House Small Biz panel backs bills to help SDVOSBs, VOSBs

      The House Small Business Committee approved legislation intended to assist veterans and service-disabled veterans in forming and running small businesses and in obtaining federal loans and contracts.

      “Today I am proud the committee has passed five strong bipartisan bills that will strengthen existing programs at (the) Small Business Administration as well as deepen new opportunities,” Committee Chair Nydia M. Velázquez, D-NY, said in a news release.

      The five bills are:

• Boots to Business - HR 3537, the Veteran Entrepreneur Training Act, was introduced by Rep. Brad Schneider, D-IL, and is co-sponsored by Rep. Ross Spano, R-FL.

        It would codify the SBA’s two-day Boots to Business entrepreneur training program focused on helping the 200,000 military service members who transition out of service each year. SBA must report to Congress within 180 days on the program’s performance and effectiveness.

• Veterans Affairs Dept. and SBA duties - HR 1615, the “VA-SBA Act,” was introduced by Rep. Trent Kelly, R-MS and is co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Crow, D-CO.

        The bill aims to clarify the SBA’s and VA’s responsibilities regarding size and eligibility for set-asides for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs).

        The bill, if made law, would transfer the responsibility for maintaining a database of fully certified SDVOSBs and VOSBs from the VA to the SBA.

        “It also clarifies that the VA is responsible for verifying the individual business owner’s status as a veteran or service-disabled veteran, and the SBA is responsible for determining the business concern’s status as a small business concern,” according to the committee press release.

• Reservist Loan Payment Deferrals - HR 3661, the Patriotic Employer Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. Andy Kim, D-NJ, and is co-sponsored by Tim Burchett, R-TN.

        Its goal is to expand access to SBA programs that offer loans and loan payment deferrals to National Guard members and Reservists while they are on active duty. Currently the programs are only available during times of military conflict. Under this bill, the programs would be available if a National Guard member or reservist is ordered to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days.

• Surviving spouses - HR 499, the Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act, was introduced by Senior GOP member Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH, and is co-sponsored by Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-NY.

        It would amend the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to clarify that surviving spouses continue to be eligible for SDVOSB contracting certification following the death of the disabled service member, as long as specific requirements are met.

• Task Force Transparency - HR 3734, the “SERV Act,” was introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids, D-KS and is co-sponsored by Chabot.

        This bill is focused on the Interagency Task Force for Small Business Development, which coordinates federal efforts on capital access, business development and contracting goals for veteran and service-disabled veteran businesses.

        The bill states that a report will be sent to Congress each year on appointments to the task force and on the task force’s outreach and promotion. Also, it orders an annual report from the Government Accountability Office on veterans’ and military spouses’ ability to access credit.

Industry likes schedules plans: GSA

House Small Biz panel backs bills to help SDVOSBs, VOSBs

NOTE: Our next edition will be published on September 6th.

Big contracts, small vendors

“Intent to nominate” Carranza

8(a) STARS III draft RFP

Cyber, lending bills in Senate

Ban on Chinese IT in contracts

Column: Defense Dept. Sets Course on Cybersecurity Evaluation, Enforcement

Washington Insider: