Title: 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.
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Supports the effort to raise awareness of the vital roles franchising and the entrepreneurial spirit play in the U.S. economy.
Calls upon the people of the United States to observe National Franchising Day.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 519 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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 Administration-backed 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 private-sector 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;
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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the effort to raise awareness of the vital 
        roles franchising and the entrepreneurial spirit play in the 
        economy of the United States; and
            (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Franchising Day.
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