S. 38Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:23 AM UTC

The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023 adds the Boots to Business Program to the Small Business Act. It provides free entrepreneurship training to veterans, active‑duty service members, transitioning service members, and their spouses or dependents. The program runs through September 30, 2028 and is administered by the Small Business Administration.

Key Provisions

Defines “covered individuals” as service members, those in the Transition Assistance Program, discharged veterans (non‑dishonorable) and their spouses or dependents.
Establishes the Boots to Business Program to deliver entrepreneurship training, including presentations, online self‑study courses, classroom instruction, and a business‑plan development course.
Sets a goal to give participants the skills, tools and knowledge to identify opportunities, write business plans, find capital and start small businesses.
Limits grant funding used for international travel to 35% of a Veteran Business Outreach Center’s award, excluding instructor salaries, and allows centers to petition for exceptions.
Allows the SBA Administrator to collaborate with public and private partners and to award grants to Veteran Business Outreach Centers and other entities to run program components.
Requires the SBA to share program information and materials with the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs and other transition agencies.
Mandates competitive bidding for contracts, publication of funding notices, and annual reports to Congress on program performance, costs, participant outcomes and recommendations.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

November 15, 2023

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 24, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

January 24, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

July 19, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Cardin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

July 25, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 162.

July 25, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

November 15, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 38 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Beth Van DuyneR-TX-24 · Sep 25, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stop Campus Hazing Act. I rise on behalf of those who cannot, including Dalton Debrick, an Irving native who tragically lost his life at the young age of…

Dalton loved life and lit up a room with his smile. He grew up participating in sports, including baseball and other activities at the Irving YMCA.

These experiences led Dalton to work with children and, after originally declaring an engineering major, inspired him to switch paths to pursue a career in coaching and teaching.

A kindhearted, bright young man, Dalton played baseball and made an impact in our northeast Texas community through his sports teams and involvement in church programs. After 13 years of hard work, Dalton graduated from Nimitz High School and was excited to attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Like many of us, Dalton's parents, who are with us in the gallery today, were filled with mixed emotions when they dropped off their eldest child,

proud of their son for pursuing his lifetime dream of attending Tech but nervous for his new chapter.

On August 18, 2014, Dalton turned 18. Days later, his loving family moved him into his freshman dorm, and by August 24, 2014, Dalton went home to be with his Lord. He never got to experience his first day of college nor the joy of graduating and beginning his adult career.

The night before he was set to begin his freshman year, Dalton was killed in an alcohol-fueled hazing incident. After being forced to drink a keg of beer in less than 30 minutes and half a handle of whiskey, Dalton was left in a room unconscious and covered in vomit, guarded by a fraternity member so he wouldn't be seen and couldn't be helped.

Mr. Speaker, 911 wouldn't be called until 3 hours after he was found dead, with a blood alcohol content four times the legal limit. Dalton's death was preventable.

Since Dalton's death, his mom, Debbie, has spoken out and used her platform to urge students to look after each other and to be someone her son didn't have.

In her discussions with colleges and universities, Debbie has been an incredible advocate, working to fulfill Dalton's dream of educating children. In doing so, Debbie and Dalton are saving lives.

Debbie has worked with the Anti-Hazing Coalition to warn families about the dangers of hazing and to pass legislation that will help prevent other parents from experiencing this immeasurable loss.

In 2019, Debbie worked to get Texas Senate Bill 38 signed into law, which changed criminal prosecution for hazing offensives and requires universities to be transparent about hazing incidents on campus.

In the more than 10 years since Dalton was tragically taken from us, Debbie has saved countless students and families from suffering the same fate.

Between 1959 and 2021, at least one hazing death occurred per year on a U.S. college campus. Currently, campus safety laws do not require colleges to report data about hazing, and State-level hazing definitions and penalties are inconsistent.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act provides uniform antihazing guidance, mandating that institutions include hazing incidents in their annual reports, requiring them to implement hazing prevention programs and publish their hazing policies online, along with information about which student organizations have a history of hazing incidents.

This is not only a tool for institutions to combat hazing but will also help empower students to make informed decisions when choosing between which schools to attend, clubs to join, and Greek life on campus.

