[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4446-S4447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VA'S MENTOR--PROTEGE PROGRAM

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 
accomplishments of the 24 participants in the Department of Veterans 
Affairs' Mentor-Protege Program who are working to help veteran small 
business owners. In these hard economic times, it is more important 
than ever to provide this critical support to our veteran 
entrepreneurs.
  The goal of the Mentor-Protege Program, which was started in 2010, is 
to bring together established companies with service-disabled and other 
veteran-owned businesses. Through these partnerships with established 
regional businesses, veteran business owners receive guidance on 
financial and organizational management, business planning and 
technical aid. They also develop long-term business relationships with 
their mentor partners.
  Veterans hire veterans because they know what they are getting. 
Veterans are well trained, disciplined team players who can deliver 
results in challenging conditions. At a time when the Department of 
Labor reports almost 10 percent of all veterans are unemployed, and 27 
percent of veterans between the ages of 20 and 24 are unemployed, it is 
imperative we do everything in our power to tackle this issue. The 
Mentor-Protege program holds the promise of fostering an environment 
where veteran-owned businesses can succeed in helping to revitalize our 
economy while hiring veterans in the process. These veteran-owned small 
businesses are exactly what our Nation needs to continue on the road to 
economic recovery while getting our country's heroes the jobs they 
deserve.
  While I am optimistic about the potential of the VA's Mentor-Protege 
Program, I have heard from several companies participating in the 
program who have expressed concerns with delays in VA's verification 
process. I urge VA's Center for Veterans Enterprise to expedite the 
verification process so that these companies can get to work in 
repairing our economy as quickly as possible.
  Businesses in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, 
Texas, New Mexico, and California are serving as a model of just how 
successful a program of this nature can be. The names of the businesses 
that are participating in the program, both as mentors and proteges, 
are:
  ASM Research, Inc. of Fairfax, VA, and Coley & Associates of San 
Antonio, TX, AUI Contractors, LLC of Fort Worth, TX, and Unified 
Services of Texas, of South Lake, TX, Bear Construction Company of 
Rolling Meadows, IL, and Opcon Inc. of Chicago, IL, Booz Allen Hamilton 
of McLean, VA,

[[Page S4447]]

and MBL Technologies, Inc., of Rockville, MD, Creative Computing 
Solutions, Inc. of Rockville, MD, and CPS Professional Services of 
Fairfax, VA, EMJ Corporation of Sacramento, CA, and 347 Group 
Construction of Roseville, CA, The George Solitt Construction Co. of 
Wood Dale, IL, and Industria, Inc. of Chicago, IL, The GRD Contractors, 
Inc. of Costa Mesa, CA, and Hubzone Corp. of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 
Harris Corporation GCSD of Melbourne, FL, and Delta Corporation of 
Fulton, MD, Health Net Federal Services of Rancho Cordova, CA, and 
Three Wire Systems of Vienna, VA, ICF Incorporated of Fairfax, VA, and 
Nova Technology Solutions of Fairborn, OH, JOB Options, Inc. of San 
Diego, CA, and VETSUSA, LLC. of Falls Church, VA, Leopardo Companies, 
Inc. of Hoffman Estates, IL, and Segovia Group Corporation of San 
Antonio, TX, Lockheed Martin Corporation of Fairfax, VA, and Fulcrum 
Vets, LLC of Fairfax, VA, Marous Brothers Construction of Willoughby, 
OH, and Northstar Contracting, Inc. of North Olmstead, OH, McKesson 
Corporation of San Francisco, CA, and The Stay Safe Store of El Dorado 
Hills, CA, Metters Industries of McLean, VA, and Global Technology 
Solutions, LLC. of Corrales, NM, Northrup Grumman Corporation of 
Rockville, MD, and Heitech Services, Inc. of Landover, MD, Reva, Inc. 
of Newark, NJ, and M.E.R.I.T. Inc. of Newark, NJ, The Robins and Morton 
Group of Birmingham, AL, and Coburn Contractors of Montgomery, AL, Roy 
Anderson Corp. of Gulfport, MI, and the Bacik Group, LLC. of Columbus, 
GA, Sargent Electric Co. of Pittsburg, PA, and SGT LLC. Of Pittsburgh, 
PA, Secom Technical Services of Oak Ridge, TN, and Clauss Construction 
of Lakeside, CA, Simplex Grinnel of Columbia, MD, and Emergency 
Planning Management of Stafford, VA, Swinerton Government Services of 
Arvada, CO, and R.E.M. Engineering Company, Inc. of Pasadena, CA.
  By fostering an environment where veteran entrepreneurs can grow 
their businesses, we affirm our commitment to those who have sacrificed 
so much. I encourage VA to strengthen the growing Mentor-Protege 
Program and look forward to working with them to achieve their goals.

                          ____________________