[Pages H35-H39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PROVIDING FOR CONCURRENCE BY HOUSE WITH AMENDMENT IN SENATE AMENDMENT
TO H.R. 4253, MILITARY RESERVIST AND VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS
REAUTHORIZATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2008

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 921) providing for the concurrence by the
House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an amendment.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 921

Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution the
bill (H.R. 4253) entitled ``An Act to improve and expand
small business assistance programs for veterans of the armed
forces and military reservists, and for other purposes'',
with the Senate amendment thereto, shall be considered to
have been taken from the Speaker's table to the end that the
Senate amendment thereto be, and the same is hereby, agreed
to with the following amendment:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the
amendment of the Senate, insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Military Reservist and
Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of
2008''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.

TITLE I--VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 101. Increased funding for the Office of Veterans Business
Development.
Sec. 102. Interagency task force.
Sec. 103. Permanent extension of SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans
Business Affairs.
Sec. 104. Office of Veterans Business Development.
Sec. 105. Increasing the number of outreach centers.
Sec. 106. Independent study on gaps in availability of outreach
centers.
Sec. 107. Veterans assistance and services program.

TITLE II--RESERVIST PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Reservist programs.
Sec. 202. Reservist loans.
Sec. 203. Noncollateralized loans.
Sec. 204. Loan priority.
Sec. 205. Relief from time limitations for veteran-owned small
businesses.
Sec. 206. Service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 207. Study on options for promoting positive working relations
between employers and their Reserve Component employees.
Sec. 208. Increased Veteran Participation Program.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act--
(1) the term ``activated'' means receiving an order placing
a Reservist on active duty;

[[Page H36]]

(2) the term ``active duty'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;
(3) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean
the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
thereof, respectively;
(4) 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;
(5) the term ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' means
the Service Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section
8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1));
(6) the terms ``service-disabled veteran'' and ``small
business concern'' have the meaning as in section 3 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
(7) the term ``small business development center'' means a
small business development center described in section 21 of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648); and
(8) the term ``women's business center'' means a women's
business center described in section 29 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656).

TITLE I--VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF VETERANS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Office of Veterans Business Development of the
Administration, to remain available until expended--
(1) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(2) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(b) Funding Offset.--Amounts necessary to carry out
subsection (a) shall be offset and made available through the
reduction of the authorization of funding under section
20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631
note).
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
any amounts provided pursuant to this section that are in
excess of amounts provided to the Administration for the
Office of Veterans Business Development in fiscal year 2007,
should be used to support Veterans Business Outreach Centers.

SEC. 102. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Interagency Task Force.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this subsection, the President shall
establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts
of Federal agencies necessary to improve capital and business
development opportunities for, and ensure achievement of the
pre-established Federal contracting goals for, small business
concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans
and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans
(in this section referred to as the `task force').
``(2) Membership.--The members of the task force shall
include--
``(A) the Administrator, who shall serve as chairperson of
the task force; and
``(B) a senior level representative from--
``(i) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
``(ii) the Department of Defense;
``(iii) the Administration (in addition to the
Administrator);
``(iv) the Department of Labor;
``(v) the Department of the Treasury;
``(vi) the General Services Administration;
``(vii) the Office of Management and Budget; and
``(viii) 4 representatives from a veterans service
organization or military organization or association,
selected by the President.
``(3) Duties.--The task force shall--
``(A) consult regularly with veterans service organizations
and military organizations in performing the duties of the
task force; and
``(B) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities
and develop proposals relating to--
``(i) improving capital access and capacity of small
business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by
veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;
``(ii) ensuring achievement of the pre-established Federal
contracting goals for small business concerns owned and
controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business
concerns owned and controlled by veterans through expanded
mentor-protege assistance and matching such small business
concerns with contracting opportunities;
``(iii) increasing the integrity of certifications of
status as a small business concern owned and controlled by
service-disabled veterans or a small business concern owned
and controlled by veterans;
``(iv) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on
veterans in accessing business development and
entrepreneurship opportunities;
``(v) increasing and improving training and counseling
services provided to small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans; and
``(vi) making other improvements relating to the support
for veterans business development by the Federal
Government.''.

SEC. 103. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF SBA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
VETERANS BUSINESS AFFAIRS.

(a) Assumption of Duties.--Section 33 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 657c) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (h); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (i) through (k) as
subsections (h) through (j), respectively.
(b) Permanent Extension of Authority.--Section 203 of the
Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act
of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking
subsection (h).

SEC. 104. OFFICE OF VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended by inserting after subsection (c) (as added by
section 102) the following:
``(d) 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
Veteran Business Outreach Center may provide grants to
entities located in Transition Assistance Program locations
to make presentations on the opportunities available from the
Administration for recently separating or separated veterans.
Each presentation under this paragraph shall include, at a
minimum, a description of the entrepreneurial and business
training resources available from the Administration.
``(3) Written materials.--The Associate Administrator
shall--
``(A) create written materials that provide comprehensive
information on self-employment and veterans entrepreneurship,
including information on resources available from the
Administration on such topics; and
``(B) make the materials created under subparagraph (A)
available to the Secretary of Labor for inclusion in the
Transition Assistance Program manual.
``(4) Reports.--The Associate Administrator shall submit to
Congress progress reports on the implementation of this
subsection.
``(e) Women Veterans Business Training.--The Associate
Administrator shall--
``(1) compile information on existing 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 compiled under paragraph
(1) through Veteran Business Outreach Centers and women's
business centers.''.

SEC. 105. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OUTREACH CENTERS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator shall use the authority
in section 8(b)(17) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637(b)(17)) to ensure that the number of Veterans Business
Outreach Centers throughout the United States increases--
(1) subject to subsection (b), by at least 2, for each of
fiscal years 2008 and 2009; and
(2) by the number that the Administrator considers
appropriate, based on need, for each fiscal year thereafter.
(b) Limitation.--Subsection (a)(1) shall apply in a fiscal
year if, for that fiscal year, the amount made available for
the Office of Veterans Business Development is more than the
amount made available for the Office of Veterans Business
Development for fiscal year 2007.

SEC. 106. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON GAPS IN AVAILABILITY OF
OUTREACH CENTERS.

The Administrator shall sponsor an independent study on
gaps in the availability of Veterans Business Outreach
Centers across the United States, to inform decisions on
funding and on the allocation and coordination of resources.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on
the results of the study.

SEC. 107. VETERANS ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES PROGRAM.

Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(n) Veterans Assistance and Services Program.--
``(1) In general.--A small business development center may
apply for a grant under this subsection to carry out a
veterans assistance and services program.
``(2) Elements of program.--Under a program carried out
with a grant under this subsection, a small business
development 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,
service-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 owners of small
business concerns.

[[Page H37]]

``(3) Amount of grants.--A grant under this subsection
shall be for not less than $75,000 and not more than
$250,000.
``(4) 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.''.

TITLE II--RESERVIST PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. RESERVIST PROGRAMS.

(a) Application Period.--Section 7(b)(3)(C) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(C)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``90 days'' and inserting ``1 year''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following: ``The Administrator
may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator),
extend the ending date specified in the preceding sentence by
not more than 1 year.''.
(b) Pre-Consideration Process.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``eligible
Reservist'' means a Reservist who--
(A) has not been ordered to active duty;
(B) expects to be ordered to active duty during a period of
military conflict; and
(C) can reasonably demonstrate that the small business
concern for which that Reservist is a key employee will
suffer economic injury in the absence of that Reservist.
(2) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a
pre-consideration process, under which the Administrator--
(A) may collect all relevant materials necessary for
processing a loan to a small business concern under section
7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3))
before an eligible Reservist employed by that small business
concern is activated; and
(B) shall distribute funds for any loan approved under
subparagraph (A) if that eligible Reservist is activated.
(c) Outreach and Technical Assistance Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense, may develop a comprehensive outreach and technical
assistance program (in this subsection referred to as the
``program'') to--
(A) market the loans available under section 7(b)(3) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) to Reservists, and
family members of Reservists, that are on active duty and
that are not on active duty; and
(B) provide technical assistance to a small business
concern applying for a loan under that section.
(2) Components.--The program shall--
(A) incorporate appropriate websites maintained by the
Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the
Department of Defense; and
(B) require that information on the program is made
available to small business concerns directly through--
(i) the district offices and resource partners of the
Administration, including small business development centers,
women's business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired
Executives; and
(ii) other Federal agencies, including the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
(3) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter until
the date that is 30 months after such date of enactment, the
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the status
of the program.
(B) Contents.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A)
shall include--
(i) for the 6-month period ending on the date of that
report--

(I) the number of loans approved under section 7(b)(3) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3));
(II) the number of loans disbursed under that section; and
(III) the total amount disbursed under that section; and

(ii) recommendations, if any, to make the program more
effective in serving small business concerns that employ
Reservists.

SEC. 202. RESERVIST LOANS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator and the Secretary of
Defense shall develop a joint website and printed materials
providing information regarding any program for small
business concerns that is available to veterans or
Reservists.
(b) Marketing.--The Administrator is authorized--
(1) to advertise and promote the program under section
7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act jointly with the Secretary
of Defense and veterans' service organizations; and
(2) to advertise and promote participation by lenders in
such program jointly with trade associations for banks or
other lending institutions.

SEC. 203. NONCOLLATERALIZED LOANS.

Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not
more than $50,000 without collateral.
``(ii) The Administrator may defer payment of principal and
interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer
of--
``(I) the 1-year period beginning on the date of the
initial disbursement of the loan; and
``(II) the period during which the relevant essential
employee is on active duty.''.

SEC. 204. LOAN PRIORITY.

Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(b)(3)), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(H) The Administrator shall give priority to any
application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process
and make a determination regarding such applications prior to
processing or making a determination on other loan
applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.''.

SEC. 205. RELIEF FROM TIME LIMITATIONS FOR VETERAN-OWNED
SMALL BUSINESSES.

Section 3(q) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Relief from time limitations.--
``(A) In general.--Any time limitation on any
qualification, certification, or period of participation
imposed under this Act on any program that is available to
small business concerns shall be extended for a small
business concern that--
``(i) is owned and controlled by--

``(I) a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty
under a provision of law specified in section 101(a)(13)(B)
of title 10, United States Code, on or after September 11,
2001; or
``(II) a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran
due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the
active military, naval, or air service during a period of
active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under
a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after
September 11, 2001; and

``(ii) was subject to the time limitation during such
period of active duty.
``(B) Duration.--Upon submission of proper documentation to
the Administrator, the extension of a time limitation under
subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the period of time that
such veteran who owned or controlled such a concern was on
active duty as described in that subparagraph.
``(C) Exception for programs subject to federal credit
reform act of 1990.--The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and
(B) shall not apply to any programs subject to the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).''.

SEC. 206. SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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
describing--
(1) the types of assistance needed by service-disabled
veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs; and
(2) any resources that would assist such service-disabled
veterans.

SEC. 207. STUDY ON OPTIONS FOR PROMOTING POSITIVE WORKING
RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THEIR RESERVE
COMPONENT EMPLOYEES.

(a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study on options for promoting
positive working relations between employers and Reserve
component employees of such employers, including assessing
options for improving the time in which employers of
Reservists are notified of the call or order of such members
to active duty other than for training.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of--
(i) what measures, if any, are being taken to inform
Reservists of the obligations and responsibilities of such
members to their employers;
(ii) how effective such measures have been; and
(iii) whether there are additional measures that could be
taken to promote positive working relations between
Reservists and their employers, including any steps that
could be taken to ensure that employers are timely notified
of a call to active duty; and
(B) assess whether there has been a reduction in the hiring
of Reservists by business concerns because of--
(i) any increase in the use of Reservists after September
11, 2001; or
(ii) any change in any policy of the Department of Defense
relating to Reservists after September 11, 2001.
(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 208. INCREASED VETERAN PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.

Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(32) Increased veteran participation program.--

[[Page H38]]

``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph--
``(i) the term `cost' has the meaning given that term in
section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2
U.S.C. 661a);
``(ii) the term `pilot program' means the pilot program
established under subparagraph (B); and
``(iii) the term `veteran participation loan' means a loan
made under this subsection to a small business concern owned
and controlled by veterans of the Armed Forces or members of
the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
``(B) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and
carry out a pilot program under which the Administrator shall
reduce the fees for veteran participation loans.
``(C) Duration.--The pilot program shall terminate at the
end of the second full fiscal year after the date that the
Administrator establishes the pilot program.
``(D) Maximum participation.--A veteran participation loan
shall include the maximum participation levels by the
Administrator permitted for loans made under this subsection.
``(E) Fees.--
``(i) In general.--The fee on a veteran participation loan
shall be equal to 50 percent of the fee otherwise applicable
to that loan under paragraph (18).
``(ii) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive clause (i) for
a fiscal year if--

``(I) for the fiscal year before that fiscal year, the
annual estimated rate of default of veteran participation
loans exceeds that of loans made under this subsection that
are not veteran participation loans;
``(II) the cost to the Administration of making loans under
this subsection is greater than zero and such cost is
directly attributable to the cost of making veteran
participation loans; and
``(III) no additional sources of revenue authority are
available to reduce the cost of making loans under this
subsection to zero.

