[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2973-H2975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING ACT OF 2023
Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1606) to amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to
Business Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1606
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 ``Veteran Entrepreneurship
Training Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.
Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Boots to Business Program.--
``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered individual' means--
``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the National
Guard or Reserves;
``(B) an individual who is participating in the Transition
Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title
10, United States Code;
``(C) an individual who--
``(i) served on active duty in any branch of the Armed
Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and
``(ii) was discharged or released from such service under
conditions other than dishonorable; and
``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual described in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
``(2) Establishment.--During the period beginning on the
date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September
30, 2028, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be
known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide
entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.
``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program
are to--
``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to covered
individuals interested in business ownership; and
``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools, skills,
and knowledge necessary to identify a business opportunity,
draft a business plan, identify sources of capital, connect
with local resources for small business concerns, and start
up a small business concern.
``(4) Program components.--
``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program may
include--
``(i) a presentation providing exposure to the
considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a
small business concern;
``(ii) an online, self-study course focused on the basic
skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the
considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a
small business concern;
``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction component
providing an introduction to the foundations of self
employment and ownership of a small business concern; and
``(iv) in-depth training delivered through online
instruction, including an online course that leads to the
creation of a business plan.
``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
``(i) collaborate with public and private entities to
develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program;
and
``(ii) modify program components in coordination with
entities participating in a Warriors in Transition program,
as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note).
``(C) Use of resource partners and district offices.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall--
``(I) ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers
regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to
Business Program; and
``(II) to the maximum extent practicable, use district
offices of the Administration and a variety of other resource
partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business
Program.
``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out clause (i), the
Administrator may make grants, subject to the availability of
appropriations in advance, to Veteran Business Outreach
Centers, other resource partners, or other entities to carry
out components of the Boots to Business Program.
``(D) Availability to department of defense and the
department of labor.--The Administrator shall make available
to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor
information regarding the Boots to Business Program,
including all course materials and outreach materials related
to the Boots to Business Program, for inclusion on the
websites of the Department of Defense and the Department of
Labor relating to the Transition Assistance Program, in the
Transition Assistance Program manual, and in other relevant
materials available for distribution from the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Labor.
``(E) Availability to department of veterans affairs.--In
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the
Administrator shall make available for distribution and
display on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and at local facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business Program,
which shall, at a minimum--
``(i) describe the Boots to Business Program and the
services provided; and
``(ii) include eligibility requirements for participating
in the Boots to Business Program.
``(F) Availability to other participating agencies.--The
Administrator shall ensure information regarding the Boots to
Business program, including all course materials and outreach
materials related to the Boots to Business Program, is made
available to other participating agencies in the Transition
Assistance Program and upon request of other agencies.
``(5) Competitive bidding procedures.--The Administration
shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with
respect to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by
the Administration under the Boots to Business Program.
``(6) Publication of notice of funding opportunity.--Not
later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting
applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to
Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice
of the funding opportunity.
``(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the
Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness
of the Boots to Business Program, which--
``(A) may be included as part of another report submitted
to such committees by the Administrator related to the Office
of Veterans Business Development; and
``(B) shall summarize available information relating to--
``(i) grants awarded under paragraph (4)(C);
``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to Business Program;
``(iii) the number of program participants using each
component of the Boots to Business Program;
``(iv) the completion rates for each component of the Boots
to Business Program;
``(v) to the extent possible--
``(I) the demographics of program participants, to include
gender, age, race, ethnicity, and relationship to military;
``(II) the number of program participants that connect with
a district office of the Administration, a Veteran Business
Outreach Center, or another resource partner of the
Administration;
``(III) the number of program participants that start a
small business concern;
``(IV) the results of the Boots to Business and Boots to
Business Reboot course quality surveys conducted by the
Office of Veterans Business Development before and after
attending each of those courses, including a summary of any
comments received from program participants;
``(V) the results of the Boots to Business Program outcome
surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business
Development, including a summary of any comments received
from program participants; and
``(VI) the results of other germane participant
satisfaction surveys;
``(C) an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the
Boots to Business Program based on each geographic region
covered by the Administration during the most recent fiscal
year;
``(D) an assessment of additional performance outcome
measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by
the Administrator;
``(E) any recommendations of the Administrator for
improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may
include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered
individuals;
``(F) an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program
has been integrated with other transition programs and
related resources of the Administration and other Federal
agencies; and
``(G) any additional information the Administrator
determines necessary.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Ellzey) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to address the American
people. I rise in support of H.R. 1606, the Veteran Entrepreneurship
Training Act of 2023.
As a veteran, I know that going from military life to civilian life
can be
[[Page H2974]]
complicated. The military is great at training our servicemembers to do
their jobs, Mr. Speaker. You and I both know that.
They train them to be the most lethal force on the planet--of which
you were one--to defend and protect the people of the United States.
What they do not do is effectively help servicemembers or train them to
become civilians.
The Boots to Business Program will help fill that gap. This program
will help our veterans translate the skills that they acquired during
their years of military service to the tools that would be needed to be
successful in civilian life. Administered through the Office of
Veterans Business Development in the Small Business Administration, the
Boots to Business Program offers servicemembers and military spouses
moving from military to civilian life a foundational two-day, in-person
course for an introduction to business ownership.
The foundational course can be followed by optional online courses on
topics including market research, business fundamentals, and revenue
readiness. The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023 authorizes
this program for 5 years. We must help the men and women who so bravely
served our country. Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023 is
one way to help.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Schneider, Chairman Williams,
Representative McGarvey, and Representative Ellzey for their dedication
and commitment to our Nation's veterans.
Mr. Schneider has been a long-time champion of this legislation to
codify the Boots to Business Program. Over the years, the committee has
held a number of hearings examining SBA's programs that benefit veteran
entrepreneurship, and we have heard from scores of veterans that the
program has been a resounding success.
In fiscal year 2022, nearly 24,000 veterans, transitioning
servicemembers, and military spouses received Boots to Business
entrepreneurship training. Starting a business is not for the faint of
heart. It takes courage, perseverance, resourcefulness, and leadership
to launch a successful enterprise. Many of these qualities are inherent
in those that serve our country.
Despite the skills and expertise, many servicemembers have difficulty
transitioning to civilian life. A recent survey conducted by the
Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families found
44 percent expressed difficulty with transitioning from military life,
and 53 percent say they did not know what they wanted to do as
civilians.
It is imperative that we enact this legislation and provide the
certainty to veterans that this training will continue to be available
to them as they leave the service.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1606, the Veteran
Entrepreneurship Training Act, as amended, and I reserve the balance of
my time.
Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the
Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023, legislation I was proud
to introduce with my colleagues, Chair Roger Williams of Texas; Morgan
McGarvey of Kentucky; and Jake Ellzey, also from Texas.
This bipartisan bill codifies the existing Boots to Business Program
at the Small Business Administration, which provides business training
programs for veterans and their families. Innovation and
entrepreneurship are critical to a healthy, growing economy.
Today, the United States is enjoying a renaissance in entrepreneurial
activity. Entrepreneurs not only start new businesses, they bring new
ideas and new inventions to life. They create new industries and
disrupt existing ones. The companies they build not only create new
jobs, but are pillars in our local communities.
A recent Forbes article noted that 16 percent of the U.S. workforce
are engaged in entrepreneurial pursuits, up almost 30 percent since the
start of the pandemic, and 40 percent of those are women.
Furthermore, our Nation's economy relies on small business and
entrepreneurship. U.S. small businesses generate approximately 44
percent of our total economic activity each year; they employ almost
half of all working Americans and produce almost two-thirds of new
jobs.
So who are these people fueling our economic vitality? A broad review
of the business literature describing the traits of successful
entrepreneurs show some common themes. These include: creativity and
desire to innovate; the ability to collaborate and build strong teams;
a willingness to take measured risks; decisiveness; versatility;
adaptability; persistence; resilience; and grit.
This list also fairly describes the men and women who serve our
Nation in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force. Success
in our military requires the very same traits that are considered key
success factors in business.
Our military is made up of the best and the brightest our country has
to offer. They reflect who we are as a Nation and encompass the full
diversity of our people. Their success in their service depends on the
same types of leadership talent that will make them capable business
leaders in the future. They quickly solve problems, they innovate, and
they take uncertain situations and find ways to get things done.
What the Boots to Business Program does so well is help translate the
lessons and skills cultivated during military service into the skills
necessary for success in civilian life.
Since 2013, the Boots to Business Program has elevated the potential
of our Nation's veterans by offering free, multiweek, in-depth courses
to over 150,000 existing servicemembers and their spouses. The Boots to
Business curriculum covers the fundamentals of starting a business,
teaching participants such important skills as market research,
organizational design, and financial management.
Our bill, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023, will
formally codify the Boots to Business Program into law, ensuring
existing and future servicemembers can reliably take advantage of this
valuable opportunity for years to come.
