[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.

                          ____________________