[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 103 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SBA VETERANS' PROGRAMS ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 18, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the H.R. 2366, Small 
Business Administration (SBA) Veterans' Programs Act of 2007, an act to 
reauthorize and invest in the veterans entrepreneurial development 
programs of the Small Business Administration.
  As a Korean War veteran, I appreciate the sacrifices the brave men 
and women who defend our country make and how great a challenge it can 
be to return successfully to civilian life. I can relate to their 
struggle to obtain employment and start businesses after their service. 
I am supporting this act not only because it reminds me of the 
sacrifices of these veterans, but because legislation like this sends 
America a message that Congress believes in supporting and giving the 
necessary tools to our veterans to help them in their transition when 
they return from war. With this act, veterans will have the means and 
information to compete and participate in our economy. It is imperative 
that Congress let them know that we care about the sacrifices they have 
made and hardships that they have endured for this Nation.
  Further, this act will benefit healthy veterans, disabled veterans, 
military units, federal agencies and veterans organizations by 
providing them the information required through an advertising campaign 
to promote awareness and education of the services available at the 
centers. Providing knowledge through the use of technology-assisted 
online counseling and distance learning technology to overcome 
impediments that veterans and Armed Forces service members can face 
enables veterans to access vital information.
  Finally, it is up to Congress to do everything it can to ensure the 
most comprehensive service is given to all our service members. We will 
be taking one more step to accomplish that by supporting this act. We 
have the best military in the world. The best soldiers in the world. 
Let's have the best benefits for our soldiers. They deserve no less. 
Like General Douglas MacArthur said, ``the soldier who is called upon 
to offer his life for his country, is the noblest development of 
mankind.''

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