[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H14218-H14223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MILITARY RESERVIST AND VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS REAUTHORIZATION AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2007
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 4253) to improve and expand small business assistance
programs for veterans of the armed forces and military reservists, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4253
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Military
Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and
Opportunity Act of 2007''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 101. Increased funding for the Office of Veterans Business
Development.
Sec. 102. Interagency task force.
Sec. 103. Permanent extension of SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans
Business Affairs.
Sec. 104. Office of Veterans Business Development.
Sec. 105. Increasing the number of outreach centers.
Sec. 106. Independent study on gaps in availability of outreach
centers.
TITLE II--NATIONAL RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Purpose.
Sec. 203. National Guard and Reserve business assistance.
Sec. 204. Veterans Assistance and Services program.
TITLE III--RESERVIST PROGRAMS
Sec. 301. Reservist programs.
Sec. 302. Reservist loans.
Sec. 303. Noncollateralized loans.
Sec. 304. Loan priority.
Sec. 305. Relief from time limitations for veteran-owned small
businesses.
Sec. 306. Service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 307. Study on options for promoting positive working relations
between employers and their Reserve Component employees.
Sec. 308. Increased Veteran Participation Program.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``activated'' means receiving an order placing
a Reservist on active duty;
(2) the term ``active duty'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;
(3) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean
the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
thereof, respectively;
(4) the term ``Reservist'' means a member of a reserve
component of the Armed Forces, as described in section 10101
of title 10, United States Code;
(5) the term ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' means
the Service Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section
8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1));
(6) the terms ``service-disabled veteran'' and ``small
business concern'' have the meaning as in section 3 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
(7) the term ``small business development center'' means a
small business development center described in section 21 of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648); and
(8) the term ``women's business center'' means a women's
business center described in section 29 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656).
TITLE I--VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 101. INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF VETERANS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Office of Veterans Business Development of the
Administration, to remain available until expended--
(1) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(2) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(b) Funding Offset.--Amounts necessary to carry out
subsection (a) shall be offset and made available through the
reduction of the authorization of funding under section
20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631
note).
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
any amounts provided pursuant to this section that are in
excess of amounts provided to the Administration for the
Office of Veterans Business Development in fiscal year 2007,
should be used to support Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
SEC. 102. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.
Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Interagency Task Force.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this subsection, the President shall
establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts
of Federal agencies necessary to increase capital and
business development opportunities for, and increase the
award of Federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities
to, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
disabled veterans and small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans (in this section referred to as the
`task force').
``(2) Membership.--The members of the task force shall
include--
``(A) the Administrator, who shall serve as chairperson of
the task force;
``(B) a senior level representative from--
``(i) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
``(ii) the Department of Defense;
``(iii) the Administration (in addition to the
Administrator);
``(iv) the Department of Labor;
``(v) the Department of the Treasury;
``(vi) the General Services Administration; and
``(vii) the Office of Management and Budget; and
``(C) 4 representatives from a veterans service
organization or military organization or association,
selected by the President.
``(3) Duties.--The task force shall coordinate
administrative and regulatory activities and develop
proposals relating to--
``(A) increasing capital access and capacity of small
business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by
veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;
``(B) increasing access to Federal contracting and
subcontracting for small business concerns owned and
controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business
concerns owned and controlled by veterans through expanded
mentor-protege assistance and matching such small business
concerns with contracting opportunities;
``(C) increasing the integrity of certifications of status
as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-
disabled veterans or a small business concern owned and
controlled by veterans;
``(D) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on
veterans in accessing business development and
entrepreneurship opportunities;
``(E) increasing and improving training and counseling
services provided to small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans; and
``(F) making other improvements relating to the support for
veterans business development by the Federal Government.
``(4) Reporting.--The task force shall submit an annual
report regarding its activities and proposals to--
``(A) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.''.
SEC. 103. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF SBA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
VETERANS BUSINESS AFFAIRS.
(a) Assumption of Duties.--Section 33 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 657c) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (h); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (i) through (k) as
subsections (h) through (j), respectively.
