[House Report 110-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-194

======================================================================



 
                   SBA VETERANS' PROGRAMS ACT OF 2007

                                _______
                                

 June 15, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Ms. Velazquez, from the Committee on Small Business, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2366]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 2366) to reauthorize the veterans entrepreneurial 
development programs of the Small Business Administration, and 
for other purposes, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 
do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Purpose of the Bill and Summary.................................1
  II. Background and Need for Legislation.............................2
 III. Hearings........................................................5
  IV. Committee Consideration.........................................5
   V. Committee Votes.................................................5
  VI. Section-by-Section Analysis of H.R. 2366........................6
 VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................7
VIII. Committee Estimate of Costs.....................................9
  IX. Oversight Findings..............................................9
   X. Statement of Constitutional Authority...........................9
  XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4................................9
 XII. Congressional Accountability Act................................9
XIII. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................10
 XIV. Statement of No Earmarks.......................................10
  XV. Performance Goals and Objectives...............................10
 XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........10

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    The SBA Veterans' Programs Act of 2007, H.R. 2366, amends 
key sections of the Small Business Act to promote increased 
veterans entrepreneurship. A core component of the Small 
Business Administration's mandate is to provide entrepreneurial 
development assistance to a broad cross-section of the 
population.\1\ The enactment of The Veterans Entrepreneurship 
and Small Business Development Act,\2\ in 1999 expanded the 
agency's mandate to focus additional resources on veterans 
through the establishment of the Office of Veterans Business 
Development. The purpose was to create an equal playing field 
for veteran small business owners. The sector has grown 
significantly in the past several years due to ongoing military 
conflicts, creating new demands on outgoing service members as 
well as Reservists/Guards members. To meet the emerging needs 
of this population, H.R. 2366 was designed to ensure veterans 
have affordable, timely, and comprehensive access to start or 
grow small businesses through targeted resources and expertise 
at the agency. The expectation is that with improved capacity 
to overcome conditions unique to this population, veteran 
enterprises will become more successful in today's marketplace.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ PL 85-536, Section 2(a).
    \2\ PL 106-50, Section 201.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The bill enhances assistance to veteran entrepreneurs in 
three main areas: outreach, business counseling, and 
entrepreneurial development resources. Title 1 expands outreach 
to all service members by requiring SBA to participate at 
Transition Assistance Workshops located at military bases and 
to compile as well as distribute information on entrepreneurial 
development resources for women veterans. Title II establishes 
additional resources to enable existing general counseling 
centers located in communities across the country to develop 
new programs designed to support the sector's entrepreneurial 
needs. Building on the success of the agency's veteran 
programs, Title III expands the network of counseling centers 
designed to specifically assist this population.
    H.R. 2366 is intended to expand the focus of SBA's 
entrepreneurial development programs to address veterans who 
are in critical need of assistance, but continue to be at a 
disadvantage in the marketplace. The bill will also ensure that 
resources are utilized efficiently based upon existing 
expertise and infrastructure.

                II. Background and Need for Legislation

    The U.S. has a large and growing veteran population. There 
are 25 million veterans living today that have served the 
military in an active duty status. There are also over one 
million reservists, which include all branches of the National 
Guard and Reserve. Within this sector, there are a variety of 
backgrounds and needs. Ten percent, or 2.5 million, of them are 
service-disabled and one million are women.
    Returning military personnel have historically and are 
increasingly relying upon self-employment in order to maintain 
a stable income, particularly those who are disabled or between 
deployments. Numbering more than 5 million, they account for 14 
percent of these enterprises, including 7 percent that are 
operated by service disabled veterans. These entrepreneurs make 
critical contributions to the U.S. economy. Nearly three-
quarters expect to employ at least one other person, which 
supports job growth and expanding of local economies.

                VETERAN ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS

    Increasing demands on all types of service members to 
support ongoing military engagements have created economic 
challenges for them at home. Due to multiple and longer 
deployments, financial stability has become more difficult. 
Operating a business under these conditions has become 
significantly challenging. In fact, 22 percent of current 
veteran and reservist entrepreneurs have indicated that their 
businesses have been negatively impacted by deployments. The 
economic impact of declining and closing businesses due to 
deployment is felt by households, employees, and the 
communities in which they are located.
    Although they gain many skills and experiences while in the 
service, members often require training and assistance to 
transfer this knowledge to civilian employment and 
entrepreneurial opportunities. Without adequate preparation, 
some face difficulties finding productive economic 
opportunities following their transition to civilian life. 
Consequently, unemployment is more than double the national 
rate, at nearly 12 percent for veterans. Based on these 
figures, more needs to be done to adequately ensure that 
veterans and reservists have the entrepreneurial development 
assistance they need to succeed in civilian life and between 
deployments.
    Veteran entrepreneurs have many of the same needs as non-
veteran small business owners. They require affordable access 
to capital to initiate enterprises and maintain them before, 
after, and sometimes during deployment. They also require 
entrepreneurial training and management skills to build their 
businesses. Because veteran business owners face unique 
circumstance due to deployment, they can benefit from the 
location of resources in local communities, ensuring that they 
are accessible and affordable over the long term. By drawing on 
these resources, they can strengthen their businesses and 
ensure that they successfully compete in the market.

            GAPS IN ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS

    Assistance to veterans for the purpose of starting 
businesses emerged in 1944, with the Veterans Administration 
establishing a loan program for this sector. Currently, 
entrepreneurial assistance programs are administered by the 
Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
Department of Labor, and the Small Business Administration, 
which provide technical, educational, and financial assistance. 
Many private entities also provide programs designed for 
veterans, including private lending institutions and web-based 
resources. These programs have been established to increase 
opportunities and provide resources for entrepreneurship.
    There are significant problems with the state of assistance 
to veterans for starting and operating small businesses. Issues 
of concern include the level of outreach regarding 
entrepreneurial assistance resources after separation from the 
military; the effectiveness of the programs, and the 
accountability of organizations designed to serve this sector.

Limited veteran outreach activities

    Outreach is critical to ensure veterans have the tools to 
start businesses and access resources. Due to the rapid pace of 
demobilization, especially for military personnel returning 
from Iraq and Afghanistan, service members require immediate 
contact and assistance before they leave the system. Further, 
many of the benefits of these programs are limited to a defined 
time period following separation. For example, small businesses 
can apply for an SBA Military Reservist Economic Injury 
Disaster Loan any time beginning on the date an essential 
employee receives official call-up orders and ending 90 days 
after the date that employee is discharged or released from 
active duty.
    As veterans and reservists return home, they are most able 
to affordably access information on economic opportunities in 
their local communities. Service providers therefore must reach 
out to communities where they are located rather than relying 
upon military members to seek out resources. Furthermore, those 
involved with the military are generally concentrated in 
several locations across the country. For example, 13,000 of 
the Guardsmen scheduled to be deployed to Iraq beginning next 
year are stationed in four states: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, 
and Indiana. The top ten states in which veterans live comprise 
more than 50 percent of the total veteran population, with 
California, Florida, and Texas at the top of the rankings. 
Effective outreach would therefore target these areas.
    Many returning service members still lack adequate 
information on federal programs to assist them in starting or 
sustaining small businesses. In fact, although over 90 percent 
of the sector seeking entrepreneurial opportunities indicate 
that they would utilize business development services if they 
were well-advertised and properly designed, over one-third have 
reported a lack of knowledge of the existence of small business 
programs targeted to their needs. There is clearly a need for 
more information conveyed to members separating from military 
service.

Services not targeted to the population

    Entrepreneurial needs and the demographic composition of 
his sector have changed, as demonstrated by the new lifestyle 
and financial demands, which federal programs must accommodate 
in their service delivery. Service disabled veterans, for 
instance, have utilized small business assistance programs to a 
greater extent than their non-disabled counterparts (22 percent 
vs. 14 percent). They also have indicated receiving greater 
benefit from technological training during active duty service 
than their non-disabled counterparts (52 percent vs. 37 
percent), demonstrating the impact that programs target to this 
group could have on the sector. Female veterans have located 
their enterprises in home-based businesses at a greater rate 
(70 percent) than their male counterparts (61 percent). This 
indicates that they would benefit from more assistance 
developing facilities in residences and utilizing communication 
networks.
    Federal programs marketed to this population must help them 
overcome challenges to starting and developing a successful 
venture, such as limited access to business training, 
technological resources, and communication networks. Nearly 14 
percent of veterans interested in obtaining this assistance, 
however, have found existing programs unhelpful, evidence that 
programs have not adequately identified needs and implemented 
effective strategies to fulfill them. Women and disabled 
veteran business owners have reported the greatest number of 
problems obtaining customized service assistance, with nearly 
40 percent reporting obstacles to utilizing entrepreneurial 
assistance programs. These difficulties indicate that 
specialized veteran needs that have arisen, largely due to the 
changing demographics and medical capabilities helping more 
service members survive injuries, have not been adequately 
considered in current policies.

Inadequate direct assistance

    One of the most critical aspects of entrepreneurial 
development assistance is the hands-on counseling provided 
through local training centers. Veterans that return home from 
overseas deployments benefit from convenient access to 
affordable resources in their local communities as they seek to 
start or reinitiate a small business. However, veterans across 
the country lack adequate access to these resources.
    There is a critical need to expand the network of community 
based outreach centers that provide one-on-one assistance to 
veteran entrepreneurs. Currently, the SBA operates 6 Veterans 
Business Outreach Centers and the National Veterans Business 
Development Corporation provides grants to three community 
based training centers to counsel service members on small 
business opportunities. Given the fact that 300,000 service 
members return home each year, all states and communities, 
particularly where there are large concentrations of veterans 
and reservists, must be prepared to assist them pursue economic 
opportunities through entrepreneurial activities.

                             III. Hearings

    In the 110th Congress, the Committee on Small Business held 
a hearing on entrepreneurial development needs of all small 
business owners, including veterans. The focus of the hearing 
was the challenges they face in today's economy and 
recommendations for improvements to federal assistance 
programs. The Committee has also held at least one hearing per 
year on veteran entrepreneurship issues, including evaluating 
the effectiveness of federal entrepreneurial development 
programs designed to assist this sector, administered through 
the Small Business Administration and the National Veterans 
Business Development Corporation. Committee hearings have also 
evaluated obstacles faced by veteran entrepreneurs accessing 
affordable capital.

                      IV. Committee Consideration

    The Committee on Small Business met in open session on May 
23, 2007 to consider H.R. 2366.

                           V. Committee Votes

    The Committee on Small Business ordered H.R. 2366 reported 
to the House, by a voice vote at 10:25 a.m.

            VI. Section-by-Section Analysis of Veterans Bill


Section 1. Short title; table of contents

    This section includes a short title and the table of 
contents.

                                TITLE I

Section 101. The Office of Veterans Business Development

    This section requires the agency's Office of Veterans 
Business Development (OVBD) to directly participate in the 
Department of Labor's Transition Assistance Program workshops 
for demobilizing members at bases throughout the country. The 
OVBD is also required to report on the progress of this effort.
    To implement the program, the Committee expects that the 
OVBD will send central or district staff to the workshops 
according to their availability as well as relying upon staff 
from the Veterans Business Outreach Centers. It is also 
expected that progress reports indicate gaps in resources to 
fulfill the requirements, lessons learned from implementation, 
as well as statistics on members assisted through workshops.
    This section also requires the OVBD to compile and 
disseminate information on resources available to women 
veterans seeking entrepreneurial assistance. The Committee 
expects that the compiled information highlight educational, 
business management, and financing assistance resources from 
local/federal public resources, non-profit research and 
advocacy organizations, as well as private entities, such as 
banks. Effective distribution would be through the agency's 
website as well as by staff at Veterans Business Outreach 
Centers, Small Business Development Centers, and Women's 
Business Centers.

                                TITLE II

Section 201. Veterans Assistance and Services Program

    This section establishes grants for eligible Small Business 
Development Centers (SBDCs) to create counseling programs 
designed to assist veteran entrepreneurship. Through the 
grants, centers will provide assistance to veterans in some of 
the following areas: Evaluating business ideas, conducting 
market research, considering financing options, and training in 
technology.
    To ensure the agency's network of SBDCs focuses on this 
growing sector of the entrepreneurial population, the Committee 
intends the grants to enable centers, particularly those in 
communities and states with high concentrations of veterans, to 
adopt programs that boost the competitiveness of these small 
business owners. Programs should include specialized assistance 
to service disabled veterans and help transfer skills from 
active duty service to those relevant to business ownership.
    The Committee expects SBDC's core program funding to remain 
separate from appropriations for the new veteran's assistance 
program grant initiative established in H.R. 2366. Further, it 
is expected that the SBDC core program be funded at least at 
its current authorization level.
    The Committee obtained confirmation from the Small Business 
Administration that the agency expected the new grant 
initiative to be allocated separately from core program 
funding. In a letter dated May 18, 2007, C. Edward Rowe, III, 
SBA Assistant Administrator of Congressional and Legislative 
Affairs responded to the House Small Business Committee 
Chairwoman's request for the agency's interpretation of the 
funding distribution in the provision with the following: ``. . 
. this proposed language would maintain the main SBDC Program 
baseline funding separate from that of any other enacted SBDC 
related grant initiative programs. Any other enacted SBDC 
related grant initiative programs would require other funding 
sources.''

