[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 68 (Monday, May 14, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY:
  S. 3174. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to direct the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a 
vocational and technical entrepreneurship development program; to the 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Vocational and 
Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act to provide critically needed 
support to help expand entrepreneurship education programs for young 
adults. At a time when young adults ages 18 24 face an unemployment 
rate of approximately twice the national average, it is more important 
than ever to provide additional resources to help them start their own 
business. Young entrepreneurs need our help to give them the skills 
necessary to turn their passion into a successful career.
  The Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act 
provides support through small business development centers for high 
schools, technical schools, and nonprofit organizations serving young 
adults to develop and implement entrepreneurship education programs. 
Entrepreneurs who have access to business education programs are more 
likely to succeed, which often translates to jobs not only for them but 
for their communities as well. Small businesses are the engine of our 
economy and the ingenuity of young American entrepreneurs will continue 
to help drive our economic growth in the future. It is critical that we 
do everything possible to support our young entrepreneurs and harness 
their great ideas today that will turn into jobs tomorrow. I ask my 
colleagues to support job growth and the entrepreneurs who are the 
future of our economy by supporting this legislation.
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