(b) Permanent Extension of Authority.--Section 203 of the
Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act
of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking
subsection (h).
SEC. 104. OFFICE OF VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b), as
amended by section 102, is further amended by inserting after
subsection (c) (as added by section 102) the following:
``(d) Participation in TAP Workshops.--
``(1) In general.--The Associate Administrator shall
increase veteran outreach by ensuring that Veteran Business
Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide
basis, in the workshops of the Transition Assistance Program
of the Department of Labor.
``(2) Presentations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), a
Center may provide grants to eligible entities located in
Transition Assistance Program locations to make presentations
on the opportunities available from the Administration for
recently separating veterans. Each such presentation must
include, at a minimum, the entrepreneurial and business
training resources available from the Administration.
``(3) Written materials.--The Associate Administrator of
Veterans Business Development shall create written materials
that provide comprehensive information on self-employment and
veterans entrepreneurship, including information on Small
Business Administration resources available for such topics,
and shall make these materials available for inclusion in the
Transition Assistance Program manual.
``(4) Reports.--The Associate Administrator shall submit to
Congress progress reports on the implementation of this
subsection.
``(e) Women Veterans Business Training Resource Program.--
The Associate Administrator shall establish a Women Veterans
[[Page H14219]]
Business Training Resource Program. The program shall--
``(1) compile information on resources available to women
veterans for business training, including resources for--
``(A) vocational and technical education;
``(B) general business skills, such as marketing and
accounting; and
``(C) business assistance programs targeted to women
veterans; and
``(2) disseminate the information through Veteran Business
Outreach Centers and women's business centers.''.
SEC. 105. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OUTREACH CENTERS.
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration
shall use the authority in section 8(b)(17) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(17)) to ensure that the number
of Veterans Business Outreach Centers throughout the United
States increases--
(1) by at least 2, for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009,
in accordance with funding provided in sections 101(a)(1) and
(a)(2) of this Act; and
(2) by the number that the Administrator considers
appropriate, based on existing need, for each fiscal year
thereafter.
SEC. 106. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON GAPS IN AVAILABILITY OF
OUTREACH CENTERS.
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration
shall sponsor an independent study on gaps in the
availability of Veterans Business Outreach Centers across the
United States. The purpose of the study shall be to identify
the gaps that do exist so as to inform decisions on funding
and on the allocation and coordination of resources. Not
later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on
the results of the study.
TITLE II--NATIONAL RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Reservist
Enterprise Transition and Sustainability Act of 2007''.
SEC. 202. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this title is to establish a program to--
(1) provide managerial, financial, planning, development,
technical, and regulatory assistance to small business
concerns owned and operated by Reservists;
(2) provide managerial, financial, planning, development,
technical, and regulatory assistance to the temporary heads
of small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists;
(3) create a partnership between the Small Business
Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department
of Veterans Affairs to assist small business concerns owned
and operated by Reservists;
(4) utilize the service delivery network of small business
development centers, women's business centers, Veterans
Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from
the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and
any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives
federal funding, to expand the access of small business
concerns owned and operated by Reservists to programs
providing business management, development, financial,
procurement, technical, regulatory, and marketing assistance;
(5) utilize the service delivery network of small business
development centers, women's business centers, Veterans
Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from
the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and
any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives
federal funding, to quickly respond to an activation of
Reservists that own and operate small business concerns; and
(6) utilize the service delivery network of small business
development centers, women's business centers, Veterans
Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from
the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and
any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives
federal funding, to assist Reservists that own and operate
small business concerns in preparing for future military
activations.
