[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3564 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 392
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3564
To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business
Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 2, 2022
Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship
May 25, 2022
Reported by Mr. Cardin, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business
Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship
Training Act of 2022''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(h) Boots to Business Program.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this
subsection, the term `covered individual' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces,
including the National Guard or Reserves;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) an individual who is participating
in the Transition Assistance Program established under
section 1144 of title 10, United States Code;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) an individual who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) served on active duty in any
branch of the Armed Forces, including the
National Guard or Reserves; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) was discharged or released
from such service under conditions other than
dishonorable; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) a spouse or dependent of an
individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or
(C).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Establishment.--Beginning on the first
October 1 after the date of enactment of this subsection and
for the subsequent 4 fiscal years, the Administrator shall
carry out a program to be known as the `Boots to Business
Program' to provide entrepreneurship training to covered
individuals.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business
Program are to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) provide assistance and in-depth
training to covered individuals interested in business
ownership; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) provide covered individuals with the
tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a
business opportunity, draft a business plan, identify
sources of capital, connect with local resources for
small business concerns, and start up a small business
concern.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) Program components.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business
Program may include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) a presentation providing
exposure to the considerations involved in
self-employment and ownership of a small
business concern;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) an online, self-study
course focused on the basic skills of
entrepreneurship, the language of business, and
the considerations involved in self-employment
and ownership of a small business
concern;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) an in-person classroom
instruction component providing an introduction
to the foundations of self-employment and
ownership of a small business concern;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) in-depth training delivered
through online instruction, including an online
course that leads to the creation of a business
plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator
may--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) collaborate with public and
private entities to develop course curricula
for the Boots to Business Program;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) modify program components
in coordination with entities participating in
a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in
section 738(e) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10
U.S.C. 1071 note).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) Use of resource partners.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) In general.--The
Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) ensure that Veteran
Business Outreach Centers regularly
participate, on a nationwide basis, in
the Boots to Business Program;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) to the maximum
extent practicable, use a variety of
other resource partners and entities in
administering the Boots to Business
Program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Grant authority.--In
carrying out clause (i), the Administrator may
make grants to Veteran Business Outreach
Centers, other resource partners, or other
entities to carry out components of the Boots
to Business Program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) Availability to department of
defense.--The Administrator shall make available to the
Secretary of Defense information regarding the Boots to
Business Program, including all course materials and
outreach materials related to the Boots to Business
Program, for inclusion on the website of the Department
of Defense relating to the Transition Assistance
Program, in the Transition Assistance Program manual,
and in other relevant materials available for
distribution from the Secretary of Defense.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) Availability to veterans affairs.--
In consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
the Administrator shall make available for distribution
and display at local facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs outreach materials regarding the Boots
to Business Program which shall, at a minimum--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) describe the Boots to
Business Program and the services provided;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) include eligibility
requirements for participating in the Boots to
Business Program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this subsection and every year thereafter,
the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee
on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on
the performance and effectiveness of the Boots to Business
Program, which may be included as part of another report
submitted to such committees by the Administrator, and which
shall include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) information regarding grants awarded
under paragraph (4)(C);</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) the total cost of the Boots to
Business Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) the number of program participants
using each component of the Boots to Business
Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) the completion rates for each
component of the Boots to Business Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) to the extent possible--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) the demographics of program
participants, to include gender, age, race,
relationship to military, military occupational
specialty, and years of service of program
participants;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) the number of small
business concerns formed or expanded with
assistance under the Boots to Business
Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) the gross receipts of
small business concerns receiving assistance
under the Boots to Business Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) the number of jobs created
with assistance under the Boots to Business
Program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(v) the number of referrals to
other resources and programs of the
Administration;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(vi) the number of program
participants receiving financial assistance
under loan programs of the
Administration;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(vii) the type and dollar amount
of financial assistance received by program
participants under any loan program of the
Administration; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(viii) results of participant
satisfaction surveys, including a summary of
any comments received from program
participants;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) an evaluation of the effectiveness
of the Boots to Business Program in each region of the
Administration during the most recent fiscal
year;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) an assessment of additional
performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business
Program, as identified by the Administrator;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(H) any recommendations of the
Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business
Program, which may include expansion of the types of
individuals who are covered individuals;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) an explanation of how the Boots to
Business Program has been integrated with other
transition programs and related resources of the
Administration and other Federal agencies;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(J) any additional information the
Administrator determines necessary.''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship Training
Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.
Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(h) Boots to Business Program.--
``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered individual' means--
``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the
National Guard or Reserves;
``(B) an individual who is participating in the
Transition Assistance Program established under section
1144 of title 10, United States Code;
``(C) an individual who--
``(i) served on active duty in any branch
of the Armed Forces, including the National
Guard or Reserves; and
``(ii) was discharged or released from such
service under conditions other than
dishonorable; and
``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual
described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
``(2) Establishment.--During the period beginning on the
date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September
30, 2027, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be
known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide
entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.
``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program
are to--
``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to
covered individuals interested in business ownership;
and
``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools,
skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business
opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of
capital, connect with local resources for small
business concerns, and start up a small business
concern.
``(4) Program components.--
``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program
may include--
``(i) a presentation providing exposure to
the considerations involved in self-employment
and ownership of a small business concern;
``(ii) an online, self-study course focused
on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the
language of business, and the considerations
involved in self-employment and ownership of a
small business concern;
``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction
component providing an introduction to the
foundations of self employment and ownership of
a small business concern; and
``(iv) in-depth training delivered through
online instruction, including an online course
that leads to the creation of a business plan.
``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
``(i) collaborate with public and private
entities to develop course curricula for the
Boots to Business Program; and
``(ii) modify program components in
coordination with entities participating in a
Warriors in Transition program, as defined in
section 738(e) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10
U.S.C. 1071 note).
``(C) Use of resource partners and district
offices.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator
shall--
``(I) ensure that Veteran Business
Outreach Centers regularly participate,
on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to
Business Program; and
``(II) to the maximum extent
practicable, use district offices of
the Administration and a variety of
other resource partners and entities in
administering the Boots to Business
Program.
``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out
clause (i), the Administrator may make grants
to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other
resource partners, or other entities to carry
out components of the Boots to Business
Program.
``(D) Availability to department of defense and the
department of labor.--The Administrator shall make
available to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Labor information regarding the Boots to Business
Program, including all course materials and outreach
materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for
inclusion on the websites of the Department of Defense
and the Department of Labor relating to the Transition
Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance
Program manual, and in other relevant materials
available for distribution from the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Labor.
``(E) Availability to department of veterans
affairs.--In consultation with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, the Administrator shall make
available for distribution and display on the website
of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at local
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business
Program, which shall, at a minimum--
``(i) describe the Boots to Business
Program and the services provided; and
``(ii) include eligibility requirements for
participating in the Boots to Business Program.
``(F) Availability to other participating
agencies.--The Administrator shall ensure information
regarding the Boots to Business program, including all
course materials and outreach materials related to the
Boots to Business Program, is made available to other
participating agencies in the Transition Assistance
Program and upon request of other agencies.
``(5) Competitive bidding procedures.--The Administration
shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect
to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the
Administration under the Boots to Business Program.
``(6) Publication of notice of funding opportunity.--Not
later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting
applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to
Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice of
the funding opportunity.
``(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate
and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness
of the Boots to Business Program, which--
``(A) may be included as part of another report
submitted to such committees by the Administrator
related to the Office of Veterans Business Development;
and
``(B) shall summarize available information
relating to--
``(i) grants awarded under paragraph
(4)(C);
``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to
Business Program;
``(iii) the number of program participants
using each component of the Boots to Business
Program;
``(iv) the completion rates for each
component of the Boots to Business Program;
``(v) to the extent possible--
``(I) the demographics of program
participants, to include gender, age,
race, ethnicity, and relationship to
military;
``(II) the number of program
participants that connect with a
district office of the Administration,
a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or
another resource partner of the
Administration;
``(III) the number of program
participants that start a small
business concern;
``(IV) the results of the Boots to
Business and Boots to Business Reboot
course quality surveys conducted by the
Office of Veterans Business Development
before and after attending each of
those courses, including a summary of
any comments received from program
participants;
``(V) the results of the Boots to
Business Program outcome surveys
conducted by the Office of Veterans
Business Development, including a
summary of any comments received from
program participants; and
``(VI) the results of other germane
participant satisfaction surveys;
``(C) an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of
the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic
region covered by the Administration during the most
recent fiscal year;
``(D) an assessment of additional performance
outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as
identified by the Administrator;
``(E) any recommendations of the Administrator for
improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may
include expansion of the types of individuals who are
covered individuals;
``(F) an explanation of how the Boots to Business
Program has been integrated with other transition
programs and related resources of the Administration
and other Federal agencies; and
``(G) any additional information the Administrator
determines necessary.''.
Calendar No. 392
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3564
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business
Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 25, 2022
Reported with an amendment