This bill will fuel small-business-driven growth well into the future
by creating a pipeline of skilled and hardworking entrepreneurs. It
means we can continue to give back to the men and women who selflessly
risked their lives in our service while also investing in our economic
future by building a driven and skilled entrepreneur force from our
Nation's most ambitious and achieving leaders.
I am pleased and grateful for the strong bipartisan support this bill
has received in committee. I once again thank Chair Williams and
Ranking Member Velazquez for helping to bring this bill forward, and I
thank the Speaker for bringing this important legislation to the House
floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the Veteran
Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023.
Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Chair Williams, Ranking
Member Velazquez, and Mr. Schneider for this very important bill that
starts us down the right path, but it is only a beginning.
After our Nation's veterans have given so much for their country, we
have an obligation to give them the tools and resources to help them
transition back to civilian life. The Boots to Business Program,
incorporated in this bill, is an example of a program offered by the
Federal Government that actually accomplishes a mission. It helps
veterans transfer the skills they already have gained from their
military service to the private sector with the goal of starting their
own small business.
Oftentimes, some of the biggest obstacles facing veteran
entrepreneurship is not knowing where to obtain a loan. Through H.R.
1606 and the Boots to Business Program, our veterans can be taught how
to navigate that difficult process.
Veterans already have the intangible leadership skills to succeed in
any arena; and, above all else, this program
[[Page H2975]]
teaches them how to best transfer these skills into the private sector.
I again urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which
provides counseling and resources our veterans need to begin their
journey in starting their own small business.
Mr. Speaker, you and I both know that we have lost friends in combat.
We lost them 16, 20 years ago. We are losing them today, too. We are
losing them at a rate that is unsustainable, 22 a day.
Until the DOD and the VA transition to where they hand off one well-
trained soldier, sailor, airman, or marine into a well-trained
civilian, we must always do more. This is a good start.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank all of our veterans
who have dedicated their lives to service. Their dedication to our
country and commitment to preserving our freedoms is greatly
appreciated.
As our Nation's servicemembers complete their final tour and begin
their transition back to civilian life, it is important that we provide
opportunities for them to pursue the American Dream. Owning and running
a successful small business is the epitome of that dream.
Codifying the Boots to Business Program would allow thousands of
servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans to receive vital training
on how to build a successful small business.
I thank Mr. Schneider, Chairman Williams, Mr. McGarvey, and Mr.
Ellzey for their bipartisan work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Veterans Entrepreneurship
Training Act, as amended, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1606,
the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act.
This bipartisan legislation provides statutory authority for the
Boots to Business Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to
individuals including veterans and active members of the Armed Forces,
to be administered by the Small Business Administration.
The Boots to Business program provides entrepreneurship education and
training, offering a general understanding of entrepreneurship and
relevant business ownership principles.
Through this program, veterans learn about the abilities,
information, and tools required to start a business, such as how to
create a business plan and the resources offered by the Small Business
Administration.
Active-Duty Service members, including National Guard and Reserves,
Veterans, and their spouses are eligible to participate in the program.
Our veterans dedicated their lives to protecting the freedom of all
Americans and it is critical that they are armed with the tools,
resources, and training to be successful as they return to civilian
life.
This bill plays an important role in smoothing that transition and
constitutes an important step in preparing veterans to thrive in the
private sector.
Notably, many of the same skills that are fundamental in
entrepreneurship and business ownership have already been developed in
veterans through their time in the military, including leadership,
problem solving, and discipline.
This program will help veterans leverage those skill sets towards
career success in civilian life.
I am proud to say that Houston is home to over 280,000 veterans and
is ranked 10th nationally for the newest businesses per capita.
This bill will help connect Houston's veterans with the wealth of
opportunities for small business entrepreneurship across the city.
Further, this bill will help address the ongoing crisis of
homelessness among America's veterans on a national scale.
Today, more than 1 in 10 people experiencing homelessness are
veterans who fearlessly and selflessly served our Nation.
They have kept their promise to serve our Nation; they have willingly
risked their lives to protect the country we all love.
We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans and
provide them with the support they deserve as they pursue success in
civilian life.
This bill is an important part of that effort.
By providing entrepreneurship training and support, we can help give
veterans the tools they need to get back on their feet and achieve
greater financial security.
Our Nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the
men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this country.
We must be united in seeing that every soldier, sailor, airman, and
marine is welcomed back with all the care and compassion this grateful
Nation can bestow.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1606 and in
equipping our veterans with the tools, resources, and training for
their long-term success.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1606, as amended.
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. ELLZEY. 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.
____________________