SEC. 203. NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 37 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as
section 38; and
(2) by inserting after section 36 the following:
``SEC. 37. RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND
SUSTAINABILITY.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a
program to provide business planning assistance to small
business concerns owned and operated by Reservists.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the terms `activated' and `activation' mean having
received an order placing a Reservists on active duty, as
defined by section 101(1) of title 10, United States Code;
``(2) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of
the Small Business Administration, acting through the
Associate Administrator for Small Business Development
Centers;
``(3) the term `Association' means the association
established under section 21(a)(3)(A);
``(4) the term `eligible applicant' means--
``(A) a small business development center that is
accredited under section 21(k);
``(B) a women's business center;
``(C) a Veterans Business Outreach Center that receives
funds from the Office of Veterans Business Development;
``(D) an information and assistance center receiving
funding from the National Veterans Business Development
Corporation under section 33; or
``(E) any other Veterans Business Assistance program which
receives federal funding;
``(5) the term `enterprise transition and sustainability
assistance' means assistance provided by an eligible
applicant to a small business concern owned and operated by a
Reservist, who has been activated or is likely to be
activated in the next 12 months, to develop and implement a
business strategy for the period while the owner is on active
duty and 6 months after the date of the return of the owner;
``(6) the term `Reservist' means any person who is--
``(A) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces,
as defined by section 10101 of title 10, United States Code;
and
``(B) on active status, as defined by section 101(d)(4) of
title 10, United States Code;
``(7) the term `small business development center' means a
small business development center as described in section 21
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648);
``(8) the term `State' means each of the several States of
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam;
and
``(9) the term `women's business center' means a women's
business center described in section 29 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656).
``(c) Authority.--The Administrator may award grants, in
accordance with the regulations developed under subsection
(d), to eligible applicants to assist small business concerns
owned and operated by Reservists by--
``(1) providing management, development, financing,
procurement, technical, regulatory, and marketing assistance;
``(2) providing access to information and resources,
including Federal and State business assistance programs;
``(3) distributing contact information provided by the
Department of Defense regarding activated Reservists to
corresponding State directors;
``(4) offering free, one-on-one, in-depth counseling
regarding management, development, financing, procurement,
regulations, and marketing;
``(5) assisting in developing a long-term plan for possible
future activation; and
``(6) providing enterprise transition and sustainability
assistance.
``(d) Other Federal Departments and Agencies.--The
Administrator shall make available informational materials
established by this section to other Federal departments and
agencies for their own internal programs.
``(e) Rulemaking.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with
the Association and after notice and an opportunity for
comment, shall promulgate regulations to carry out this
section.
``(2) Deadline.--The Administrator shall promulgate final
regulations not later than 180 days of the date of enactment
of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007.
``(3) Contents.--The regulations developed by the
Administrator under this subsection shall establish--
``(A) procedures for identifying, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, States that have had a recent
activation of Reservists;
``(B) priorities for the types of assistance to be provided
under the program authorized by this section;
``(C) standards relating to educational, technical, and
support services to be provided by a grantee;
``(D) standards relating to any national service delivery
and support function to be provided by a grantee;
``(E) standards relating to any work plan that the
Administrator may require a grantee to develop; and
``(F) standards relating to the educational, technical, and
professional competency of any expert or other assistance
provider to whom a small business concern may be referred for
assistance by a grantee.
``(f) Application.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible applicant desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the
Administrator at such time, in such manner, and accompanied
by such information as the Administrator may reasonably
require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall describe--
``(A) the activities for which the applicant seeks
assistance under this section; and
``(B) how the applicant plans to allocate funds within its
network.
``(g) Award of Grants.--
``(1) Deadline.--The Administrator shall award grants not
later than 60 days after the promulgation of final rules and
regulations under subsection (e).
``(2) Amount.--Each eligible applicant awarded a grant
under this section shall receive a grant in an amount not
greater than $300,000 per fiscal year.
``(h) Report.--
``(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall--
``(A) initiate an evaluation of the program not later than
30 months after the disbursement of the first grant under
this section; and
[[Page H14220]]
``(B) submit a report not later than 6 months after the
initiation of the evaluation under paragraph (1) to--
``(i) the Administrator;
``(ii) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
of the Senate; and
``(iii) the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives.
