Mark Alford: “I thank the chair and ranking member for their leadership. I appreciate what we are able to do on the Small Business…”

“I thank the chair and ranking member for their leadership. I appreciate what we are able to do on the Small Business Committee for Main Street America. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, because as a Member of Congress, it is our duty and responsibility to protect and support our Nation's veterans. Back in 2023, it was my distinct pleasure to have Commander Taylor Burks of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District testify at a Small Business Committee hearing on veteran entrepreneurship. He is now serving a deployment in the Indo-PACOM, so we wish him well. We learned not only about the unique skill set that veterans can bring to small businesses but also about the obstacles that veterans face many times when trying to open small businesses and live out the American Dream. It was imperative for Members to hear how the committee and the Small Business Administration can better serve those who served this great Nation. As a result, my colleague Representative Sharice Davids and I introduced the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans, or the SERV Act. This bipartisan legislation, which passed through the Small Business Committee unanimously last Congress, will help veteran small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed by studying the barriers faced when starting a business.…”