Veterans Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1460
Sponsor: Rep. Renzi, Rick [R-AZ-1]
Introduced: 2003-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accreditation (Education)
Administrative remedies
Blind
Business education
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Deaf
Death
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Entrepreneurs
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Housing and Community Development
Housing for the disabled
Labor and Employment
Law
Loan defaults
Mortgages
Self-employed
Small Business Administration
Small business
Surveys
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' education
Veterans' employment
Veterans' loans
Vocational rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2003 - Authorizes a State agency to approve entrepreneurship (business education) courses for attendance by veterans using veterans' basic educational assistance provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from treating a business owner as already qualified for such purposes. Includes entrepreneurship courses within authorized programs of veterans' education assistance.
Authorizes any person entitled to a veterans' rehabilitation program to establish self-employment as a vocational goal.
Amends the Small Business Act to authorize a Federal contracting officer to award a sole source contract to any small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans if: (1) the business is determined to be responsible with respect to the performance of the contract opportunity and the contracting officer does not expect two or more such businesses to submit offers for such contract; (2) the anticipated award price of the contract will not exceed a specified amount; and (3) the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Allows a contracting officer to restrict contract competition to such businesses if the officer can reasonably expect two or more such businesses to submit offers. Allows for the appeal by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration of a contracting officer's decision not to award a contract opportunity to such a business.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Veterans Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Authorizes a State agency to approve entrepreneurship (business education) courses for attendance by veterans using veterans' basic educational assistance provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from treating a business owner as already qualified for such purposes. Includes entrepreneurship courses within authorized programs of veterans' education assistance.
Amends the Small Business Act to authorize a Federal contracting officer to award a sole source contract to any small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans if: (1) the business is determined to be responsible with respect to the performance of the contract opportunity and the contracting officer does not expect two or more such businesses to submit offers for such contract; (2) the anticipated award price of the contract will not exceed a specified amount; and (3) the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Allows a contracting officer to restrict contract competition to such businesses if the officer can reasonably expect two or more such businesses to submit offers. Allows for the appeal by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration of a contracting officer's decision not to award a contract opportunity to such a business.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide adapted housing assistance to certain categories of disabled military personnel (having suffered loss of limbs, organs, partial blindness or deafness, etc.) serving on active duty if the disability is the result of an injury or disease contracted or aggravated during such duty.
Increases from 65 to 85 the percentage of the number of purchases during a fiscal year of real property acquired by the Secretary as a result of default on guaranteed loans for the purchase or construction of homes for veterans that may be financed by a loan made by the Secretary.
Requires the payment of all accrued monetary benefits (currently limited to two years' worth) of a deceased veteran's beneficiary to the veteran or any other surviving dependent.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Veterans Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Authorizes a State agency to approve entrepreneurship (business education) courses for attendance by veterans using veterans' basic educational assistance provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from treating a business owner as already qualified for such purposes. Includes entrepreneurship courses within authorized programs of veterans' education assistance. 
Amends the Small Business Act to authorize a Federal contracting officer to award a sole source contract to any certified small business (one owned and controlled by service-disabled (qualified) veterans) if: (1) the certified business is determined to be responsible with respect to the performance of the contract opportunity and the contracting officer does not expect two or more such businesses to submit offers for such contract; (2) the anticipated award price of the contract will not exceed a specified amount; and (3) the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Allows a contracting officer to restrict contract competition to such businesses if the officer can reasonably expect two or more such businesses to submit offers. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), at least every three years, to: (1) complete a survey of qualified veterans receiving such benefits; and (2) report survey results to Congress. Prohibits a contracting officer from making a procurement under this Act: (1) unless the officer has determined that such procurement cannot be made on the basis of a preference provided under another provision of the Small Business Act; or (2) if the procurement would otherwise be made from a different source under provisions of the Federal criminal code governing Government procurement of prisoner products or services or of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. Outlines the appropriate order of priority, with the highest priority under small business start-up loans guaranteed by the SBA. Provides priority requirements with respect to a contracting officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Terminates that priority with respect to Department procurements after FY 2007. 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide adapted housing assistance to certain categories of disabled military personnel (having suffered loss of limbs, organs, partial blindness or deafness, etc.) serving on active duty if the disability is the result of an injury or disease contracted or aggravated during such duty.
Increases from 65 to 85 the percentage of the number of purchases during a fiscal year of real property acquired by the Secretary as a result of default on guaranteed loans for the purchase or construction of homes for veterans that may be financed by a loan made by the Secretary.
Requires the payment of all accrued monetary benefits (currently limited to two years' worth) of a deceased veteran's beneficiary to the veteran or any other surviving dependent.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 304). (text: CR 6/23/2003 H5675-5676)
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 304).(text: CR 6/23/2003 H5675-5676)
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5743-5744)
action_date: 2003-06-23
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-06-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1460.
action_date: 2003-06-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5675-5679)
action_date: 2003-06-23
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: House Committee on Small Business Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than July 7, 2003.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-142, Part I.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-142, Part I.
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-04-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E603)
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Introduced in House