[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2143 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2143
To increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs to help create
jobs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 13, 2014
Mrs. Shaheen introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs to help create
jobs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Entrepreneurship Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of
the Small Business Administration;
(2) the term ``reserve component'' means a reserve
component of the Armed Forces named in section 10101 of title
10, United States Code;
(3) the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning
given the term under section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 632(a));
(4) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the term
under section 3(q)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632(q)(4));
(5) the term ``Veterans Business Outreach Center'' means a
veterans business outreach center described in section 32 of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b); and
(6) the term ``women's business center'' means a women's
business center described in section 29 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656).
SEC. 3. PERMANENT SBA EXPRESS LOAN GUARANTEE FEE WAIVER FOR VETERANS.
Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (18)(A), by striking ``With respect'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (31), with
respect''; and
(2) in paragraph (31), adding at the end the following:
``(G) Guarantee fee waiver for veterans.--
``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph,
the term `veteran or spouse of a veteran'
means--
``(I) a veteran, as defined in
section 3(q)(4);
``(II) a member of the Armed Forces
serving on active duty who is eligible
to participate in the Transition
Assistance Program established under
section 1144 of title 10, United States
Code;
``(III) a member of a reserve
component of the Armed Forces named in
section 10101 of title 10, United
States Code;
``(IV) the spouse of an individual
described in subclause (I), (II), or
(III); or
``(V) the surviving spouse of an
individual described in subclause (I),
(II), or (III) who died while serving
on active duty or as a result of a
service-connected (as defined in
section 101 of title 38, United States
Code) disability.
``(ii) Guarantee fee waiver.--The
Administrator may not assess a guarantee fee
under paragraph (18) in connection with a loan
made under this paragraph to a veteran or
spouse of a veteran on or after October 1,
2014.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON FINANCIAL PLANNING AND COUNSELING FOR OWNERS OF SMALL
BUSINESS CONCERNS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report assessing the
feasibility of providing financial planning and counseling to owners of
small business concerns who are members of a reserve component prior to
deployment.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON ACCESSIBILITY AND OUTREACH TO FEMALE VETERANS BY THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report assessing the level
of outreach to and consultation with female veterans by women's
business centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
SEC. 6. REPORT ON THE MILITARY RESERVISTS ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN
PROGRAM.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the Military
Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (in this section
referred to as the ``program'') authorized under section 7(b)(3) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)), which shall include--
(1) a discussion of the outreach efforts of the Small
Business Administration to increase participation in the
program;
(2) the number of loans made under the program;
(3) an analysis of the effectiveness of the program; and
(4) recommendations for improving the program.
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