Congressman Jeff Fortenberry is scheduled to testify before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity tomorrow, June 10, at 1:00 p.m. EST. The Subcommittee will be considering legislation he authored in September 2008, the Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act.
"Strengthening economic opportunities available to our nation's veterans is a high legislative priority of mine," said Fortenberry. "This legislation will increase the diversity of opportunities for veterans while bolstering the small business economy, and I look forward to testifying before the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity tomorrow."
Fortenberry's Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act would permit veterans eligible for assistance under the Montgomery G.I. Bill to elect to use their benefits to establish and operate a business that they will own as a primary source of income, while allowing the Secretary operational flexibility in implementing and managing the program. As there are currently new prospective beneficiaries who would not operate under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Fortenberry will soon introduce similar legislation that would offer this benefit under the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity has jurisdiction over education of veterans, employment and training of veterans, vocational rehabilitation, veterans' housing programs, readjustment of servicemembers to civilian life, and servicemembers civil relief.