15 U.S.C. § 657b: Veterans programs

There is established in the Administration an Office of Veterans Business Development, which shall be administered by the Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development (in this section referred to as the “Associate Administrator”) appointed under section 633(b)(1) of this title . shall be an appointee in the Senior Executive Service; shall be responsible for the formulation, execution, and promotion of policies and programs of the Administration that provide assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. The Associate Administrator shall act as an ombudsman for full consideration of veterans in all programs of the Administration; and shall report to and be responsible directly to the Administrator. Not later than 90 days after February 14, 2008 , 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”). the Administrator, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force; and the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Department of Defense; the Administration (in addition to the Administrator); the Department of Labor; the Department of the Treasury; the General Services Administration; the Office of Management and Budget; and 4 representatives from a veterans service organization or military organization or association, selected by the President. consult regularly with veterans service organizations and military organizations in performing the duties of the task force; and 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; 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-protégé assistance and matching such small business concerns with contracting opportunities; 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; reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on veterans in accessing business development and entrepreneurship opportunities; increasing and improving training and counseling services provided to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans; and making other improvements relating to the support for veterans business development by the Federal Government. 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. 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. 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 make the materials created under subparagraph (A) available to the Secretary of Labor for inclusion in the Transition Assistance Program manual. The Associate Administrator shall submit to Congress progress reports on the implementation of this subsection. vocational and technical education; general business skills, such as marketing and accounting; and business assistance programs targeted to women veterans; and disseminate the information compiled under paragraph (1) through Veteran Business Outreach Centers and women’s business centers. $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2005; and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006. the term “foreign excess property” has the meaning given the term in section 102 of title 40 ; and the term “state agency” has the meaning given the term, including the roles and responsibilities assigned, in section 549 of title 40 . The Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of General Services, shall provide access to and manage the distribution of surplus property, and foreign excess property returned to a State for handling as surplus property, owned by the United States under chapter 7 of title 40, to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (as verified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 8127 of title 38 ) pursuant to a memorandum of agreement between the Administrator, the Administrator of General Services, and the head of the applicable state agency for surplus properties and in accordance with section 549 of title 40 . an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title 10 , subject to an availability determination by the Secretary of the military department concerned; a servicemember in the National Guard or Reserves not on active duty. 1 1 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon. served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or a spouse or dependent of an individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). During the period beginning on December 23, 2024 , and ending on September 30, 2028 , the Administrator shall carry out a program to be known as the “Boots to Business Program” to provide entrepreneurship training to covered individuals. provide assistance and in-depth training to covered individuals interested in business ownership; and provide covered individuals with the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of capital, connect with local resources for small business concerns, and start up a small business concern. a presentation providing exposure to the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern; an online, self-study course focused on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern; an in-person classroom instruction component providing an introduction to the foundations of self-employment and ownership of a small business concern; and in-depth training delivered through online instruction, including an online course that leads to the creation of a business plan. collaborate with public and private entities to develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program; and modify program components in coordination with entities participating in a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 ( 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to Business Program; and to the maximum extent practicable, use district offices of the Administration and a variety of other resource partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business Program. In carrying out clause (i), the Administrator may make grants, subject to the availability of appropriations in advance, to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other resource partners, or other entities to carry out components of the Boots to Business Program. The Administrator shall make available to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor information regarding the Boots to Business Program, including all course materials and outreach materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for inclusion on the websites of the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor relating to the Transition Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance Program manual, and in other relevant materials available for distribution from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor. describe the Boots to Business Program and the services provided; and include eligibility requirements for participating in the Boots to Business Program. The Administrator shall ensure information regarding the Boots to Business Program, including all course materials and outreach materials related to the Boots to Business Program, is made available to other participating agencies in the Transition Assistance Program and upon request of other agencies. The Administration shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the Administration under the Boots to Business Program. Not later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice of the funding opportunity. may be included as part of another report submitted to such committees by the Administrator related to the Office of Veterans Business Development; and grants awarded under paragraph (4)(C); the total cost of the Boots to Business Program; the number of program participants using each component of the Boots to Business Program; the completion rates for each component of the Boots to Business Program; the demographics of program participants, to include gender, age, race, ethnicity, and relationship to military; the number of program participants that connect with a district office of the Administration, a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or another resource partner of the Administration; the number of program participants that start a small business concern; the results of the Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot course quality surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business Development before and after attending each of those courses, including a summary of any comments received from program participants; the results of the Boots to Business Program outcome surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business Development, including a summary of any comments received from program participants; and the results of other germane participant satisfaction surveys; an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic region covered by the Administration during the most recent fiscal year; an assessment of additional performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by the Administrator; any recommendations of the Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered individuals; an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program has been integrated with other transition programs and related resources of the Administration and other Federal agencies; and any additional information the Administrator determines necessary. Veterans of the United States Armed Forces have been and continue to be vital to the small business enterprises of the United States. In serving the United States, veterans often faced great risks to preserve the American dream of freedom and prosperity. The United States has done too little to assist veterans, particularly service-disabled veterans, in playing a greater role in the economy of the United States by forming and expanding small business enterprises. Medical advances and new medical technologies have made it possible for service-disabled veterans to play a much more active role in the formation and expansion of small business enterprises in the United States. The United States must provide additional assistance and support to veterans to better equip them to form and expand small business enterprises, thereby enabling them to realize the American dream that they fought to protect.” expanding the eligibility for certain small business assistance programs to include veterans; directing certain departments and agencies of the United States to take actions that enhance small business assistance to veterans; and establishing new institutions to provide small business assistance to veterans or to support the institutions that provide such assistance.” the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (in this section referred to as the ‘Administrator’); the Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development of the Small Business Administration; the Congress; the President; and other United States policymakers. eight shall be veterans who are owners of small business concerns (within the meaning of the term under section 3 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632 )); and seven shall be representatives of veterans organizations. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Administrator in accordance with this section. Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Aug. 17, 1999 ], the Administrator shall appoint the initial members of the Committee. Not more than eight members of the Committee shall be of the same political party as the President. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no member of the Committee may serve as an officer or employee of the United States. A member of the Committee who accepts a position as an officer or employee of the United States after the date of the member’s appointment to the Committee may continue to serve on the Committee for not more than 30 days after such acceptance. Subject to subparagraph (B), the term of service of each member of the Committee shall be 3 years. six shall be appointed for a term of 4 years; and five shall be appointed for a term of 5 years. The Administrator shall fill any vacancies on the membership of the Committee not later than 30 days after the date on which such vacancy occurs. The members of the Committee shall elect one of the members to be Chairperson of the Committee. Any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson of the Committee shall be filled by the Committee at the first meeting of the Committee following the date on which the vacancy occurs. Review, coordinate, and monitor plans and programs developed in the public and private sectors, that affect the ability of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to obtain capital and credit and to access markets. Promote the collection of business information and survey data as they relate to veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Monitor and promote plans, programs, and operations of the departments and agencies of the United States that may contribute to the formation and growth of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Develop and promote initiatives, policies, programs, and plans designed to foster small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Develop a comprehensive plan, to be updated annually, for joint public-private sector efforts to facilitate growth and development of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Subject to subsection (e), the Committee may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Committee considers advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Committee, the head of any department or agency of the United States shall furnish such information to the Committee as the Committee considers to be necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. The Committee may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. The Committee shall meet, not less than three times per year, at the call of the Chairperson or at the request of the Administrator. Each meeting of the full Committee shall be held at the headquarters of the Small Business Administration located in Washington, District of Columbia. The Administrator shall provide suitable meeting facilities and such administrative support as may be necessary for each full meeting of the Committee. The Committee may, from time-to-time, establish temporary task groups as may be necessary in order to carry out its duties. Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation for their service to the Committee. The members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with section 5703 of title 5 , United States Code. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this section [ Aug. 17, 1999 ], the Committee shall transmit to the Congress and the President a report describing the activities of the Committee and any recommendations developed by the Committee for the promotion of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.” The appointment by SCORE in its national office of an individual to act as National Veterans Business Coordinator, whose duties shall relate exclusively to veterans business matters, and who shall be responsible for the establishment and administration of a program to coordinate counseling and training regarding entrepreneurship to veterans through the chapters of SCORE throughout the United States. The assistance of SCORE in the [sic] establishing and maintaining a toll-free telephone number and an Internet website to provide access for veterans to information about the counseling and training regarding entrepreneurship available to veterans through SCORE. The collection of statistics concerning services provided by SCORE to veterans, including service-disabled veterans, for inclusion in each annual report published by the Administrator under section 4(b)(2)(B) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 633(b)(2)(B) ). The Administrator shall provide to SCORE such resources as the Administrator determines necessary for SCORE to carry out the requirements of the memorandum of understanding specified in paragraph (1).” Conducting of studies and research, and the distribution of information generated by such studies and research, on the formation, management, financing, marketing, and operation of small business concerns by veterans. Provision of training and counseling to veterans concerning the formation, management, financing, marketing, and operation of small business concerns. Provision of management and technical assistance to the owners and operators of small business concerns regarding international markets, the promotion of exports, and the transfer of technology. Provision of assistance and information to veterans regarding procurement opportunities with Federal, State, and local agencies, especially such agencies funded in whole or in part with Federal funds. Establishment of an information clearinghouse to collect and distribute information, including by electronic means, on the assistance programs of Federal, State, and local governments, and of the private sector, including information on office locations, key personnel, telephone numbers, mail and electronic addresses, and contracting and subcontracting opportunities. Provision of Internet or other distance learning academic instruction for veterans in business subjects, including accounting, marketing, and business fundamentals. Compilation of a list of small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans that provide products or services that could be procured by the United States and delivery of such list to each department and agency of the United States. Such list shall be delivered in hard copy and electronic form and shall include the name and address of each such small business concern and the products or services that it provides.” the availability of Small Business Administration programs for such small business concerns and the degree of utilization of such programs by such small business concerns during the preceding 12-month period, including statistical information on such utilization as compared to the small business community as a whole; the percentage and dollar value of Federal contracts awarded to such small business concerns during the preceding 12-month period, based on the data collected pursuant to section 604(d) [set out below]; and proposals to improve the access of such small business concerns to the assistance made available by the United States.” collect information concerning the procurement practices and procedures of each department and agency of the United States having procurement authority; publish and disseminate such information to procurement officers in all Federal agencies; and make such information available to any small business concern requesting such information. Each fiscal year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, identify small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans in the United States. The Secretary shall inform each small business concern identified under this paragraph that information on Federal procurement is available from the Administrator. The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide for coordination of vocational rehabilitation services, technical and managerial assistance, and financial assistance to veterans, including service-disabled veterans, seeking to employ themselves by forming or expanding small business concerns. The memorandum of understanding shall include recommendations for expanding existing programs or establishing new programs to provide such services or assistance to such veterans. The Federal Procurement Data System described in section 6(d)(4)(A) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act ([former] 41 U.S.C. 405(d)(4)(A) ) [now 41 U.S.C. 1122(a)(4)(A) ] shall be modified to collect data regarding the percentage and dollar value of prime contracts and subcontracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.”