[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 575--EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE SENATE FOR VETERAN 
                             ENTREPRENEURS

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
Cochran, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Craig, Ms. Snowe) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Commitee on Veterans' Affairs.

                              S. Res. 575

       Whereas the veterans of the United States have been vital 
     to the small business enterprises of the United States;
       Whereas the Nation should honor its veterans and in 
     particular those veterans with disabilities incurred or 
     aggravated in the line of duty during active service with the 
     United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas Congress passed the Veterans Entrepreneurship and 
     Small Business Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-50; 
     113 Stat. 233) to assist veterans interested in starting or 
     expanding small businesses;
       Whereas the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business 
     Development Act of 1999 required the President to establish a 
     goal of awarding not less than 3 percent of the total value 
     of all Federal prime contracts and subcontracts to service-
     disabled veteran-owned small businesses;
       Whereas Congress approved the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 
     (Public Law 108-183; 117 Stat. 2651) to expand benefits for 
     veterans;
       Whereas the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 gave agency 
     contracting officers the authority to reserve certain 
     procurement contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned 
     small businesses;
       Whereas President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 
     13360 (60 Fed. Reg. 62,549) in 2004, calling on Federal 
     agencies to more effectively implement the legislative 
     changes to the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) 
     included in the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business 
     Development Act of 1999 and the Veterans Benefits Act of 
     2003;
       Whereas, despite those Acts of Congress and the issuance of 
     Executive Order 13360 by the President, service-disabled 
     veteran-owned small businesses still struggle to receive a 
     fair share of Federal contracts; and
       Whereas Federal agencies have consistently fallen short of 
     the statutory contracting goal for service-disabled veteran-
     owned small businesses set by the Veterans Entrepreneurship 
     and Small Business Development Act of 1999: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the strong support of the United States for 
     its veterans and veteran entrepreneurs; and
       (2) calls on Federal agencies to work to improve Federal 
     contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned 
     small businesses.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution that is 
cosponsored by Senator Murkowski, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, 
Senator Cochran, Senator Isakson, Senator Craig, and Senator Snowe.
  I am submitting this resolution to honor veteran entrepreneurs and 
calling on the Federal Government to improve Federal contracting 
opportunities for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. 
They call them SDVOSBs.
  These veteran entrepreneurs have given so much to our country, and 
the Federal Government needs to honor them by utilizing their array of 
valuable skills.
  Almost 9 years ago, Congress passed the Veterans Entrepreneurship and 
Small Business Development Act of 1999, which directed the President to 
establish a goal of awarding at least 3 percent of Federal contracts to 
service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.
  In subsequent years, however, the Federal agencies have consistently 
failed to reach that statutory goal. In the most recent official 
governmentwide report, contract awards for service-disabled, veteran-
owned small businesses made up less than 1 percent of all Federal 
contracts.
  As I travel home this weekend to observe Memorial Day, I will have 
the great honor of being accompanied by U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs Secretary Dr. James Peake, who has accepted my invitation to 
visit our State.
  Dr. Peake, a decorated combat veteran and former Army Surgeon 
General, is an exceptional American. An important challenge for the VA 
will be to provide adequate VA health facilities and services to 
veterans in rural areas.
  Dr. Peake's decision to travel from our Nation's Capital to Alaska on 
this important holiday shows his commitment to all veterans, 
particularly those who come from rural areas.




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