Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment codifying the Boots to Business program and authorizing it for 5 years. The men and women who ably serve our Nation with honor deserve our support as they transition from military to civilian life. Many of our servicemembers have the temperament, drive, and skills to excel in small business. They excel as small-business owners and as entrepreneurs, but they oftentimes lack the industry-specific experience to turn their dreams into reality. The Boots to Business program helps bridge this gap by offering exiting servicemembers and military spouses a 2-day in-person course on business ownership, followed by more in-depth instruction through an 8- week online course. Since the program launched in 2013, more than 50,000 veterans have participated. Earlier this week, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing on veteran entrepreneurship. We had the chance to hear from veterans who turned their careers as small-business owners successfully after benefiting from the programming and training provided by the Boots to Business program. Codifying this important program is a bipartisan effort, and I urge my colleagues to join us in support of the Boots to Business program and more opportunities for our veterans.”