``(iii) Effect of waiver.--If the Administrator waives the
reduction of fees under clause (ii), the Administrator--

``(I) shall not assess or collect fees in an amount greater
than necessary to ensure that the cost of the program under
this subsection is not greater than zero; and
``(II) shall reinstate the fee reductions under clause (i)
when the conditions in clause (ii) no longer apply.

``(iv) No increase of fees.--The Administrator shall not
increase the fees under paragraph (18) on loans made under
this subsection that are not veteran participation loans as a
direct result of the pilot program.
``(F) GAO report.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date
that the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on
the pilot program.
``(ii) Contents.--The report submitted under clause (i)
shall include--

``(I) the number of veteran participation loans for which
fees were reduced under the pilot program;
``(II) a description of the impact of the pilot program on
the program under this subsection;
``(III) an evaluation of the efficacy and potential fraud
and abuse of the pilot program; and
``(IV) recommendations for improving the pilot program.''.

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

General Leave

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, this body has heard time and again of
the courage, discipline and selflessness with which our veterans serve
this Nation. What is less well known, however, are the contributions
that veterans make to our Nation's economy.
Last month, 407 Members of this House voted to pass H.R. 4253. This
bill represented an important step toward a comprehensive update of the
Small Business Administration's veterans assistance programs, programs
which remove barriers to veterans' self-employment and provide veteran
entrepreneurs with support for growth and expansion. Again, I wish to
commend Congressman Jason Altmire and Congressman Vern Buchanan for
their leadership on this legislation.
Not long after this body passed H.R. 4253, the Senate took up the
legislation and offered a number of changes. The resolution we are
considering today provides for the concurrence in the Senate amendment
and makes additional changes of our own.
The amendment in this resolution does two things. First, the
amendment makes technical revisions to clarify language in the bill.
Second, the amendment removes a nongermane provision that was inserted
by the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253.
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, the number of returning
veterans will only increase. Our support for veterans, however, does
not end with their deployment. We must continue to work to support
these budding entrepreneurs as they reach for the American dream of
business ownership. I believe the underlying bill is a major step
towards realizing this goal, and I strongly support this legislation. I
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the request to suspend the
rules and pass House Resolution 921, which agrees to the Senate
amendment to H.R. 4253, the Military Reservist and Veterans Small
Business Reauthorization Opportunity Act of 2007, subject to an
amendment.
I would like to thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in a
cooperative and bipartisan manner to bring this resolution to the
floor, which, again, incorporates a number of provisions of a bill
authored by Mr. Buchanan from Florida, a freshman member of the Small
Business Committee.
The provisions of this resolution are substantially similar to those
contained in H.R. 4253 passed by the House in the last session. For the
sake of brevity, interested parties can refer to the December 5, 2007
Congressional Record for that statement.
The resolution makes necessary technical changes to the Senate
amendment. The House bill required the establishment of an interagency
task force to improve business advice given to veteran-owned small
businesses. This resolution restores the requirement that the
interagency task force include the advice from veteran service
organizations. It makes no sense to try and improve veterans services
to veterans without actually consulting them.
Reservists have their own set of operational problems, especially if
they own a business or are a key employee in a small business. These
Reservists are making a sacrifice to the health of their business in
order to protect the liberty and freedom of all Americans. The least we
can do is provide the small businesses owned by or employing these
Reservists sufficient access to advice and capital to enable their
businesses to survive during their absence. The resolution before us
today does just that.
In particular, the resolution ensures that small communities where a
Reservist-owned business is a major source of employment will have
access to economic injury disaster loan funds from the SBA to pay
employees and meet other expenses while the owner is on active duty.
Small communities that rely on one employer should not have to suffer
because the owner of a business has elected the noble obligation to
serve our country in uniform.
Finally, the resolution adopts a modified form of the reduction in
costs for guaranteed loans made to veterans under SBA's 7(a) loan
program. I commend the chairwoman for taking an approach that helps
veterans obtain loans without unduly increasing costs to the American
taxpayer or other borrowers under the 7(a) loan program.
No one can dispute the sacrifice that America's veterans have made
and continue to make in defense of our country. While the repayment of
that debt may never be fully compensated, we can never fully pay back
those that have served this country so honorably in uniform, we can
certainly provide them with the needed assistance to prosper in
civilian life. Today's resolution will do that. I want to thank the
chairwoman again for working to make this possible and thank Mr.
Buchanan for his leadership on this issue.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, a lead sponsor of the bill, Mr. Jason
Altmire, as much time as he may consume.

