The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“VA'S MENTOR--PROTEGE PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S4446-S4447 on July 7, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
VA'S MENTOR--PROTEGE PROGRAM
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the accomplishments of the 24 participants in the Department of Veterans Affairs' Mentor-Protege Program who are working to help veteran small business owners. In these hard economic times, it is more important than ever to provide this critical support to our veteran entrepreneurs.
The goal of the Mentor-Protege Program, which was started in 2010, is to bring together established companies with service-disabled and other veteran-owned businesses. Through these partnerships with established regional businesses, veteran business owners receive guidance on financial and organizational management, business planning and technical aid. They also develop long-term business relationships with their mentor partners.
Veterans hire veterans because they know what they are getting. Veterans are well trained, disciplined team players who can deliver results in challenging conditions. At a time when the Department of Labor reports almost 10 percent of all veterans are unemployed, and 27 percent of veterans between the ages of 20 and 24 are unemployed, it is imperative we do everything in our power to tackle this issue. The Mentor-Protege program holds the promise of fostering an environment where veteran-owned businesses can succeed in helping to revitalize our economy while hiring veterans in the process. These veteran-owned small businesses are exactly what our Nation needs to continue on the road to economic recovery while getting our country's heroes the jobs they deserve.
While I am optimistic about the potential of the VA's Mentor-Protege Program, I have heard from several companies participating in the program who have expressed concerns with delays in VA's verification process. I urge VA's Center for Veterans Enterprise to expedite the verification process so that these companies can get to work in repairing our economy as quickly as possible.
Businesses in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, and California are serving as a model of just how successful a program of this nature can be. The names of the businesses that are participating in the program, both as mentors and proteges, are:
ASM Research, Inc. of Fairfax, VA, and Coley & Associates of San Antonio, TX, AUI Contractors, LLC of Fort Worth, TX, and Unified Services of Texas, of South Lake, TX, Bear Construction Company of Rolling Meadows, IL, and Opcon Inc. of Chicago, IL, Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, VA, and MBL Technologies, Inc., of Rockville, MD, Creative Computing Solutions, Inc. of Rockville, MD, and CPS Professional Services of Fairfax, VA, EMJ Corporation of Sacramento, CA, and 347 Group Construction of Roseville, CA, The George Solitt Construction Co. of Wood Dale, IL, and Industria, Inc. of Chicago, IL, The GRD Contractors, Inc. of Costa Mesa, CA, and Hubzone Corp. of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Harris Corporation GCSD of Melbourne, FL, and Delta Corporation of Fulton, MD, Health Net Federal Services of Rancho Cordova, CA, and Three Wire Systems of Vienna, VA, ICF Incorporated of Fairfax, VA, and Nova Technology Solutions of Fairborn, OH, JOB Options, Inc. of San Diego, CA, and VETSUSA, LLC. of Falls Church, VA, Leopardo Companies, Inc. of Hoffman Estates, IL, and Segovia Group Corporation of San Antonio, TX, Lockheed Martin Corporation of Fairfax, VA, and Fulcrum Vets, LLC of Fairfax, VA, Marous Brothers Construction of Willoughby, OH, and Northstar Contracting, Inc. of North Olmstead, OH, McKesson Corporation of San Francisco, CA, and The Stay Safe Store of El Dorado Hills, CA, Metters Industries of McLean, VA, and Global Technology Solutions, LLC. of Corrales, NM, Northrup Grumman Corporation of Rockville, MD, and Heitech Services, Inc. of Landover, MD, Reva, Inc. of Newark, NJ, and M.E.R.I.T. Inc. of Newark, NJ, The Robins and Morton Group of Birmingham, AL, and Coburn Contractors of Montgomery, AL, Roy Anderson Corp. of Gulfport, MI, and the Bacik Group, LLC. of Columbus, GA, Sargent Electric Co. of Pittsburg, PA, and SGT LLC. Of Pittsburgh, PA, Secom Technical Services of Oak Ridge, TN, and Clauss Construction of Lakeside, CA, Simplex Grinnel of Columbia, MD, and Emergency Planning Management of Stafford, VA, Swinerton Government Services of Arvada, CO, and R.E.M. Engineering Company, Inc. of Pasadena, CA.
By fostering an environment where veteran entrepreneurs can grow their businesses, we affirm our commitment to those who have sacrificed so much. I encourage VA to strengthen the growing Mentor-Protege Program and look forward to working with them to achieve their goals.
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