Press Release
SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS
INTRODUCES
VETERANS ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEGISLATION
Bill keeps veterans business assistance program alive
Washington - To help entrepreneurial veterans, Congresswoman Susan Davis introduced legislation to preserve a vital program designed to assist veterans start and grow a business.
The Veterans Corporation Reauthorization and Enhancement Act will reauthorize the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act through 2012.
"With this legislation, we can make sure our brave service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will have access to entrepreneurship training," said Davis. "Those who are courageously fighting abroad deserve the opportunity to start a business and achieve that aspect of the American Dream."
Congress passed the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 establishing the National Veterans Business Development Corporation to provide all of these crucial aspects of entrepreneurship to veterans.
As a result of that landmark legislation, the Veterans Corporation (TVC) has provided training to over 8,000 veterans and has helped over 550 veterans start businesses during 2006 alone.
"A young service member once told me his dream was to start and operate his own business once he finished his tour of duty in Afghanistan," said Davis, a member of House Armed Services Committee. "I spoke with this brave soldier shortly after I was elected to the House of Representatives while visiting with our service members in the battlefield. His story moved me to help veterans learn what it takes to operate a business and help them get started in entrepreneurship."
In June, Davis offered an amendment to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2007 (H.R. 5672) increasing its funding to $1.5 million for the next fiscal year. The Davis Amendment was approved by the House of Representatives.
The legislation encourages TVC to raise private funds to leverage federal funding. It also encourages reservists to take advantage of the services offered by TVC.