[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10401-H10402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
            VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2018

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the

[[Page H10402]]

bill (S. 2679) to provide access to and manage the distribution of 
excess or surplus property to veteran-owned small businesses.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2679

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Small Business 
     Enhancement Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. ACCESS TO SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL 
                   BUSINESSES.

       Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Access to Surplus Property for Veteran-owned Small 
     Businesses.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `foreign excess property' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 102 of title 40, United States 
     Code; and
       ``(B) the term `state agency' has the meaning given the 
     term, including the roles and responsibilities assigned, in 
     section 549 of title 40, United States Code.
       ``(2) Requirement.--The Administrator, in coordination with 
     the Administrator of General Services, shall provide access 
     to and manage the distribution of surplus property, and 
     foreign excess property returned to a State for handling as 
     surplus property, owned by the United States under chapter 7 
     of title 40, United States Code, to small business concerns 
     owned and controlled by veterans (as verified by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 8127 of title 38, 
     United States Code) pursuant to a memorandum of agreement 
     between the Administrator, the Administrator of General 
     Services, and the head of the applicable state agency for 
     surplus properties and in accordance with section 549 of 
     title 40, United States Code.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2679, the Veterans Small 
Business Enhancement Act of 2018. This important, bipartisan 
legislation, introduced by Senator Duckworth and Senator Kennedy, aims 
to help veteran entrepreneurs cut costs and enhance their economic 
opportunity by giving them access to surplus Federal property.
  The Federal Surplus Property Program allows certain nongovernment 
organizations to acquire equipment and property that the Federal 
Government no longer needs. This legislation adds veteran-owned small 
businesses to the program's list of eligible recipients, which already 
includes minority-owned and women-owned small businesses.
  The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association of State 
Agencies for Surplus Property, and the American Legion support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman from New York 
is prepared as well after her remarks, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2679, the Veterans Small 
Business Enhancement Act.
  Currently, the Federal agencies make their excess property available 
to other agencies and eligible organizations that serve the public. 
Today's bill is a commonsense expansion of the list of eligible 
entities that receive surplus property.
  By adding qualified veteran-owned small businesses to the list, it 
ensures veteran entrepreneurs have the resources they need to start and 
grow. With more than 2.5 million veteran-owned small firms, this bill 
puts them on equal footing with other entities that provide important 
services to our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
important bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 2679.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Mr. 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, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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