Press Releases

Washington, DC – As first reported in July by the  Kansas City Star, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans (SERV) Act. This evening, this legislation unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and makes its way to the Senate for consideration.

Congressman Alford invited Missouri Fourth Congressional District resident Lieutenant Commander Taylor Burks to testify in front of the House Committee on Small Business in May. During its hearing titled Saluting Service: Supporting Veteran Owned Small Businesses, the Committee explored the current landscape for veteran-owed small businesses, challenges veterans face transitioning out of the military into the civilian workforce, and support offered by the federal government.

The SERV Act: 

• Commissions a Government Accountability Office report on veteran small business owners’ access to capital. 

• Requires the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development to develop an outreach plan for programs veterans can access as they transition to business world and civilian life, like SBA’s Boots to Business program. 

• Requires the Task Force to report annually to Congress on its appointments and outreach plan.

Congressman Alford issued the following statement:

“I am incredibly proud to have worked on this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Sharice Davids in our neighboring district and see our colleagues in the House pass it. Lieutenant Commander Taylor Burks testified in front of the Committee so we could learn how the Committee and SBA can better serve those who served this nation. The SERV Act is our response to the need for improved outreach and resources for Veteran-owned small businesses.

“One of the biggest barriers for entrepreneurs, especially for our Veterans, is accessing capital. It is a critical component when starting a business and one of the biggest challenges throughout a small business's lifespan. Our veterans have given their all in service to our country, and it's only right that we, in return, support them when they come home. We stand with our veterans and will work non-stop to ensure that this becomes law.”

Congressman Davids issued the following statement:   

“Veterans possess many of the entrepreneurial skills needed to start and run a successful small business, but we must do a better job of helping them transition from service to business. I'm proud to have worked across party and state lines with Representative Mark Alford, so we can help connect veterans with all the small business resources available to them and better address the barriers veterans entrepreneurs face.”

Media inquiries for Rep. Alford should be directed to Peter Minetos at Peter.Minetos@mail.house.gov.