Jake Ellzey: “I once again thank Chair Williams, Ranking Member Velazquez, and Mr. Schneider for this very important bill that starts…”

“I once again thank Chair Williams, Ranking Member Velazquez, and Mr. Schneider for this very important bill that starts us down the right path, but it is only a beginning. After our Nation's veterans have given so much for their country, we have an obligation to give them the tools and resources to help them transition back to civilian life. The Boots to Business Program, incorporated in this bill, is an example of a program offered by the Federal Government that actually accomplishes a mission. It helps veterans transfer the skills they already have gained from their military service to the private sector with the goal of starting their own small business. Oftentimes, some of the biggest obstacles facing veteran entrepreneurship is not knowing where to obtain a loan. Through H.R. 1606 and the Boots to Business Program, our veterans can be taught how to navigate that difficult process. Veterans already have the intangible leadership skills to succeed in any arena; and, above all else, this program teaches them how to best transfer these skills into the private sector. I again urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which provides counseling and resources our veterans need to begin their journey in starting their own small business. Mr. Speaker, you and I both know that we have lost friends in combat. We lost them 16, 20 years ago. We are losing them today, too. We are losing them at a rate that is unsustainable, 22 a day.…”