IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 519 

Supporting the effort to raise awareness of the vital roles that franchising 

and the entrepreneurial spirit play in the economy of the United States 

by expressing support for the designation of National Franchising Day 

on September 13. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 

Mr. RUSH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the effort to raise awareness of the vital roles 

that franchising and the entrepreneurial spirit play in 

the economy of the United States by expressing support 

for the designation of National Franchising Day on September 13. 

Whereas the franchise business model is the largest vocational training industry in America, bringing together 

brands, local business owners, employees, and the local 

community; 

Whereas locally owned franchises own 733,000 establishments, have directly created 7.6 million jobs, and influenced the creation of 13.3 million jobs across the country; 


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•HRES 519 IH 

Whereas entrepreneurs who make up the franchising system 

directly contribute $674.3 billion in economic output for 

the economy of the United States and $1.6 trillion of economic output is contributed because of the franchise system; 

Whereas, in 2016 alone, Small Business Administrationbacked loans to franchise businesses totaled $770 million 

and were used in the financing of over 5,500 franchise 

businesses; 

Whereas franchise businesses provide $404 billion in economic activity in communities across the country, and for 

every $1 million in lending to franchises, an estimated 40 

new, direct and indirect jobs are created; 

Whereas franchising accounts for 2.5 percent of the privatesector gross domestic product of the United States; 

Whereas owning a franchise empowers entrepreneurs to go 

into business for themselves, but not by themselves; 

Whereas owning a franchise provides entrepreneurs with a 

certain level of independence in which they can operate 

their business with an established product or service that 

may already enjoy widespread brand-name recognition, 

providing the entrepreneurs with the benefit of a customer base that would ordinarily take years to establish; 

Whereas franchises create business and wealth accumulation 

opportunities for all Americans, and especially for 

women, minorities, and veterans; 

Whereas the franchise business model provides comprehensive 

training opportunities, scalability, and the need for operational execution and excellence, offering an ideal career 

path to enable veterans to become productive participants 

in the economy of the United States; 


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•HRES 519 IH 

Whereas VetFran, a program composed of over 650 franchise 

brands, was formed to offer financial discounts, 

mentorship, and training for aspiring veteran franchisees 

and veterans seeking employment; 

Whereas VetFran has created employment for over 238,000 

veterans and military spouses and has helped 6,500 veterans become business owners since 2011; 

Whereas franchises are often the first place young workers 

learn the skills they need to succeed in the future as they 

climb the ladder of success; 

Whereas franchise businesses are expanding apprenticeship 

programs to address an emerging shortage of skilled 

workers in underserved communities, thus creating even 

more middle-class jobs by drawing back Americans who 

had previously left the workforce; 

Whereas a diverse and inclusive workforce is necessary to 

drive innovation, foster creativity, and guide business 

strategies; 

Whereas the bipartisan Congressional Franchise Caucus 

boasts 32 members who promote the positive impacts of 

franchising to the economy of the United States; 

Whereas through programs and meetings in their districts, 

the members of the Congressional Franchise Caucus provide a forum for their constituents who are interested in 

buying a franchise, working at a franchise, or expanding 

and transforming their existing small business using the 

franchise business model to learn about and pursue those 

opportunities; 

Whereas the International Franchise Association is the 

world’s largest and oldest organization representing franchising worldwide; 


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Whereas the International Franchise Association is hosting 

the Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2017; 

Whereas the Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for the members of the Nation’s 

franchising community to meet with their representatives 

in Congress and foster a dialogue on public policy priorities important to franchised small businesses across the 

country; and 

Whereas September 13 is an appropriate day to designate as 

National Franchising Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the effort to raise awareness of the 

3 vital roles franchising and the entrepreneurial spirit 

4 play in the economy of the United States; and 

5 (2) calls upon the people of the United States 

6 to observe National Franchising Day. 

Æ 


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