``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) address the results of the evaluation conducted under
paragraph (1); and
``(B) recommend changes to law, if any, that it believes
would be necessary or advisable to achieve the goals of this
section.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section--
``(A) $5,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after
the date of enactment of the Military Reservist and Veteran
Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007;
and
``(B) $5,000,000 for the fiscal year following the fiscal
year described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Funding offset.--Amounts necessary to carry out this
section shall be offset and made available through the
reduction of the authorization of funding under section
20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631
note).''.
SEC. 204. VETERANS ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES PROGRAM.
Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(n) Veterans Assistance and Services Program.--
``(1) In general.--A Small Business Development Center may
apply for an additional grant to carry out a veterans
assistance and services program.
``(2) Elements of program.--Under a program under paragraph
(1), the Center shall--
``(A) create a marketing campaign to promote awareness and
education of the services of the Center that are available to
veterans, and to target the campaign toward veterans,
disabled veterans, military units, Federal agencies, and
veterans organizations;
``(B) use technology-assisted online counseling and
distance learning technology to overcome the impediments to
entrepreneurship faced by veterans and members of the Armed
Forces; and
``(C) increase coordination among organizations that assist
veterans, including by establishing virtual integration of
service providers and offerings for a one-stop point of
contact for veterans who are entrepreneurs or small business
owners.
``(3) Minimum amount.--Each grant under this subsection
shall be for at least $75,000.
``(4) Maximum amount.--A grant under this subsection may
not exceed $250,000.
``(5) Funding.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts, the Administration may make grants or
enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the provisions
of this subsection.''.
TITLE III--RESERVIST PROGRAMS
SEC. 301. RESERVIST PROGRAMS.
(a) Application Period.--Section 7(b)(3)(C) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(C)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``90 days'' and inserting ``1 year''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following: ``The Administrator
may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator),
waive the ending date specified in the preceding sentence and
provide a later ending date.''.
(b) Pre-Consideration Process.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``eligible
Reservist'' means a Reservist who--
(A) has not been ordered to active duty;
(B) expects to be ordered to active duty during a period of
military conflict; and
(C) can reasonably demonstrate that the small business
concern for which that Reservist is a key employee will
suffer economic injury in the absence of that Reservist.
(2) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a
pre-consideration process, under which the Administrator--
(A) may collect all relevant materials necessary for
processing a loan to a small business concern under section
7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3))
before an eligible Reservist employed by that small business
concern is activated; and
(B) shall distribute funds for any loan approved under
subparagraph (A) if that eligible Reservist is activated.
(c) Outreach and Technical Assistance Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense, shall develop a comprehensive outreach and technical
assistance program (in this subsection referred to as the
``program'') to--
(A) market the loans available under section 7(b)(3) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) to Reservists, and
family members of Reservists, that are on active duty and
that are not on active duty; and
(B) provide technical assistance to a small business
concern applying for a loan under that section.
(2) Components.--The program shall--
(A) incorporate appropriate websites maintained by the
Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the
Department of Defense; and
(B) require that information on the program is made
available to small business concerns directly through--
(i) the district offices and resource partners of the
Administration, including small business development centers,
women's business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired
Executives; and
(ii) other Federal agencies, including the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
(3) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter until
the date that is 30 months after such date of enactment, the
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the status
of the program.
(B) Contents.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A)
shall include--
(i) for the 6-month period ending on the date of that
report--
(I) the number of loans approved under section 7(b)(3) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3));
(II) the number of loans disbursed under that section; and
(III) the total amount disbursed under that section; and
(ii) recommendations, if any, to make the program more
effective in serving small business concerns that employ
Reservists.
SEC. 302. RESERVIST LOANS.
(a) In General.--Section 7(b)(3)(E) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(E)) is amended by striking
``$1,500,000'' each place such term appears and inserting
``$2,000,000''.
(b) Loan Information.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator and the Secretary of
Defense shall develop a joint website and printed materials
providing information regarding any program for small
business concerns that is available to veterans or
Reservists.
(2) Marketing.--The Administrator is authorized--
(A) to advertise and promote the program under section
7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act jointly with the Secretary
of Defense and veterans' service organizations; and
(B) to advertise and promote participation by lenders in
such program jointly with trade associations for banks or
other lending institutions.
