§ 657c. National Veterans Business Development Corporation
(a)
Establishment
There is established a federally chartered corporation to be known as the National Veterans Business Development Corporation (in this section referred to as the “Corporation”) which shall be incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia and which shall have the powers granted in this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation is a private entity and is not an agency, instrumentality, authority, entity, or establishment of the United States Government.
(b)
Purposes of the Corporation
The purposes of the Corporation shall be—
(1)
to expand the provision of and improve access to technical assistance regarding entrepreneurship for the Nation’s veterans; and
(2)
to assist veterans, including service-disabled veterans, with the formation and expansion of small business concerns by working with and organizing public and private resources, including those of the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (described in section
637
(b)(1)(B) of this title), the Small Business Development Centers (described in section
648 of this title), and the business development staffs of each department and agency of the United States.
(c)
Board of Directors
(1)
In general
The management of the Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Directors composed of nine voting members and three nonvoting ex officio members.
(2)
Appointment of voting members
The President shall, after considering recommendations which shall be proposed by the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committees on Small Business and the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate, appoint United States citizens to be voting members of the Board, not more than five of whom shall be members of the same political party.
(3)
Ex officio members
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall serve as the nonvoting ex officio members of the Board of Directors.
(4)
Initial appointments
The initial members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed not later than 60 days after August 17, 1999.
(5)
Chairperson
The members of the Board of Directors appointed under paragraph (2) shall elect one such member to serve as chairperson of the Board of Directors for a term of 2 years.
(6)
Terms of appointed members
(A)
In general
Each member of the Board of Directors appointed under paragraph (2) shall serve a term of 6 years, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B)
Terms of initial appointees
As designated by the President at the time of appointment, of the members first appointed—
(C)
Unexpired terms
Any member of the Board of Directors appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of the term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office.
(7)
Vacancies
Any vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Administrator of the Small Business Administration or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and pending the appointment of a successor, an acting appointee for such vacancy may serve as an ex officio member.
(8)
Ineligibility for other offices
No voting member of the Board of Directors may be an officer or employee of the United States while serving as a member of the Board of Directors or during the 2-year period preceding such service.
(9)
Impartiality and nondiscrimination
The Board of Directors shall administer the affairs of the Corporation fairly and impartially and without discrimination.
(d)
Corporate powers
On October 1, 1999, the Corporation shall become a body corporate and as such shall have the authority to do the following:
(5)
To appoint, through the actions of its Board of Directors, officers and employees of the Corporation, to define their duties and responsibilities, fix their compensations, and to dismiss at will such officers or employees.
(6)
To prescribe, through the actions of its Board of Directors, bylaws not inconsistent with Federal law and the law of the State of incorporation, regulating the manner in which its general business may be conducted and the manner in which the privileges granted to it by law may be exercised.
(7)
To exercise, through the actions of its Board of Directors or duly authorized officers, all powers specifically granted by the provisions of this section, and such incidental powers as shall be necessary.
(e)
Corporate funds
(f)
Network of information and assistance centers
In carrying out the purpose described in subsection (b) of this section, the Corporation shall establish and maintain a network of information and assistance centers for use by veterans and the public.
(g)
Annual report
On or before October 1 of each year, the Board of Directors shall transmit a report to the President and the Congress describing the activities and accomplishments of the Corporation for the preceding year and the Corporation’s findings regarding the efforts of Federal, State and private organizations to assist veterans in the formation and expansion of small business concerns.
(h)
Use of mails
The Corporation may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as the departments and agencies of the United States.
(i)
Professional Certification Advisory Board
(1)
In general
Acting through the Board of Directors, the Corporation shall establish a Professional Certification Advisory Board to create uniform guidelines and standards for the professional certification of members of the Armed Services to aid in their efficient and orderly transition to civilian occupations and professions and to remove potential barriers in the areas of licensure and certification.
(2)
Membership
The members of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation, shall meet in the District of Columbia no less than quarterly, and shall be appointed by the Board of Directors as follows:
(A)
Private sector members
The Corporation shall appoint not less than seven members for terms of 2 years to represent private sector organizations and associations, including the American Association of Community Colleges, the Society for Human Resource Managers, the Coalition for Professional Certification, the Council on Licensure and Enforcement, and the American Legion.
(j)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Corporation to carry out this section—