[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 175 (Monday, October 30, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 313--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 30 THROUGH 
     NOVEMBER 3, 2017, AS ``NATIONAL VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK''

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Risch) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 313

       Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States train 
     individuals with the skills, discipline, and leadership 
     necessary to establish and operate a successful business;
       Whereas there are approximately 2,500,000 veteran-owned 
     small businesses in the United States, employing more than 
     5,000,000 individuals;
       Whereas veteran-owned businesses make up nearly 10 percent 
     of all businesses in the United States;
       Whereas veterans account for more than $1,100,000,000,000 
     in business receipts every year;
       Whereas veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-
     employed than nonveterans;
       Whereas business ownership by women veterans has increased 
     significantly, from 97,114 in 2007 to 383,302 in 2012;
       Whereas the Office of Veterans Business Development of the 
     Small Business Administration is dedicated to maximizing the 
     availability and usability of small business programs for 
     veterans, members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces 
     of the United States, members of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States serving on active duty, transitioning service 
     members, and the spouses, dependents, or survivors of those 
     members and veterans;
       Whereas the Small Business Administration serves more than 
     200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans, women veterans, 
     and military spouses annually;
       Whereas the entrepreneurship training program of the Small 
     Business Administration, Boots to Business, has trained more 
     than 30,000 service members, veterans, and spouses of service 
     members and veterans since launching in 2013;
       Whereas the Small Business Administration hosts events 
     honoring National Veterans Small Business Week from October 
     30 through November 3, 2017;
       Whereas the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives celebrate National 
     Veterans Small Business Week during the week of October 30 
     through November 3, 2017; and
       Whereas the week of October 30 through November 3, 2017, 
     would be an appropriate time to celebrate National Veterans 
     Small Business Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of October 30 through November 3, 
     2017, as ``National Veterans Small Business Week'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Veterans 
     Small Business Week;
       (3) celebrates the millions of people in the United States, 
     especially veterans of the United States and the spouses of 
     those veterans, who benefit from the programs of the Small 
     Business Administration; and
       (4) expresses appreciation for the continued service to the 
     United States by the veterans of the United States through 
     small business ownership and entrepreneurship.

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