```

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 595 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 595

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Veterans Small Business 
                                 Week.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2016

 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. 
 Hirono, Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Ernst, 
 Mr. Booker, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; which 
  was referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Veterans Small Business 
                                 Week.

Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States train individuals with the skills, 
        discipline, and leadership necessary to establish and operate a 
        successful business;
Whereas there are approximately 2,500,000 veteran-owned small businesses in the 
        United States, employing nearly 6,000,000 individuals;
Whereas veteran-owned businesses make up nearly 10 percent of all businesses in 
        the United States;
Whereas veterans account for more than $1,200,000,000,000 in business receipts 
        every year;
Whereas veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-
        veterans;
Whereas, from 2007 to 2012, veteran-owned small businesses grew at nearly twice 
        the rate of non-veteran-owned small businesses;
Whereas women veterans' business ownership has increased significantly, from 
        97,114 in 2007 to 384,549 in 2012;
Whereas the Office of Veterans Business Development of the Small Business 
        Administration is dedicated to maximizing the availability and usability 
        of small business programs for veterans, members of a reserve component 
        of the Armed Forces of the United States, members of the Armed Forces of 
        the United States serving on active-duty, transitioning service members, 
        and the spouses, dependents, or survivors of those members and veterans;
Whereas the Small Business Administration serves more than 200,000 veterans, 
        service-disabled veterans, women veterans, and military spouses 
        annually;
Whereas, in 2014, the Small Business Administration increased loans to veterans 
        by more than 100 percent, guaranteeing more than $1,000,000,000 in small 
        business loans;
Whereas the entrepreneurship training program of the Small Business 
        Administration, Boots to Business, has trained more than 30,000 service 
        members, veterans, and spouses of service members and veterans since 
        launching in 2013;
Whereas the Small Business Administration will be hosting events honoring 
        National Veterans Small Business Week from October 31 through November 
        4, 2016;
Whereas the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate will 
        be commemorating National Veterans Small Business Week during the week 
        of October 31 through November 4, 2016; and
Whereas the week of October 31 through November 4, 2016, would be an appropriate 
        time to celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate joins with the Small Business 
Administration in--
            (1) supporting the goals and ideals of National Veterans 
        Small Business Week;
            (2) celebrating the millions of people in the United 
        States, especially the veterans of the United States and the 
        spouses of those veterans, who benefit from the programs of the 
        Small Business Administration; and
            (3) expressing appreciation for the continued service to 
        the United States by the veterans of the United States through 
        small business ownership and entrepreneurship.
                                 <all>
```