Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairman John Boozman opened the meeting noting his experiences as a small business entrepreneur stating, "I know the difficulties faced by small businesses in meeting payroll, healthcare and other benefits."  He also emphasized that legislation giving preferential treatment to veteran-owned businesses was intended to provide a stepping stone to success in the broader private sector markets.  "Veteran business owners should not fall into the trap of reliance on federal contracts for long-term success." 

Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH), a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Tax, Finance and Exports expressed his support for service-disabled owned businesses by stating, "I was pleased to co-chair a roundtable discussion on veterans’ entrepreneurship today.  It is my hope that the constructive dialogue that we had will encourage more veterans to start small businesses, which form the backbone of our economy.  We owe it to our nation’s veterans to give them every opportunity to create successful business ventures, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both the House Small Business and Veterans' Affairs Committees to address the concerns and issues that were raised at this event." 

According to John Lopez, Chairman of the Association for Service Disabled Veterans, "This was one of the best meetings we've ever had and I especially welcome the positive support that I have gotten from the national veterans service organizations following the event. I look forward to more successes in the future with the Congress."

The roundtable included representatives from the Association of Service Disabled Veterans, the DAV, American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, and many service-disabled veteran business owners.  Representatives from VA, Small Business Administration, DoD, State Department, EPA, the Smithsonian, and several other government agencies also participated. 

Congresswoman Sue Kelly, also a member of the Small Business Committee noted, "It is critical for the House Small Business and Veterans' Affairs Committees to continue working together to address the important issues brought forth by our veterans at today’s roundtable. Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices to protect our country, and we need to make sure our federal agencies are doing everything possible to make the next phase of their lives significantly easier. When they complete their distinguished military service, our servicemen and women deserve the utmost assistance available to help them start their own small businesses, procure federal government contracts, and experience well-deserved success in their new livelihood."

In closing the roundtable, Chairman Boozman expressed his concern that additional protections for veteran-owned businesses may be needed and that he looked forward to additional opportunities to work with the Small Business Committee.  "Its important to remember that providing opportunities is not just because veterans have served the nation, its also because veterans are proven winners and can get the job done.  As the Task Force for Veterans’ Entrepreneurs says, 'Veterans Mean Business'."