Veterans Business in the United States

Introduction to Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available

Currently, benefits are paid under laws passed to help Spanish-American War, Mexican border campaign, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War veterans, and their dependents and survivors. Some benefits-for example, home loans, nonservice disability pensions, hospitalization, education, and insurance-are available even if a veteran was not injured while in the service. Others accrue only as a result of service-connected death or disability. Some benefits go to widowed survivors, parents, and even adult offspring who became unable to care for themselves prior to the age of legal adult status.

As a result, benefits may be paid for decades beyond the time when all the veterans of a particular war have died. Although benefits such as those for education, unemployment, counseling, and dental care may expire for a particular group, medical care, home loans, burial, and other benefits have no time limit but are subject to certain other restrictions. The status of a veteran’s discharge may affect eligibility, as may incarceration. Special cases are handled by VA counselors who can provide information on the laws involved, as well as guidance to further material on unemployment compensation, job assistance, federal employment, and review or correction of military records.” (1)

Executive Order 13540

Executive Order in relation with the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (April 26, 2010):

“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 102 of title I of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-186) (the “Act”), and in order to establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies to improve capital, business development opportunities, and pre-established Federal contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. The Administrator of the Small Business Administration (Administrator) shall establish within the Small Business Administration an Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (Task Force).

Sec. 2. Membership. The Administrator shall serve as Chair of the Task Force and shall direct its work. Other members shall consist of:

(a) a senior level representative, designated by the head of the respective department or agency, from each of the following:

(i) the Department of the Treasury;
(ii) the Department of Defense;
(iii) the Department of Labor;
(iv) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(v) the Office of Management and Budget;
(vi) the Small Business Administration (in addition to the Administrator); and
(vii) the General Services Administration; and

(b) four representatives from a veterans’ service or military organization or association, who shall be appointed by the Administrator.

Sec. 3. Functions. Consistent with the Act and other applicable law, the Task Force shall:

(a) consult regularly with veterans service and military organizations in performing the duties of the Task Force;

(b) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals relating to:

(i) improving capital access and capacity of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;
(ii) ensuring achievement of the pre-established Federal contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans through expanded mentor-protégé assistance and matching such small business concerns with contracting opportunities;
(iii) increasing the integrity of certifications of status as a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran;
(iv) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on veterans in accessing business development and entrepreneurship opportunities;
(v) increasing and improving training and counseling services provided to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans; and
(vi) making other improvements relating to the support for veterans business development by the Federal Government; and

(c) not later than 1 year after its first meeting and annually thereafter, forward to the President a report on the performance of its functions, including any proposals developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) The Small Business Administration shall provide funding and administrative support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. (…)

(c) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (FACA), may apply to the Task Force, any functions of the President under the FACA, except for those in section 6 of the FACA, shall be performed by the Administrator in accordance with guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.”

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available

In this Section

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy

(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.