SERV Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 828
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-25: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T10:38:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 828: Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act (SERV Act)
Purpose
The legislation aims to enhance support for veterans, Reservists, and their spouses in starting and running small businesses. It requires reports from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to improve transparency, outreach, and access to credit for these groups, ultimately promoting entrepreneurship among military-affiliated individuals.
Key Provisions
- SBA Reporting Requirement: Amends the Small Business Act to mandate that the SBA Administrator submit an annual report to Congress alongside the agency's budget documents. This report must cover:
- Appointments and activities of the Veterans Interagency Task Force.
- A plan for outreach and promotion of SBA programs for veterans, such as Veteran Business Outreach Centers, Boots to Business (a training program for transitioning service members), Boots to Business Reboot (for veterans post-separation), Service-Disabled Entrepreneurship Development Training Program, Veteran Institute for Procurement (procurement training), Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program, and Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (a women-focused initiative).
- GAO Report on Credit Access: Requires the GAO (an independent agency that audits government operations) to submit a comprehensive report to relevant congressional committees within one year of enactment. The report analyzes:
- Sources of credit used by small businesses owned by "covered individuals" (defined below) and the average credit obtained from each.
- Default rates on loans for these businesses compared to general small businesses, broken down by credit source.
- Available federal lending programs for these businesses.
- Any gaps in credit availability not addressed by federal or private sources.
- Obstacles to accessing credit faced by covered individuals.
- How military deployments and duties impact credit histories of veterans and Reservists.
- Awareness levels of federal credit-assistance programs among covered individuals.
- Definitions:
- Covered individual: Includes veterans, service-disabled veterans (those with service-connected disabilities), Reservists (members of reserve components of the Armed Forces), spouses of the above, or spouses of active-duty Armed Forces members.
- Other terms like "small business concern" and "veteran" follow existing definitions in the Small Business Act.
- Funding: No new funds are authorized; the act complies with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (CUTGO), meaning it must be budget-neutral.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new subsection (4) to Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c)), introducing the first explicit annual reporting obligation for the Veterans Interagency Task Force on appointments, activities, and outreach plans.
- Establishes a one-time GAO study on credit access, which does not amend existing law but creates a new evaluative requirement to inform future policy.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for the SBA (annual reporting) and GAO (one-time study), potentially leading to more efficient use of existing resources for veteran programs. Could prompt policy adjustments based on report findings.
- Citizens: Benefits covered individuals by highlighting and potentially improving access to business training, procurement opportunities, and credit, aiding their transition from military service to entrepreneurship. May reduce barriers like credit history issues from deployments.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the act focuses on domestic small business support for U.S. military personnel.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Veterans, service-disabled veterans, Reservists, and their spouses, particularly those owning or starting small businesses.
- Government Entities: SBA (task force oversight and reporting), GAO (credit access analysis), and congressional committees on Veterans' Affairs and Small Business (receiving reports for oversight).
- Broader Groups: Small business owners in general (through comparative data on credit), federal lending programs (e.g., SBA loans), and veteran support organizations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens accountability under the Small Business Act without creating new entitlements or mandates beyond reporting. The budget-neutral requirement ensures fiscal restraint, aligning with congressional budgeting rules.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; it falls within Congress's authority to regulate commerce and support veterans under Article I, Section 8.
- Political: Signals bipartisan emphasis on veteran affairs, potentially influencing future appropriations or program expansions based on report outcomes. Could highlight disparities in credit access, prompting advocacy for military families in economic policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Conaway, Herbert [D-NJ-3], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-25: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 2025-02-24: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-02-24: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H746)
- 2025-02-24: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H746)
- 2025-02-24: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 828.
- 2025-02-24: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H746-748)
- 2025-02-24: Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act — issued 2025-02-24 — PDF (6 pages)
- Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (5 pages)
- Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act — issued 2025-02-25 — PDF (5 pages)