SEC. 303. NONCOLLATERALIZED LOANS.
Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not
more than $50,000 without collateral.
``(ii) The Administrator may defer payment of principal and
interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer
of--
``(I) the 1-year period beginning on the date of the
initial disbursement of the loan; and
``(II) the period during which the relevant essential
employee is on active duty.''.
SEC. 304. LOAN PRIORITY.
Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(b)(3)), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(H) The Administrator shall give priority to any
application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process
and make a determination regarding such applications prior to
processing or making a determination on other loan
applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.''.
SEC. 305. RELIEF FROM TIME LIMITATIONS FOR VETERAN-OWNED
SMALL BUSINESSES.
Section 3(q) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Relief from time limitations.--
``(A) In general.--Any time limitation on any
qualification, certification, or period of participation
imposed under this Act on any program that is not subject to
the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.)
and is available to small business concerns shall be extended
for a small business concern that--
``(i) is owned and controlled by--
``(I) a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty
under a provision of law specified in section 101(a)(13)(B)
of title 10, United States Code, on or after September 11,
2001; or
``(II) a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran
due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the
active military, naval, or air service during a period of
active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under
a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after
September 11, 2001; and
``(ii) was subject to the time limitation during such
period of active duty.
``(B) Duration.--Upon submission of proper documentation to
the Administrator, the extension of a time limitation under
subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the period of time that
such veteran who owned or controlled such a concern was on
active duty as described in that subparagraph.
``(C) Exception for programs subject to federal credit
reform act of 1990.--The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and
(B) shall not apply to any programs subject to the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).''.
SEC. 306. SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to the
[[Page H14221]]
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the
Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report describing--
(1) the types of assistance needed by service-disabled
veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs; and
(2) any resources that would assist such service-disabled
veterans.
SEC. 307. STUDY ON OPTIONS FOR PROMOTING POSITIVE WORKING
RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THEIR RESERVE
COMPONENT EMPLOYEES.
(a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study on options for promoting
positive working relations between employers and Reserve
component employees of such employers, including assessing
options for improving the time in which employers of
Reservists are notified of the call or order of such members
to active duty other than for training.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of--
(i) what measures, if any, are being taken to inform
Reservists of the obligations and responsibilities of such
members to their employers;
(ii) how effective such measures have been; and
(iii) whether there are additional measures that could be
taken to promote positive working relations between
Reservists and their employers, including any steps that
could be taken to ensure that employers are timely notified
of a call to active duty; and
(B) assess whether there has been a reduction in the hiring
of Reservists by business concerns because of--
(i) any increase in the use of Reservists after September
11, 2001; or
(ii) any change in any policy of the Department of Defense
relating to Reservists after September 11, 2001.
(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 308. INCREASED VETERAN PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 636(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(32) Increased veteran participation program.--The
Administrator shall carry out an Increased Veteran
Participation Program. For a loan made under this paragraph,
the following shall apply:
``(A) The loan shall be made to a business concern the
majority ownership interest of which is directly held by
individuals who are veterans of the Armed Forces or members
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
``(B) The loan shall include the participation by the
Administration equal to 90 percent of the balance of the
financing outstanding at the time of disbursement.
``(C) The fees on the loan under paragraphs (18) and (23)
shall not apply.''.
(b) Notice and Comment.--The program required by section
7(a)(32) of the Small Business Act, as added by subsection
(a), shall be established after the opportunity for notice
and comment and not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
In their service to the Nation, veterans have demonstrated strength,
discipline and dedication to preserving security. At home, they have
proven to be invaluable components of a strong economy.
We have already seen the impact veterans can have on the business
community. Currently, approximately 22 percent of servicemembers in the
United States have either purchased or started a new business. These
entrepreneurs are significant contributors to job growth and expansion
of local economies.