I am hopeful that if we work together, we can put an end to the hazing culture that is all too common on college campuses. It is imperative that we protect students, provide parents with reassurance, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Debbie and her husband for their tireless work, advocating not only for Dalton but the countless other parents who tragically lost their children the same way. I thank my colleagues for supporting this important legislation as we take a crucial step to stop these preventable tragedies.

Mr. Speaker, I thank them for being here today.

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued July 25, 2023

Calendar No. 162

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 38

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2023

Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

July 25, 2023

Reported by Mr. Cardin, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business Program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023.

Boots to Business Program

Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(h)

Boots to Business Program

(1)

Covered individual defined

In this subsection, the term covered individual means—

(A)

a member of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves;

(B)

an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code;

(C)

an individual who—

(i)

served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and

(ii)

was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; and

(D)

a spouse or dependent of an individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).

(2)

Establishment

During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September 30, 2028, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be known as the Boots to Business Program to provide entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.

(3)

Goals

The goals of the Boots to Business Program are to—

(A)

provide assistance and in-depth training to covered individuals interested in business ownership; and

(B)

provide covered individuals with the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of capital, connect with local resources for small business concerns, and start up a small business concern.

(4)

Program components

(A)

In general

The Boots to Business Program may include—

(i)

a presentation providing exposure to the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern;

(ii)

an online, self-study course focused on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern;

(iii)

an in-person classroom instruction component providing an introduction to the foundations of self employment and ownership of a small business concern; and

(iv)

in-depth training delivered through online instruction, including an online course that leads to the creation of a business plan.

(B)

Collaboration

The Administrator may—

(i)

collaborate with public and private entities to develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program; and

(ii)

modify program components in coordination with entities participating in a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note).

(C)

Use of resource partners and district offices

(i)

In general

The Administrator shall—

(I)

ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to Business Program; and

(II)

to the maximum extent practicable, use district offices of the Administration and a variety of other resource partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business Program.

(ii)

Grant authority

In carrying out clause (i), the Administrator may make grants to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other resource partners, or other entities to carry out components of the Boots to Business Program.

(D)

Availability to Department of Defense and the Department of Labor

The Administrator shall make available to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor information regarding the Boots to Business Program, including all course materials and outreach materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for inclusion on the websites of the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor relating to the Transition Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance Program manual, and in other relevant materials available for distribution from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor.

(E)

Availability to Department of Veterans Affairs

In consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator shall make available for distribution and display on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at local facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business Program, which shall, at a minimum—

(i)

describe the Boots to Business Program and the services provided; and

(ii)

include eligibility requirements for participating in the Boots to Business Program.

(F)

Availability to other participating agencies

The Administrator shall ensure information regarding the Boots to Business program, including all course materials and outreach materials related to the Boots to Business Program, is made available to other participating agencies in the Transition Assistance Program and upon request of other agencies.

(5)

Competitive bidding procedures

The Administration shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the Administration under the Boots to Business Program.

(6)

Publication of notice of funding opportunity

Not later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice of the funding opportunity.

(7)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program, which—

(A)

may be included as part of another report submitted to such committees by the Administrator related to the Office of Veterans Business Development; and

(B)

shall summarize available information relating to—

(i)

grants awarded under paragraph (4)(C);

(ii)

the total cost of the Boots to Business Program;

(iii)

the amount of program funds used for domestic and international travel expenses;

(iv)

the number of program participants using each component of the Boots to Business Program;

(v)

the completion rates for each component of the Boots to Business Program;

(vi)

to the extent possible—

(I)

the demographics of program participants, to include gender, age, race, ethnicity, and relationship to military;

(II)

the number of program participants that connect with a district office of the Administration, a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or another resource partner of the Administration;

(III)

the number of program participants that start a small business concern;

(IV)

the results of the Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot course quality surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business Development before and after attending each of those courses, including a summary of any comments received from program participants;

(V)

the results of the Boots to Business Program outcome surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business Development, including a summary of any comments received from program participants; and

(VI)

the results of other germane participant satisfaction surveys;

(C)

an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic region covered by the Administration during the most recent fiscal year;

(D)

an assessment of additional performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by the Administrator;

(E)

any recommendations of the Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered individuals;

(F)

an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program has been integrated with other transition programs and related resources of the Administration and other Federal agencies; and

(G)

any additional information the Administrator determines necessary.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023.

Boots to Business Program

Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(h)

Boots to Business Program

(1)

Covered individual defined

In this subsection, the term covered individual means—

(A)

a member of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves;

(B)

an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code;

(C)

an individual who—

(i)

served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and

(ii)

was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; and

(D)

a spouse or dependent of an individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).

(2)

Establishment

(3)

Goals

The goals of the Boots to Business Program are to—

(A)

provide assistance and in-depth training to covered individuals interested in business ownership; and

(B)

(4)

Program components

(A)

In general

The Boots to Business Program may include—

(i)

an in-person and virtual, as applicable, presentation providing exposure to the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern;

(ii)

an online, self-study course focused on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern;

(iii)

an in-person and virtual, as applicable, classroom instruction component providing an introduction to the foundations of self employment and ownership of a small business concern; and

(iv)

in-depth training delivered through online instruction, including an online course that leads to the creation of a business plan.

(B)

Travel costs

(i)

In general

Subject to the other provisions of this subparagraph, of the total amount of grant funding that a Veteran Business Outreach Center participating in the Boots to Business Program receives from the Administration, the center may not expend more than 35 percent of that funding on costs relating to international travel with respect to the Boots to Business Program.

(ii)

Costs not included in cap

Costs relating to the salaries of, or stipends for, instructors under the Boots to Business Program shall not be included for the purposes of the limitation under clause (i).

(iii)

Petition

(I)

In general

A Veteran Business Outreach Center may petition the Administrator for the center to expend additional funds beyond the limitation under clause (i) for the purposes described in that clause.

(II)

Notification requirement

If the Administrator grants any petition submitted under subclause (I), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a notification regarding that decision by the Administrator.

(C)

Collaboration

The Administrator may—

(i)

collaborate with public and private entities to develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program;

(ii)

(iii)

consult with Directors of Veteran Business Outreach Centers regarding the necessity of instructor international travel and the feasibility of incorporating virtual classroom components.

(D)

Use of resource partners and district offices

(i)

In general

The Administrator shall—

(I)

ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to Business Program; and

(II)

to the maximum extent practicable, use district offices of the Administration and a variety of other resource partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business Program.

(ii)

Grant authority

(E)

Availability to Department of Defense and the Department of Labor

(F)

Availability to Department of Veterans Affairs

(i)

describe the Boots to Business Program and the services provided; and

(ii)

include eligibility requirements for participating in the Boots to Business Program.

(G)

Availability to other participating agencies

(5)

Competitive bidding procedures

The Administration shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the Administration under the Boots to Business Program.

(6)

Publication of notice of funding opportunity

(7)

Report

(A)

may be included as part of another report submitted to such committees by the Administrator related to the Office of Veterans Business Development; and

(B)

shall summarize available information relating to—

(i)

grants awarded under paragraph (4)(D);

(ii)

the total cost of the Boots to Business Program;

(iii)

the amount of program funds used for domestic and international travel expenses;

(iv)

each domestic location and international location traveled to for Boots to Business program instruction;

(v)

the number of program participants using each component of the Boots to Business Program;

(vi)

the completion rates for each component of the Boots to Business Program; and

(vii)

to the extent possible—

(I)

the demographics of program participants, to include gender, age, race, ethnicity, and relationship to the Armed Forces;

(II)

the number of program participants that connect with a district office of the Administration, a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or another resource partner of the Administration;

(III)

the number of program participants that start a small business concern;

(IV)

(V)

the results of the Boots to Business Program outcome surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business Development, including a summary of any comments received from program participants; and

(VI)

the results of other germane participant satisfaction surveys;

(C)

an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic region covered by the Administration during the most recent fiscal year;

(D)

an assessment of additional performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by the Administrator;

(E)

any recommendations of the Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered individuals;

(F)

an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program has been integrated with other transition programs and related resources of the Administration and other Federal agencies; and

(G)

any additional information the Administrator determines necessary.

July 25, 2023

Reported with an amendment