    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H746-H748]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

          SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR RESERVISTS AND VETERANS ACT

      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
    pass the bill (H.R. 828) to require the Administrator of the Small
    Business Administration to report on the veterans interagency task
    force, to require the Comptroller General of the United States to
    report on access to credit for small business concerns owned and
    controlled by covered individuals, and for other purposes.
      The Clerk read the title of the bill.
      The text of the bill is as follows:

                                    H.R. 828

           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 ``Successful Entrepreneurship
         for Reservists and Veterans Act'' or the ``SERV Act''.

         SEC. 2. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR VETERANS INTERAGENCY TASK
                       FORCE.

           Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c))
         is amended by adding at the end the following:
           ``(4) Report.--Along with the budget justification
         documents for the Small Business Administration submitted to
         Congress in connection with the budget for a fiscal year
         submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code,
         the Administrator shall submit a report--
           ``(A) discussing the appointments made to and activities of
         the task force; and
           ``(B) identifying and outlining a plan for outreach and
         promotion of the programs and services for veterans,
         including Veteran Business Outreach Centers, Boots to
         Business, Boots to Business Reboot, Service-Disabled
         Entrepreneurship Development Training Program, Veteran
         Institute for Procurement, Women Veteran Entrepreneurship
         Training Program, and Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of
         Entrepreneurship.''.

         SEC. 3. GAO REPORT ON ACCESS TO CREDIT.

           (a) Report on Access to Credit.--
           (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
         the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
         United States shall submit a report on the ability of small
         business concerns owned and controlled by covered individuals
         to access credit to--
           (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
         Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
           (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
         Small Business of the House of Representatives.
           (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
         shall include, to the extent practicable, an analysis of--
           (A) the sources of credit used by small business concerns
         owned and controlled by covered individuals and the average
         percentage of the credit obtained from each source by such
         concerns;
           (B) the default rate for small business concerns owned and
         controlled by covered individuals, disaggregated by each
         source of credit described in subparagraph (A), as compared
         to the default rate for the source of credit for small
         business concerns generally;
           (C) the Federal lending programs available to provide
         credit to small business concerns owned and controlled by
         covered individuals;
           (D) gaps, if any, in the availability of credit for small
         business concerns owned and controlled by covered individuals
         that are not being filled by the Federal Government or
         private sources;
           (E) obstacles faced by covered individuals in trying to
         access credit;
           (F) the extent to which deployment and other military
         responsibilities affect the credit history of veterans and
         Reservists; and
           (G) the extent to which covered individuals are aware of
         Federal programs targeted towards helping covered individuals
         access credit.
           (b) Definitions.--In this Act:
           (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
         means--
           (A) a veteran;
           (B) a service-disabled veteran;
           (C) a Reservist;
           (D) the spouse of an individual described in subparagraph
         (A), (B), or (C); or
           (E) the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.
           (2) Reservist.--The term ``Reservist'' means a member of a
         reserve component of the Armed Forces, as described in
         section 10101 of title 10, United States Code.
           (3) Small business act definitions.--The terms ``service-
         disabled veteran'', ``small business concern'', and
         ``veteran'' have the meanings given those terms,
         respectively, under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15
         U.S.C. 632).

         SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH CUTGO.

           No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to
         carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

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

                                 General Leave

      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
    Members 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. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
    consume.
      Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 828, the SERV
    Act, led by my colleagues Representatives Davids, Alford, and Conaway.
      It is an honor to reflect on the tremendous contributions of our
    veterans who have defended our freedoms and continue serving our
    country once they transition back to civilian life, often on Main
    Street America.
      Our Nation's heroes are uniquely positioned to become successful
    businessowners because of the skills

    [[Page H747]]

    they gained in the military, which have made them natural and effective
    leaders. Unfortunately, veterans often face barriers when starting or
    growing their businesses. Chief among them are access to capital and
    general awareness of available resources.
      The SERV Act seeks to reduce those barriers by directing the
    Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development to create
    an action plan to improve outreach to veterans and inform them of
    available resources that directly apply to their unique needs.
      We must work together to ensure that our veterans have access to the
    tools necessary to start or grow their businesses. I urge my colleagues
    to support our veterans and pass the SERV Act.
      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
    consume.
      Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 828, the Successful
    Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act, also known as the
    SERV Act.
      Veteran entrepreneurs are powerful economic engines and job creators.
    More than 1.6 million veteran businessowners employ nearly 3.3 million
    Americans and make approximately $983.9 billion in sales.
      With that said, one of the biggest challenges facing veteran-owned
    small businesses is access to capital. Servicemembers report that it
    can be difficult to build credit while serving overseas. Studies have
    shown that a higher percentage of veterans are turned down for loans.
    The uncertainty underscores the need for investment in veteran-owned
    small businesses.
      The bill we are considering today would require the Government
    Accountability Office, GAO, to conduct a study on the availability of
    credit to veteran, service-disabled, and reserve-owned small
    businesses.
      I commend Representatives Davids, Alford, and Conaway for their
    bipartisan work on this bill that will identify barriers and improve
    SBA's outreach to veterans.
      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
    consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).
      Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member for
    their leadership. I appreciate what we are able to do on the Small
    Business Committee for Main Street America.
      I rise today, Mr. Speaker, because as a Member of Congress, it is our
    duty and responsibility to protect and support our Nation's veterans.
      Back in 2023, it was my distinct pleasure to have Commander Taylor
    Burks of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District testify at a Small
    Business Committee hearing on veteran entrepreneurship. He is now
    serving a deployment in the Indo-PACOM, so we wish him well.
      We learned not only about the unique skill set that veterans can
    bring to small businesses but also about the obstacles that veterans
    face many times when trying to open small businesses and live out the
    American Dream.
      It was imperative for Members to hear how the committee and the Small
    Business Administration can better serve those who served this great
    Nation.
      As a result, my colleague Representative Sharice Davids and I
    introduced the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans,
    or the SERV Act.
      This bipartisan legislation, which passed through the Small Business
    Committee unanimously last Congress, will help veteran small business
    owners and entrepreneurs succeed by studying the barriers faced when
    starting a business.
      This bill will commission a report on the outreach and promotion of
    existing veteran-focused small business programs to make sure that
    veterans can access all the available resources, the capital, and the
    counseling that they need to succeed.

                                  {time}  1715

      Mr. Speaker, this legislation also mandates the Interagency Task
    Force on Veterans Small Business Development to devise an outreach and
    promotion strategy for programs available to veterans transitioning
    into the business world.
      When veterans' service to our country ends, they should not face
    additional difficulties in accessing capital and resources. With
    transparency and increased reporting, we can better ensure that they
    get the support that they need and the support that they deserve. I am
    proud to co-lead the SERV Act with Representatives Davids and Conaway.
      This bill, Mr. Speaker, is a win for our districts, our veterans, and
    our great Nation, the United States of America.
      Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense
    legislation.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
    Kansas (Ms. Davids), the main sponsor of the bill.
      Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New
    York (Ms. Velazquez) for yielding.
      I rise in support of the bipartisan Successful Entrepreneurship for
    Reservists and Veterans Act, or the SERV Act, which I introduced
    alongside Representatives Alford and Conaway. This bill honors our
    veterans' service by helping them succeed as entrepreneurs and small
    business owners.
      My mom served in the Army for 20 years, and my grandfather served in
    the Army, as well. Through them, I learned about service, leadership,
    and dedication to country.
      Our veterans defended our freedoms, and we owe it to them to provide
    real support when they return home. Yet, veterans face distinct
    barriers when starting a business, from accessing capital to overcoming
    stigmas around disabilities or PTSD. These challenges have contributed
    to a 35 percent decline in veteran entrepreneurship since World War II.
      The SERV Act addresses these challenges head-on, ensuring veterans
    have the resources that they need to thrive. At a time when harmful
    Federal worker layoffs at the VA are making it harder for veterans to
    access support, this legislation is more important than ever. By
    strengthening SBA programs, we are investing in our veterans, creating
    jobs, and boosting our local economies.
      Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and show our
    veterans that we have their backs, both in uniform and beyond.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
    New Jersey (Mr. Conaway).
      Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of the
    Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act, otherwise
    known as the SERV Act. This bill would study the barriers that veterans
    face when starting or owning a small business.
      Starting a small business is not a one-size-fits-all process. Each
    individual encounters unique challenges when striving to open their
    dream business. That is why it is essential that, as Members of
    Congress, we support legislative initiatives aimed at identifying and
    addressing the obstacles that small business owners and entrepreneurs
    face.
      The SERV Act is one such initiative. It would enhance outreach and
    promotion of existing veteran-focused small business programs, ensuring
    that veterans can access all available services, resources, capital,
    and credit.
      This bill would provide a report on the availability of veteran and
    reservist small business owners' access to credit. It would require the
    Small Business Administration's Interagency Task Force on Veterans
    Small Business Development to develop an action plan for outreach and
    promotion of the many programs available to veterans transitioning into
    the small business world. It will ensure that the task force reports
    annually to Congress on its outreach efforts for programs available to
    veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, and their spouses.
      For many of our Nation's veterans, transitioning back to civilian
    life can be daunting, especially for those seeking to start their own
    small business.
      As an Air Force veteran and vice ranking member on the Committee on
    Veterans' Affairs, I believe it is not only crucial but imperative that
    our government support our Nation's veterans in every possible way.

    [[Page H748]]

      The SERV Act is a bill that will provide robust support for veterans'
    small business development and help veterans achieve their
    entrepreneurial goals.
      I thank Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for their
    support of this legislation and moving it forward. Certainly, I thank
    the lead sponsors, Representatives Alford and Davids, for their
    gracious support of me and for helping to sponsor this bill and move it
    forward.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
    am prepared to close.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ms. Davids, Mr. Alford, and Mr.
    Conaway for their commitment to our Nation's veterans. I urge my
    colleagues to support H.R. 828, and I yield back the balance of my
    time.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
    this commonsense 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 Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules
    and pass the bill, H.R. 828.
      The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
    rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
      A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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