A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The SERV Act requires the Small Business Administration Administrator to submit annual reports regarding the veterans interagency task force. These reports must discuss task force appointments, activities, and plans for promoting various veteran programs and services. Additionally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to research how easily covered individuals can access credit for small businesses. This research includes analyzing credit sources, default rates, and obstacles faced by these individuals. The report must also look at how military responsibilities affect credit history and awareness of Federal programs.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides potential benefits for veteran business owners by analyzing obstacles to obtaining credit.
- Scored +3
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill promotes outreach for veteran programs and investigates credit obstacles faced by veterans and their spouses.
- Scored +3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill enhances support for veteran-owned small businesses through mandatory reporting on outreach plans and research into credit accessibility.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Veteran Programs: The Administrator of the Small Business Administration must report on task force activities and create a plan for outreach regarding programs like Veteran Business Outreach Centers and Boots to Business (Section 2). This could help veterans find and use available services.
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Better Understanding of Credit Obstacles: The Comptroller General will analyze the gaps in credit availability and the obstacles faced by covered individuals (Section 3(a)(2)). This information could help address specific problems that prevent veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, and their spouses from getting business loans.
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Insight into Credit History Issues: The report will examine how military responsibilities and deployment affect the credit history of veterans and Reservists (Section 3(a)(2)(F)). This could bring attention to how military service impacts an individual's financial standing.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No New Funding: The act specifies that no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out these requirements (Section 4). This means the work must be done within existing budgets.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides potential benefits for veteran business owners by analyzing obstacles to obtaining credit. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill promotes outreach for veteran programs and investigates credit obstacles faced by veterans and their spouses. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill includes research into credit access for service-disabled veterans. Would women be better off under this? — The bill mandates reporting on specific programs such as the Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill enhances support for veteran-owned small businesses through mandatory reporting on outreach plans and research into credit accessibility. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill seeks to identify gaps in credit access which can help foster entrepreneurship and economic activity among veterans.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the SBA Administrator to submit annual reports regarding the activities and plans of the veterans interagency task force.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill improves the understanding of how military service affects the financial and entrepreneurial lives of veterans.
- 2/25/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 2/24/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H746)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H746)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 828.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H746-748)
- Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Mark AlfordRepublican · Missouri
Herbert ConawayDemocrat · New Jersey
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire