of incorporating virtual 
                        classroom components.
                    ``(D) 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.
                    ``(E) 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.
                    ``(F) 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.
                    ``(G) 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)(D);
                            ``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to 
                        Business Program;
                            ``(iii) the amount of program funds used 
                        for domestic and international travel expenses;
                            ``(iv) each domestic location and 
                        international location traveled to for Boots to 
                        Business program instruction;
                            ``(v) the number of program participants 
                        using each component of the Boots to Business 
                        Program;
                            ``(vi) the completion rates for each 
                        component of the Boots to Business Program; and
                            ``(vii) to the extent possible--
                                    ``(I) the demographics of program 
                                participants, to include gender, age, 
                                race, ethnicity, and relationship to 
                                the Armed Forces;
                                    ``(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. 162

118th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 38

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                             July 25, 2023

                       Reported with an amendment