# Understanding the Investing in VETS Act

This bill is designed to help veterans who own small businesses get a bigger piece of federal government contracts. Right now, the federal government sets aside a certain percentage of its contracts specifically for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans—people who became disabled while serving in the military. This bill makes two key changes to boost these veteran-owned businesses.

First, it increases the government's target for awarding contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses from 3 percent to 5 percent. Think of it like this: when the government needs to buy supplies, services, or equipment, it's supposed to reserve a portion of those purchases for veteran-owned companies. By raising this target from 3 to 5 percent, the bill is saying the government should be directing more of its spending toward these veteran entrepreneurs. This means more opportunities and potentially more revenue for veteran business owners.

Second, the bill changes how the government counts these veteran-owned businesses when measuring whether it's meeting its goals. Currently, some veteran-owned businesses can "self-certify"—basically verify their status themselves without going through an official certification process. The bill says that only veteran-owned businesses that have gone through formal certification can count toward the government's contract goals. This is meant to ensure that the contracts actually go to legitimately service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and prevent the system from being gamed. While this might seem like a stricter requirement, it's intended to make the program more credible and ensure the benefits really reach the veterans they're meant to help.

Investing in VETS Act

Kiggans, Jennifer A.

Investing in Veteran Entrepreneurial Talents Act or the Investing in VETS Act This bill raises from 3% to 5% the federal contracting participation goal for small businesses that are owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. Only small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans that have been certified by the Small Business Administration may be included in calculating goals related to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.