[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1772-E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FRANCHISING APPRECIATION DAY
______
HON. RICHARD H. BAKER
of louisiana
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome over 300 franchisee,
franchisor, and franchise supplier members of the International
Franchise Association who are visiting Washington on September 13 as
part of ``Franchise Appreciation Day,'' the IFA's annual fly-in to the
Nation's Capital.
As I am sure my colleagues are aware, the IFA is the world's oldest
and largest trade association representing the franchise community with
a membership roster that includes more than 1,000 franchisors, 8,000
franchisees and 400 suppliers.
Franchising is a driving force of our economy and generates $1.53
trillion in economic output and one-of-every-seven jobs in the Nation's
private-sector economy, according to a study conducted for the IFA
Educational Foundation by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The ``Economic Impact
of Franchised Businesses'' study found that there are more than 760,000
franchised small businesses in the U.S., generating more than 18
million jobs.
Those statistics are impressive enough on their own, but of
particular concern and interest to me is the initiative the
International Franchise Association has taken to help our veterans move
from their service in the armed forces into the world of franchise
ownership. Through the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative,
commonly known as ``VetFran,'' 360 veterans have been assisted in
purchasing their own franchise small business, and 120 more are in
various stages of negotiation.
VetFran was established by Don Dwyer, the late founder of The Dwyer
Group and an IFA leader, during Operation Desert Storm. It was re-
initiated following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The
program requires that participating franchisors offer veterans their
``best deal'' through discounts or other incentives that are determined
by each company,
[[Page E1773]]
and more than 150 franchise companies that are members of IFA
participate.
These businesses provide a great public service to our veterans and
our communities, and I would like their names to be officially entered
into the Congressional Record so that their good work may be officially
recognized. I also would like the Record to include a list of the
businesses started in 45 states.
It is inspiring to me to see these companies step up, put their
resources on the line and help our veterans. I think it is important to
note that these are not Federal dollars--these are private-sector
dollars, and I think this program is a model that should be followed
and supported by others.
I would also like to add that the good work of this program has been
recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, which recently
recognized IFA with a Support Sector Champion Award for expanding
business opportunities for veterans; the U.S. Small Business
Administration and the Veterans Corporation.
Those who know me know that I am no stranger to helping veterans, and
earlier this year, I introduced legislation that would ease the way for
more U.S. veterans to buy a franchised business.
The ``Veterans Self-Employment Act'' would establish a five-year
pilot program that would allow American service members, veterans,
national guardsmen, reservists, and qualified others to use some of
their Veterans Administration educational assistance to defray training
costs associated with obtaining a franchised small business.
Acquiring a franchise is a great way for people to gain the skills
they need to successfully open and operate a business, but it often
requires ``basic training'' in business education--customer service,
daily operations management, business computer systems, inventory
control, costing and pricing, and meeting regulatory obligations--as
well as specialized training for the goods, services, policies, and
practices of the individual franchise system.
The legislation I introduced is endorsed by the International
Franchise Association, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill
that would help to turn more proud veterans into proud business owners.
When franchise leaders and small business men and women visit us on
Franchise Appreciation Day, September 13, I have no doubt that my
colleagues will join me in making them feel welcome and discuss public-
policy issues that will help franchising to continue to boost the
nation's economy, and help our men and women who have fought so
valiantly to protect our freedoms. IFA Member Franchisors Participating
in the VetFran Program include:
1-800-DryClean, 1-800-Got-Junk, 2 Scoops Cafe, @Wireless,
@WORK Franchise, @WORK HelpingHands Services, @WORK Medical
Services, @WORK Personnel Services, A-Pro Services, Action
International, AeroWest Services, AIM Mail Centers, Aire Serv
Heating & Air Conditioning, All American Specialty
Restaurants, All Tune & Lube, Allegra Print & Imaging, Alta
Mere Window Tinting and Auto Alarms, American Leak Detection,
American Poolplayers Association, American Wholesale
Thermographers, AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service, Bark
Busters, Baskin-Robbins, Batteries Plus, Bevinco's, Big L's-
Friendly Computers, Big O Tires, Blimpie's Subs & Salads,
Brightscape Investment Centers, Camp Bow Wow, Candy Bouquet,
Cardsmart Retail Corporation, Cartridge World North America,
Carvel Corporation, Case Handyman Services, CGI
International, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Children's
Orchard, CHIP The Child I.D. Program of America, The Cleaning
Authority, CM IT Solutions, The Coffee Beanery, College
Nannies & Tutors, ComForcare Senior Services, Comfort
Keepers, Computer Renaissance, ComputerTots/Computer
Explorers, Concerto Networks, Cookies by Design/Cookie
Bouquet, Copy Club, Cottman Transmissions Systems, Coverall
Cleaning Concepts, Creative Colors International, Crestcom
International, Cruise Holidays, Cruise One, D'Angelo Sandwich
Shops, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Dunkin' Donuts, Edible
Arrangements, The Entrepreneur's Source, Expense Reduction
Analysts, Expense Reduction Consulting, Expetec Technology
Services, Express Personnel Services, ExxonMobil Corporation,
Fantastic Sam's, Fastframe USA, The Filta Group, Foodnet,
Foot Solutions, Furniture Medic, Geeks on Call, Glass
Doctor, Gold's Gym International, Gymboree Play & Music,
Handyman Matters Franchise Corp., Happy & Healthy
Products, Have Signs Will Travel, i9 Sports, Inspect-It
1st Franchising Corp., Island Ink-Jet Systems, Jet Black
International, Juice It Up Franchise Corp., KaBloom
Franchising Corp., Kitchen Tune-Up, Kwik Kopy Business
Centers, Labor Finders, Lawn Doctor, Learning Express
Toys, Leather Medic, Lentz USA Service Center, Liberty Tax
Service, Link Staffing Services, Maid Brigade, MaidPro,
Marble Slab Creamery, Marco's Pizza, Matco Tools, Maui
Wowi Smoothies, Meineke Car Care Centers, Merry Maids,
L.P., Milex, Tune-Up and Brakes, Molly Maid, Money Mailer,
Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Handyman, Mr. Rooter
Plumbing, Mr. Transmission, Multistate Transmissions,
Navis Pack & Ship Centers, Netspace, Open Works, Outdoor
Lighting Perspectives, Parcel Plus, The Philly Franchising
Company, Planet Beach Franchising Corp., Positive Changes
Hypnosis, PostalAnnex+, Postal Connections of America,
PostNet, Precision Tune Auto Care, Puroclean, Rainbow
Int'l Restoration and Cleaning, Ritter's Frozen Custard,
Safe Kids Cards, Sarah Adult Day Services, The Screen
Machine, SealMaster, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care,
ServiceMaster Clean, Siegel Capital, Snelling Personnel
Services, Sparkle Wash, Sport Clips, The Sports Section,
Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp., Sunbelt Business Brokers,
TeamLogic IT, Togo's Eatery, Travel Lines Express,
TruFoods, TurboHaul, Two Men And A Truck, The UPS Store,
Vanguard Cleaning Systems, Victory Lane Quick Oil Change,
Virginia Barbecue Franchise Co., Wild Bird Centers of
America, WineStyles, Wing Zone, Wireless Zone, World
Inspection Network, Zoup! Systems.
Franchised Businesses Established Through the VetFran
Program include:
Alabama: Birmingham: Meineke, Decatur: Vanguard Cleaning
Systems, Robertsdale: Merry Maids.
Alaska: Anchorage: American Poolplayers, MBE/UPS Store.
Arizona: Gilbert: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Lake Havasu:
MBE/UPS Store, Maricopa: World Inspection Network, Mesa:
Expetec, Peoria: Coffee Beanery, Phoenix: Foot Solutions,
Molly Maid, World Inspection Network, Scottsdale: PostNet,
Show Low: Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, Vail: KaBloom
Franchising Corp.
Arkansas: Little Rock: Cleaning Authority, Rogers: PostNet,
Siloam Springs: PostNet, Springdale: PostNet.
California: Anaheim: Navis Pack & Ship Centers, Angel Camp:
Mr. Rooter, Antelope: MBE/UPS Store, Auburn: PostalAnnex+,
Chula Vista: MBE/UPS Store, PostNet, Corte Madera: 1-800 Dry-
Clean, Crona: PostNet, Encinitas: Mr. Handyman, Fair Oaks:
PostNet, Fallbrook: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Granada Hills:
MBE/UPS Store, Hayward: PostNet, Hesperia: World Inspection
Network, Huntington Beach: MBE/UPS Store, Imperial: Rainbow
Int'l Restoration & Cleaning, La Habra: Cm IT Solutions,
Laguna Hills: MBE/UPS Store, Laguna Niguel: Mr. Handyman,
Lakeside: MBE/UPS Store, Los Angeles: 1-800-Got Junk,
Meineke, Morgan Hills: World Inspection Network, Mountain
View: Mr. Handyman, Newark: Cartridge World, Orange:
Express Personnel, Pacifica: Molly Maid, Pasadena: MBE/UPS
Store, San Diego: Concerto Network, PostalAnnex+, Santa
Ana: MBE/UPS Store, Suisun City: MBE/UPS Store, Upland:
World Inspection Network.
Colorado: Colorado Springs: Meineke, PostalAnnex+, Ranbor
Int'l Restoration & Cleaning, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care,
Denver: Meineke Car Care Centers, Fort Collins: Expetec,
Longmont: Mr. Electric, Loveland: MBE/UPS Store, Parker:
PostNet, Superior: MBE/UPS Store, Rainbow Int'l Restoration &
Cleaning.
Connecticut: Orange: MBE/UPS Store, Southbury: FastFrame
USA.
District of Columbia: Washington: Meineke Car Care Centers,
Safe Kids Card.
Florida: Apollo Beach: MBE/UPS Store, Charlotte: Mr.
Appliance, Groveland: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Inverness:
MBE/UPS Store, Jacksonville: Cleaning Authority, Mr.
Appliance, Melbourne: Creative Colors, Miami: MBE/UPS Store,
Naples: Coffee Beanery, Ocqla: Lentz USA Service Centers,
Orlando: Matco Tools, Meineke Car Care Centers, Vanguard
Cleaning Systems, Pompano Beach: MBE/UPS Store, Santa Rosa
Beach: MBE/UPS Store, St. Charlotte: Glass Doctor, St.
Petersburg: Express Personnel, Tampa: Geeks on Call,
Titusville: MBE/UPS Store.
Georgia: Athens: Merry Maids, Atlanta: Comfort Keepers,
Geeks on Call, Gold's Gym, MBE/UPS Store, Meinke Car Care
Centers, Carrollton: MBE/UPS Store, Dacula: FastFrame USA,
Dallas: MBE/UPS Store, Douglasville: Mr. Appliance, Fairburn:
The Sports Section, Hiram: MBE/UPS Store, Savannah: MBE/UPS
Store, Woodstock: MBE/UPS Store.
Hawaii: Lihue: MBE/UPS Store.
Idaho: Boise: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Mr. Appliance.
Illinois: Cary: Sport Clips, Champaign/Urbana: Meineke Car
Care Centers, Chicago: Expetec; Meineke Car Care Centers,
Geneva: Navis Pack & Ship Centers, Homewood: Aire Serv
Heating & Air Conditioning, N. Aurora: Molly Maid, Ottawa:
MBE/UPS Store, Sycamore: Vanguard Cleaning Systems.
Indiana: Evansville: MBE/UPS Store, Indianapolis: Outdoor
Lighting Perspectives, Ritter's Frozen Custard, Merillville:
BE/UPS Store.
Iowa: Ankeny: MBE/UPS Store, Council Bluffs: MBE/UPS Store,
Pleasant Hill: World Inspection Network.
Kansas: Kansas City: 1-800-Got Junk, Navis Pack & Ship
Centers, Olathe: MBE/UPS Store.
Kentucky: Georgetown: MBE/UPS Store, Lexington: MBE/UPS
Store, Louisville: Sport Clips, Richmond: Comfort Keepers.
Louisiana: Hammond: Mr. Appliance, Kenner: DreamMaker Bath
& Kitchen.
Maryland: Baltimore: Meineke Car Care Centers, Edgewater:
MBE/UPS Store, Largo: Wireless Zone, Perry Hall: MBE/UPS
Store.
Massachusetts: Boston: FastFrame USA, Gold's Gym, East
Falmouth: MBE/UPS Store, Falmouth: Mr. Rooter, Rowley: MBE/
UPS Store.
Michigan: Berkley: Coffee Beanery, Clinton Township: MBE/
UPS Store, Mr. Handyman, Wayne: MBE/UPS Store.
Minnesota: Minneapolis: Two Men And A Truck, Ramsey:
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen.
[[Page E1774]]
Mississippi: Gulfport: American Poolplayers, Ridgeland:
FastFrame USA.
Missouri: Centralia: Mr. Appliance, Creve Coeur: MBE/UPS
Store, Eureka: MBE/UPS Store, Fenton: World Inspection
Network, Hattiesburg: Coffee Beanery, Independence: MBE/UPS
Store, Maplewood: Vanguard Cleaning Systems, Raytown: MBE/UPS
Store, St. Charles: MBE/UPS Store, St. Louis: Meineke Car
Care Centers.
Montana: Billings: Meineke Car Care Centers.
Nebraska: Omaha: World Inspection Network.
Nevada: Carson City: FastFrame USA, Mr. Appliance,
Henderson: World Inspection Network, Las Vegas: MBE/UPS
Store, Reno: PostNet, Sparks: PostNet.
New Hampshire: Manchester: Express Personnel.
New Jersey: Barnegat: Expetec, Bergenfield: Molly Maid,
Bloomfield: Merry Maids, Flemington: Mr. Electric, Highland
Park: MBE/UPS Store, Maplewood: Concerto Network, Middlesex/
Somerset: Meineke Car Care Centers, Oakridge: Coffee Beanery,
Toms River: Cleaning Authority, Trenton: Matco Tools,
Woolwich Twpk: PostalAnnex+.
New Mexico: Roswell: MBE/UPS Store, Santa Fe: Glass Doctor.
New York: Brooklyn: MBE/UPS Store, Great Neck: Molly Maid,
Macedon: Happy & Healthy Products, Seldon: MBE/UPS Store,
Staten Island: MBE/UPS Store, Syosset: MBE/UPS Store,
Williamsville: MBE/UPS Store.
North Carolina: Charlotte: Geeks on Call, Fayetteville:
Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, Greensboro: Molly Maid, Navis
Pack & Ship Centers, Raleigh: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, MBE/
UPS Store, Meineke Car Care Centers, Rocky Mount: Mr.
Appliance, Williamston: PostNet, Wilmington: Candy Bouquet.
North Dakota: Fargo/Moorehead: Meineke Car Care Centers.
Ohio: Ashland: MBE/UPS Store, Canton: Maid Brigade,
Cincinnati: i9 Sports, Columbus: FastFrame USA, Dayton:
AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service, Franklin: MBE/UPS Store,
Strongsville: FastFrame USA, Waterford: Mr. Rooter,
Westerville: PostNet.
Oklahoma: Tulsa MBE/UPS Store, Tutle: Mr. Handyman.
Oregon: Eugene: PostNet, Woodbum: PostNet.
Pennsylvania: Allentown: 1-800-Got Junk, Express Personnel,
Collegeville: Expetec, Hollidaysburg: Aire Serv Heating & Air
Conditioning, Lansdale: Sparkle Wash, Lebanon: Safe Kids
Card, Lower Burrell: Mr. Appliance, Palmyra: MBE/UPS Store,
Philadelphia: Geeks on Call, i9 Sports, Pittsburgh: Concerto
Network, MBE/UPS Store, Two Men and a Truck, Richboro: MBE/
UPS Store, State College: Express Personnel, York: Candy
Bouquet.
Rhode Island: Warwick: Expetec.
South Carolina: Beaufort: MBE/UPS Store, Charleston:
Concerto Network, Greenville: Cleaning Authority, Moncks
Comer: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Mount Pleasant: Safe Kids
Card, Ocean Isle: Mr. Appliance, Sumter: Comfort Keepers.
Tennessee: Chattanooga: Sport Clips, Germantown: FastFrame
USA, Jackson: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Nashville: Expetec,
Vanguard Cleaning Systems, World Inspection Network.
Texas: Amarillo: Mr. Electric, Bailey: Safe Kids Card,
Baytown: Express Personnel, Beaumont: MBE/UPS Store, Boerne:
Candy Bouquet, College Station: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen,
Mr. Electric, Cypress: MBE/UPS Store, Dallas: Meineke Car
Care Centers, Garland: MBE/UPS Store, Houston: KaBloom
Franchising, MBE/UPS Store, Ritter's Frozen Custard, Safe
Kids Card, Vanguard Cleaning Systems League City: MBE/UPS
Store, Mansfield: Safe Kids Card, Midland: MBE/UPS Store, New
Braunfels: Cartridge World, Round Rock: Mr. Electric, San
Antonio: MBE/UPS Store, Texarkana: MBE/UPS Store, The Colony:
Molly Maid, The Woodlands: PostNet, Victoria: Coffee Beanery,
Waco: Mr. Appliance.
Utah: Herriman: MBE/UPS Store, Riverton: PostalAnnex+, Salt
Lake City: Navis Pack & Ship Centers, Saratoga Springs:
PostNet.
Virginia: Bristow: PostNet, Chantilly: Expetec,
Charlottesville: Matco Tools, Sport Clips, Fredericksburg: 1-
800-Got Junk, New Castle: Glass Doctor, Portsmouth: MBE/UPS
Store, Roanoke: Precision Tune Auto Care, Rockingham: County
Meineke Car Care Centers, Virginia Beach: 1-800-Got Junk,
PostNet, Wireless Zone.
Washington: Burlington: MBE/UPS Store, Mills Creek: Comfort
Keepers, North Bend: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Spokane:
Molly Maid, Spokane Valley: MBE/UPS Store, Walla Walla:
American Poolplayers Association.
West Virginia: Huntington: Mr. Electric.
Wisconsin: Green Bay: i9 Sports, Milwaukee: 1-800-Got Junk,
Muskego: Expetec, Stevens Point: MBE/UPS Store, Superior:
MBE/UPS Store.
____________________