                               TITLE III

Section 301. Increasing the number of Outreach Centers

    This provision requires the agency to increase the number 
of Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) across the 
country. It sets a timetable for expansion, requiring at least 
two centers to open in 2008 and 2009, and provides the SBA 
administrator with the ability to determine, based on existing 
needs, the amount of centers to be opened thereafter.
    The Committee expects the agency to establish contracts for 
VBOCs with entities that have demonstrated success providing 
comprehensive services to veterans pursuing entrepreneurial 
opportunities. Non-profit entities that currently operate 
veterans outreach centers, including those with matching 
funding from other Federal, state, and private sources, are 
eligible for these awards.
    It is not the intention of the Committee that this 
provision should impact the National Veterans Business 
Development Corporation's (NVBDC) community outreach center 
mandate.\3\ The Committee expects that the NVBDC continue to 
provide grants to outreach centers that have demonstrated 
experience and success in assisting veterans start or expand a 
small business. Outreach centers that fulfill these objectives 
are eligible to receive grants from both SBA and the NVBDC to 
operate their programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ PL 85-536, Section 33(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 302. Independent study on gaps in availability of Outreach 
        Centers

    This section requires the administrator to sponsor an 
independent study on gaps in the availability of Veterans 
Business Outreach Centers across the United States within six 
months of the enactment of the legislation.
    The report should include an evaluation of new service 
needs of veterans as they continue to return to their 
communities and seek economic opportunities as well as 
additional resources needed by the agency to meet these needs.

             VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                     June 12, 2007.
Hon. Nydia M. Velazquez, Chairwoman,
Committee on Small Business,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2366, the SBA 
Veterans' Programs Act of 2007.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susan Willie.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Peter R. Orszag.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2366--SBA Veterans' Programs Act of 2007

    Summary: H.R. 2366 would authorize the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) to award grants to Small Business 
Development Centers (SBDC) to create a program to improve 
outreach to veterans and veterans organizations. The bill also 
would make a number of changes in the SBA's programs that 
support veterans who own small businesses. Assuming 
appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 2366 would cost about $1 million in 2008 and 
$34 million over the 2008-2012 period. Enacting H.R. 2366 would 
not affect direct spending or revenues.
    H.R. 2366 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would benefit state, local, or tribal governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 2366 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 370 
(commerce and housing credit).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
                                                                  2008      2009      2010      2011      2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Estimated Authorization Level.................................        10        11        12        12        13
Estimated Outlays.............................................         1         3         8        10        12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
bill will be enacted before the end of fiscal year 2007, that 
the necessary amounts will be appropriated each year, and that 
outlays will follow historical trends for those programs.
    H.R. 2366 would authorize SBA to award grants to SBDCs to 
expand their efforts to provide assistance and services to 
veterans who are small business owners. Currently, SBA provides 
funds for five Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) that 
provide targeted assistance to veterans each year. Based on 
information from SBA, we expect that under the bill, more than 
50 eligible SBDCs would be awarded grants of approximately 
$150,000 to provide the same type of services as provided by 
VBOCs. CBO estimates that awarding grants to target outreach 
efforts to veterans would cost about $1 million in 2008 and $29 
million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of 
the necessary amounts.
    The bill also would require VBOCs to participate in certain 
training workshops offered by the Department of Labor's 
Training Assistance Program (TAP). Currently, TAP workshops are 
offered at 173 locations in the United States and at 53 
locations in eight foreign countries. Based on information from 
SBA, CBO expects that SBA would enter into an agreement with a 
qualified small business to participate in approximately 5,000 
TAP workshops each year, a small increase over the number of 
workshops that were held in 2006. CBO estimates that 
implementing a TAP workshop program for veterans would cost $3 
million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of 
the necessary amounts.
    Finally, the bill would increase the number of VBOCs by at 
least two in each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and as needed 
each year thereafter. Based on information from SBA, CBO 
estimates that increasing the number of centers would cost $2 
million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of 
the necessary amounts.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 2366 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA. By allowing SBDCs to apply for additional 
grants from the SBA for veterans assistance programs and by 
increasing the number of Veterans Business Outreach Centers, 
the bill would benefit state, local, and tribal governments.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Susan Willie; Impact 
on State, local, and tribal governments: Elizabeth Cove; Impact 
on the private sector: Craig Cammarata.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    VII. Committee Estimate of Costs

    Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 2366. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has 
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the 
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.

                         IX. Oversight Findings

    In accordance with clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the oversight findings and 
recommendations of the Committee on Small Business with respect 
to the subject matter contained in H.R. 2366 are incorporated 
into the descriptive portions of this report.

                X. Statement of Constitutional Authority

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in Article I, Section 8, clause 18, of the 
Constitution of the United States.

                  XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    H.R. 2366 contains no unfunded mandates.

                 XII. Congressional Accountability Act

    H.R. 2366 does not relate to the terms and conditions of 
employment or access to public services or accommodations with 
the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of P.L. 104-1.

               XIII. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    H.R. 2366 does not establish or authorize the establishment 
of any new advisory committees.

                     XIV. Statement of No Earmarks

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI, H.R. 2366 does not 
contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 
limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 
9(f) of Rule XXI.

                  XV. Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee establishes the 
following performance related goals and objectives for this 
legislation:
    H.R. 2366 includes a number of provisions designed to 
update and to improve the Small Business Administration's 
programs to assist veteran entrepreneurs.

       XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

SMALL BUSINESS ACT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


  Sec. 21. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (n) Veterans Assistance and Services Program.--
          (1) In general.--A Small Business Development Center 
        may apply for an additional grant to carry out a 
        veterans assistance and services program.
          (2) Elements of program.--Under a program under 
        paragraph (1), the Center shall--
                  (A) create a marketing campaign to promote 
                awareness and education of the services of the 
                Center that are available to veterans, and to 
                target the campaign toward veterans, disabled 
                veterans, military units, Federal agencies, and 
                veterans organizations;
                  (B) use technology-assisted online counseling 
                and distance learning technology to overcome 
                the impediments to entrepreneurship faced by 
                veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and
                  (C) increase coordination among organizations 
                that assist veterans, including by establishing 
                virtual integration of service providers and 
                offerings for a one-stop point of contact for 
                veterans who are entrepreneurs or small 
                business owners.
          (3) Minimum amount.--Each grant under this subsection 
        shall be for at least $75,000.
          (4) Maximum amount.--A grant under this subsection 
        may not exceed $250,000.
          (5) Funding.--Subject to amounts approved in advance 
        in appropriations Acts, the Administration may make 
        grants or enter into cooperative agreements to carry 
        out the provisions of this subsection.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 32. VETERANS PROGRAMS.

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Participation in Tap Workshops.--
          (1) In general.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        increase veteran outreach by ensuring that Veteran 
        Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a 
        nationwide basis, in the workshops of the Transition 
        Assistance Program of the Department of Labor.
          (2) Presentations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), a 
        Center may provide grants to eligible entities located 
        in Transition Assistance Program locations to make 
        presentations on the opportunities available from the 
        Administration for recently separating veterans. Each 
        such presentation must include, at a minimum, the 
        entrepreneurial and business training resources 
        available from the Administration.
          (3) Reports.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        submit to Congress progress reports on the 
        implementation of this subsection.
  (d) Women Veterans Business Training Resource Program.--The 
Associate Administrator shall establish a Women Veterans 
Business Training Resource Program. The program shall--
          (1) compile information on resources available to 
        women veterans for business training, including 
        resources for--
                  (A) vocational and technical education;
                  (B) general business skills, such as 
                marketing and accounting; and
                  (C) business assistance programs targeted to 
                women veterans; and
          (2) disseminate the information through Veteran 
        Business Outreach Centers and women's business centers.
  [(c)] (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
          (1)  * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                  
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