[[Page H39]]

Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, last month the House and the Senate
passed the Military Reservist and Veterans Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act to expand business opportunities
for veterans and Reservists. And after Senate action, today we will
vote again to pass this legislation that I introduced to ensure
veterans and Reservists are afforded every opportunity for economic
success at home given their sacrifices abroad.
Starting and maintaining a small business can be challenging for
anyone, and unfortunately veterans often face unique obstacles as a
result of their military service. The unemployment rate among veterans
is more than twice that of the national average, and nearly 40 percent
of Reservists lose income when they are deployed.
While Congress has taken action to provide Federal agencies with
resources to encourage entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans, I
believe that more can still be done to relieve the burden that is
placed on small business owners during and after deployment.
At a time when our veteran population continues to grow, it is more
important than ever for us to afford our brave men and women in uniform
every opportunity for success. The Military Reservist and Veterans
Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act provides the SBA's
Office of Veterans Business Development with the resources necessary to
expand entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans and Reservists and
improve existing programs to help keep small businesses afloat while
their members are deployed.
The amendment we will consider today makes minor changes to the bill
we passed in December, but the intent remains the same. This
legislation increases funding for the SBA's Office of Veterans Business
Development, improves programs designed to help relieve the burden
placed on small business owners during and after deployments,
facilitates the coordination of all Federal agencies to focus attention
on expanding opportunities for veteran-owned businesses, makes the SBA
Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs permanent, and
increases the number of veterans business outreach centers across the
country.
Madam Speaker, there is no question that veterans have a unique
ability to thrive as entrepreneurs. They have the skill and the drive
necessary to run successful businesses. But more must be done to help
them fulfill their goals and their needs.
I strongly support this legislation, which I introduced, and I ask my
colleagues for their support of the Military Reservist and Veterans
Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act, and urge the Senate
to quickly take up and pass this important legislation.

{time} 1115

Lastly, Madam Speaker, I would thank the gentleman from Florida, my
good friend, Mr. Buchanan; the ranking member, Mr. Chabot, for their
help in working through these issues. And hopefully now, with the work
of the chairwoman, we can have a bill that can pass both Chambers and
move to the President's desk.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I would just like to commend two freshman
Members. I think this is another example that shows bipartisanship on
the Small Business Committee, to the credit of the chairwoman, Ms.
Velazquez, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire), a freshman
Member, and Mr. Buchanan, a freshman Member from Florida, working
together to benefit veterans and small businesses in this country. So I
think I'd like to see that spirit illustrated in the rest of the
Congress, and I want to thank again Mr. Altmire and Mr. Buchanan.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Buchanan.
Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for
yielding me the time, and I rise in support of the resolution.
I'd also like to thank my fellow freshman, Congressman Altmire, and I
want to thank the chairman of our Small Business Committee, because she
has been very bipartisan from day one. She's been very helpful to me,
and I think, frankly, this is what the country is looking for. So I
want to thank the freshman Congressman. I think this is a very powerful
thing.
Also, I just wanted to say that I know there's a Senate compromise,
and a number of provisions in that are important to me.
This resolution incorporates legislation I introduced in May and the
House passed in June, creating an important program within the Small
Business Administration. This will give our veterans not just a chance
at success in a small business enterprise, but provide them with the
help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer.
My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants,
information services and contacts with professionals in their field of
endeavor. This Federal support will enhance the ability of veterans to
become an entrepreneur in his or her own right.
The measure puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market
research, financial options, and technological training important to
becoming a successful small business owner.
This legislation not only expands the number but the scope of Veteran
Outreach Centers. It ensures the opening of more doors in terms of that
and the opportunity for women veterans. Assisting our women returning
from combat has been an area long overlooked, and it's high time we did
something about it.
I know in my personal situation, I went in as an 18-year-old in the
Air National Guard. At 23, I had a chance to get in business for
myself, for a kid that grew up in a blue-collar family, and I've lived
that American Dream, being self-employed for 30 years. I want to make
sure that our veterans have that same opportunity today for all the
sacrifices they are making.
I'm excited today that the House will pass a resolution that will
help individuals make an important transition from a veteran to a small
business entrepreneur, and we are one step closer to having this
important legislation signed into law.
I urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and support the resolution.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, but I
reserve the right to close.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, we yield back the balance of our time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I just want to take the opportunity
again to thank Ranking Member Chabot and Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Altmire
and also the staff from the Democratic side and the Republican side for
working in a bipartisan manner to help achieve this goal of providing
the tools necessary for the veterans who are returning home.
With that, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 921.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 921.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam 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 and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

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