S 1998 — Veterans Small Business Ownership Improvements Act

Summary

Veterans Small Business Ownership Improvements Act This bill establishes new veteran entrepreneurial development programs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) and makes adjustments to existing programs to provide access for veterans. Specifically, the bill authorizes the SBA to make grants to private nonprofit organizations to establish veteran's business outreach centers. Each center must provide individual counseling to small businesses, as well as training and counseling through online and in-person workshops and seminars. The bill also provides statutory authority for the Boots to Business Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to individuals including veterans and active members of the Armed Forces. The SBA must designate an individual in each district office as a veterans business development officer, who shall coordinate activities of the district office with entities receiving assistance under the program. The SBA must also establish an online tool to coordinate and aid the work of veterans' small business assistance providers. Finally, the SBA must develop the existing network of peer-to-peer counseling and mentoring resources that are available to veteran-owned small businesses as components of SBA programs. The SBA must also establish an online resource for veterans regarding all of the entrepreneurial development programs of the SBA. The Government Accountability Office shall report on the ability of veteran-owned small businesses to access credit, including an analysis of the sources of credit and the default rate for such businesses.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html June 26, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes the Veteran's Business Outreach Center program and modifies existing provisions related to veterans' business assistance.

• 15 U.S.C. 657b

  (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.

  This removes the requirement for Veteran Business Outreach Centers to participate in Transition Assistance Program workshops.

• 15 U.S.C. 657b

  (f) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2005; and (2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.

  This deletes the previous appropriations authorization, allowing for new financial provisions under the program.

• 15 U.S.C. 657b

  (d) Veteran's Business Outreach Center Program.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection-- (A) the term `covered individual' means-- (i) a member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether the member is participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; (ii) an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; (iii) an individual who-- (I) served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves; and (II) was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; and (iv) a spouse or dependent of an individual described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii); (B) the term `private nonprofit organization' means an entity that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and (C) the term `veteran's business outreach center site' means the location of-- (i) a veteran's business outreach center; or (ii) 1 or more veteran's business outreach center, established in conjunction with another veteran's business outreach center in another location within a State or region-- (I) that reach a distinct population that would otherwise not be served; (II) whose services are targeted to veterans; and (III) whose scope, function, and activities are similar to those of the primary veteran's business outreach center or centers in conjunction with which it was established.

  This establishes a new program for Veteran's Business Outreach Centers, defining covered individuals and the organizations involved.

• 15 U.S.C. 657b

  (e) Boots to Business Program.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection-- (A) the term `covered individual' means-- (i) a member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether the member is participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; (ii) an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; (iii) an individual who-- (I) served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves; and (II) was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; and (iv) a spouse or dependent of an individual described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii);

  This adds a new 'Boots to Business Program' for better support of transitioning service members into business ownership.

• 15 U.S.C. 657b

  (9) Authorization of appropriations.-- (A) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection-- (i) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (ii) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (iii) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; (iv) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. (B) Use of amounts.--Amounts made available under this paragraph for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter-- (i) may only be used for grant awards; and (ii) may not be used for costs incurred by the Administration in connection with the management and administration of the program under this subsection.

  This sets new appropriations for the Veteran's Business Outreach Center program for future years.

Action History

1. June 26, 2019

   Introduced in Senate

2. June 26, 2019

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Sponsors

• Cory Gardner · Primary

Subjects