I wish to commend Congressman Jason Altmire and Congressman Vern
Buchanan for their leadership in crafting this bill that will further
this effort. H.R. 4253 promotes veterans' continued pursuit of self-
employment and provides them with the support for growth that they
deserve. It accomplishes this objective by comprehensively updating
several of the Small Business Administration's programs to better meet
the current needs of veteran entrepreneurs.
The bill addresses several of the impediments to veterans' success as
entrepreneurs. Because servicemembers are removed from the workforce
for an extended period of time, they can often then face difficulties
securing capital or technical assistance upon their return from
service. Additionally, while many veterans receive specialized skills
during their service, it is often quite difficult transforming those
skills into profitable resources. We can increase veteran
entrepreneurial opportunities by creating the right tools to ensure
their success.
H.R. 4253 responds to these challenges by establishing a strong role
for the Federal Government to help veterans overcome obstacles to
entrepreneurship. The legislation increases veterans' access to
affordable capital, enhances entrepreneurial development resources, and
sharpens the focus of Federal resources on this key member of the small
business community.
Veterans will have improved access to capital with specially tailored
initiatives in the SBA's 7(a) and disaster loan programs. This will
help returning servicemen and women bridge the gap for financial
capital that they need to start and grow a new endeavor. By increasing
outreach assistance centers and entrepreneurial development program
resources, the bill also improves access to assistance that will help
veteran entrepreneurs evaluate business ideas, conduct market research,
and receive technology training.
This legislation will also establish an interagency task force that
will take a lead role in altering the institutional culture at the
Federal level to promote increased veteran entrepreneurship. This will
significantly improve the coordination of various Federal agencies'
veteran service programs. Additionally, new initiatives will improve
transition assistance for separating servicemembers, and provide
customized support to service disabled, women veterans, and the members
of the reserves. This will ensure that all sectors are considered in
Federal veteran policymaking.
As new troops are added to the already 13,000 that have returned home
just from Iraq and Afghanistan, it is imperative that our resources and
initiatives are designed to effectively prepare them for economic
success.
With their tremendous potential to thrive as entrepreneurs and their
critical service for which we all greatly benefit, we must continue to
work to allow these budding entrepreneurs to realize the American Dream
of business ownership. I believe this bill is a major step towards
realizing this goal, and I strongly support this legislation.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4253.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the request to suspend the
rules and pass H.R. 4253, the Military Reservist and Veteran Small
Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007. I would like to
thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in a cooperative and bipartisan
manner to bring this bill, which incorporates provisions of a bill
authored by Mr. Buchanan, who is a freshman member of the Small
Business Committee and who has already shown tremendous initiative and
leadership on that committee, to the House floor.
While we could never adequately repay the debt we owe to America's
fighting men and women for their service and sacrifice, today's bill
takes important steps to help our Nation's veterans make a smoother
transition to civilian life.
While serving in the Armed Forces, service men and women learn and
practice technical skills valued in today's civilian workforce, in
addition to the leadership and decisionmaking skills that they learn on
the battlefield. All
[[Page H14222]]
of these attributes are critical to success in the business world and
are particularly important traits for successful small business owners.
Despite the success that veterans have shown in starting and
operating small businesses, more must be done to assist our veterans in
the startup and operation of their businesses. Outreach must improve to
ensure that veterans wishing to start their own businesses will have
the training and advice needed to transfer their skills to
entrepreneurship without first working for someone else.
Title I of H.R. 4253 represents an excellent start in the efforts to
expand and ensure that our veterans have the technical support they
need to start their own businesses.
I want to especially thank the chairwoman for incorporating Mr.
Buchanan's interest in expanding the number of Veterans Business
Outreach Centers, which will play an increased role in providing
assistance to veterans wishing to start small businesses.
The technical advice and assistance are not limited to veterans
continuing their service in the Reserves. Title II of the bill
recognizes Reservists who operate small businesses have their own
unique set of operational problems associated with their call-up to
duty. They may not know how long their call-up will last and they need
assistance in ensuring they have a plan in place to operate their
business while they are on active duty. This legislation builds on the
existing network of entrepreneurial partners to deliver key technical
and operational assistance to Reservists.
