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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 295 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 295

    Designating the week of November 2 through November 6, 2015 as 
               ``National Veterans Small Business Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 22, 2015

  Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Coons, Mr. Gardner, Mr. 
Markey, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Peters, Mr. Risch, Mrs. 
Fischer, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Designating the week of November 2 through November 6, 2015 as 
               ``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 the number of veteran owned small businesses grew at nearly double the 
        rate for non-veteran owned small businesses from 2007 to 2012;
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 November 2 through November 
        6, 2015;
Whereas the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate will 
        be commemorating National Small Business Week during the week of 
        November 2 through November 6, 2015; and
Whereas November 2 through November 6, 2015 would be an appropriate time to 
        designate as ``National Veterans Small Business Week'': Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of November 2 through November 6, 
        2015 as ``National Veterans Small Business Week''; and
            (2) expresses appreciation for the continued service to the 
        United States by the Nation's veterans through small business 
        ownership and entrepreneurship.
                                 <all>
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