S. 1870: VET Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2015-07-27 · Commerce · Latest: By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-411.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-07-27 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-411. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

VET Act of 2016

Plain summary

Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act of 2016 or the VET Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility of making grants to up to 250 eligible veterans and retiring or honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces to start or acquire a qualifying business enterprise. The SBA shall establish a list of qualifying business enterprise categories, which shall include: (1) a small business concern, (2) a franchise business enterprise, and (3) any other appropriate business enterprise category. The SBA shall ensure grantee geographic diversity. The SBA may authorize eligible veterans to apply as a group. Such a group shall be treated as a single veteran. Each grantee shall: (1) complete an SBA-approved entrepreneurship readiness program, and (2) prepare a business plan. The SBA shall submit a program assessment within two years of the program's commencement. The Government Accountability Office shall submit a program evaluation within one year of the program's termination. Nothing in the bill shall be construed to modify any time limitation or period during which an individual is entitled to Post 9/11 or all-volunteer force educational assistance.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

VET Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 1870, Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act of 2015 (2015-09-16)

Cosponsors on this site

Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] reported raising $1.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s1870.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>

Record fed-us-cong114-s1870 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114