{time} 1700
Another important element of the bill is the recognition of the
changing nature of the military with a greater involvement of women.
The legislation requires the administrator to expand assistance to
women veterans and Reservists. Given the rapid expansion and success of
women-owned businesses, it makes sense to ensure that the needs of
women Reservists are met when they seek to start and operate small
businesses.
Our fighting men and women are the best in the world. Let us help
them become the best entrepreneurs in the world by enacting this
legislation, H.R. 4253.
Again, I want to thank Mr. Buchanan for his leadership in this
effort, and I also want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.
Altmire, who also has worked very hard in this area as well and is
responsible for this bill being here today.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I recognize Mr. Altmire, the sponsor of
the legislation, for as much time as he may consume.
Mr. ALTMIRE. I thank the Chair and the ranking member for their
continued leadership on these issues, and I especially want to thank my
good friend from Florida, Mr. Buchanan. It was a pleasure working with
him to craft this legislation. He was an equal partner in putting this
bill on the floor today, and I want to recognize his leadership as
well.
Madam Speaker, with nearly 25 million veterans and over 1 million
Reservists in the United States, there is a need, and a growing need,
for an increased commitment by the government to assist veterans and
Reservists both during and after their service to our Nation. As more
and more servicemembers return to civilian life after their deployments
in Iraq and Afghanistan, the opportunities and economic benefits that
the Federal Government can provide will become even more critical,
especially for businesses that are owned and operated by veterans.
The brave men and women that put their lives on hold to defend our
Nation should not have to sacrifice their jobs and their livelihoods.
Starting and maintaining a small business presents challenges for
anyone, and, unfortunately, veterans often face unique barriers as a
result of their military service. The unemployment rate among veterans
is double the overall national unemployment rate, and over half of all
self-employed Reservists experience significant income loss when they
are called to duty.
Over the past 3 years, we have watched as the number of returning
veterans and Reservists has increased, and that number is only going to
continue to grow.
While Congress has passed legislation and provided Federal agencies
with some of the resources necessary to provide entrepreneurial
opportunities for veterans, I believe that more can be done to relieve
the burden that is placed on small business owners during and after
their deployment.
To ensure that the Federal Government is there to assist our
country's servicemembers, I have introduced the bill that we are
debating here today, the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act. This legislation will support and
expand entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans and Reservists to
ensure that their livelihoods are not compromised because of their
military service.
My bill increases funding for the Small Business Administration's
Office of Veteran Business Development to $4.4 million and facilitates
the coordination of all Federal agencies to focus attention on
increasing the success rate of and opportunities for veteran-owned
small businesses.
This legislation will make the Advisory Committee on Veterans
Business Affairs permanent, strengthening the focus and input advisory
committees can provide to the Federal Government to ensure continued
commitment to our Nation's veterans. The Advisory Committee has been an
important source of information for the Federal Government. By making
the committee permanent, we can continue to improve the support
provided to veteran and Reservist small business owners.
We will also increase the number of Veteran Business Outreach Centers
across the country and identify areas that are in need of additional
assistance to ensure that veterans and Reservists in every region are
able to keep their businesses afloat.
Through grants of up to $300,000 per year made to Small Business
Development Centers, this bill will establish the Reservist Enterprise
Transition and Sustainability program to provide one-on-one counseling
on management, financing, procurement and regulatory assistance to
small business owners to help our returning service men and women
successfully transition to civilian life.
Finally, my legislation makes much-needed improvements to the
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program by requiring
the SBA to extend the application deadline, raise the maximum loan
amount and create a pre-consideration process for small businesses
applying for assistance during military deployment. This is important,
because currently Reservists can apply for a loan only after
deployment, when their businesses are already in the red. A pre-
deployment loan would be helpful to many small business owners during
active duty when the funding is most critical.
Madam Speaker, there is no question that veterans have a unique
ability to thrive as entrepreneurs. They have the leadership skills and
work ethic necessary to run a small business and a successful business.
