Small Business Committee Passes Five Bipartisan Bills

Statement

Today, the House Committee on Small Business held a markup of legislation to provide vital protection for members of the military, veterans, and their spouses. All five bills passed through Committee by voice vote.

"Today's five bills focus on our nation's heroes--our veterans, service-disabled veterans, Reservists, National Guard members, and their spouses… Increasingly, veterans are choosing to open their own small businesses. Research has shown that service members are especially qualified to start and run their own firms," said Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH). "The package of bills… will go a long way in making these programs and services more accessible to our nation's veteran entrepreneurs."

H.R. 499, the "Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act" -- introduced by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Jack Bergman (D-MI), Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY), and Rep. Luis Correa (D-CA)

H.R. 499 amends the Small Business Act to clarify that surviving spouses of veterans who died with less than a 100 percent disability rating can maintain their Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business status for up to three years or until one of the following instances occurs: when the spouse remarries or when the surviving spouse relinquishes ownership of the small business.

H.R. 1615, the "Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act" -- introduced by Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)

H.R. 1615 transfers responsibility for certification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Small Business Administration (SBA).

H.R. 3734, the "Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act" -- introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)

H.R. 3734 requires the Administrator of the SBA to include a plan for outreach and promotion of the SBA programs and services for veterans in the Annual Performance Report.

H.R. 3661, the "Patriotic Employer Protection Act" -- introduced by Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)

H.R. 3661 expands the definition of "active duty" with regard to Military Reservists Economic Injury disaster loans to "active service," which is defined as service members on active duty and service members who are full-time National Guard.

H.R. 3537, the "Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019" -- introduced by Rep. Bradley Schneider (D-IL) and Rep. Ross Spano (R-FL)

H.R. 3537 authorizes the Boots for Business program for five years. The program helps transitioning service members to launch and grow small businesses.

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