But we must do more to help veteran entrepreneurs fully meet their
needs and overcome the unique challenges that they face.
I believe that we owe no greater debt than to our brave men and women
in uniform, and it is essential that they are afforded every
opportunity for economic success at home, especially given their
sacrifices for us abroad.
I strongly support the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act, and I ask my colleagues to support
this important legislation.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan).
Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for
yielding me the time, and I rise in support of H.R. 4253. I would also
like to thank the Congressman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Altmire.
He has worked on a bipartisan basis. I appreciate it. It has been a
great partnership. And also Madam Chairman, and the ranking member, you
guys have done an incredible job this first year. A lot of people said
we couldn't work together, but it has been great leadership this year.
I also want to thank you for
[[Page H14223]]
the opportunity to include a lot of the provisions in this bill.
H.R. 4253 incorporates legislation I introduced in May and was passed
in the House in June creating an important program within the Small
Business Administration that will give our veterans a chance to succeed
in business enterprises but provides them with all the help and
assistance a grateful Nation can offer.
My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants,
information services and contacts with professionals in fields of their
endeavor. This Federal program will enhance the ability of a veteran to
become a successful entrepreneur in his or her chosen field. I know
from personal experience, being a veteran of 6 years and an
entrepreneur for 30 years, I was able to realize the American Dream,
and I think this bill does it.
H.R. 4253 puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market
research, financial options and the technological training important to
become a successful small business owner. This legislation not only
expands the number and the scope of the Veteran Outreach Centers, it
ensures the opening of more doors and an opportunity for our women
veterans. Assisting our women returning from combat is something that
has long been overlooked and overdue. It is high time that we did
something about it.
Today, the House will pass a bill that will help individuals make an
important transition from being a veteran to a small business
entrepreneur. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4253.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield myself the
balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced over
600,000 new veterans thus far and have created a serious challenge for
the Nation: how to facilitate our returning servicemembers' successful
transition back home and into our economy. Given the ongoing nature of
these conflicts, the shift in economic opportunities and the diverse
needs of returning veterans, this is an unprecedented situation that
will require a major and rapid response.
To promote veterans' abilities to be productive engines of the
economy, I believe we must comprehensively modernize Federal programs
designed to assist this key group through self-employment
opportunities. H.R. 4253 achieves this objective by obtaining the Small
Business Administration programs to ensure they are customized to meet
the growing needs of this sector in a changing economy.
This Nation has a clear obligation to ensure that our returning
servicemembers have the assistance they need to succeed at
entrepreneurship. By complementing their individual strengths with
appropriate Federal resources, we can help them realize their full
potential, while also growing the economy.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the staff that worked on this bill.
From the majority staff, Michael Day, Adam Minehardt and Andy Jimenez.
From the minority staff, Barry Pineles and Kevin Fitzpatrick. I also
want to recognize Max Goodman from Mr. Buchanan's staff and Cara Toman
and Erik Komendant from Mr. Altmire's staff.
I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4253.
Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the Ranking Member for yielding
me the time and rise in support of H.R. 4253.
I would like to thank Congressman Altmire for bringing this bill to
the floor today and for including in the bill a number of provisions
important to me.
H.R. 4253 incorporates legislation I introduced in May and the House
passed in June creating an important program within the Small Business
Administration that will give our veterans not just a chance at success
in a business enterprise but provide them with all the help and
assistance a grateful Nation can offer.
My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants,
information services, and contact with professionals in their fields of
endeavor.
This federal support will enhance the ability of a veteran to become
an entrepreneur in his or her own right.
H.R. 4253 puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market
research, financial options and technological training important to
becoming a successful small business owner.
This legislation not only expands the number and scope of Veteran
Outreach Centers, it ensures the opening of more doors and
opportunities for our women veterans. Assisting our women returning
from combat has been an area long overlooked and it's high time we did
something about it.
Today, the House will pass a bill that will help individuals make an
important transition from veteran to small business entrepreneur.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4253.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time,
and urge its adoption.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4253.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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