U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards

Point Blank Body Armor, Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 2, 2008, an $86,184,060 firm-fixed price contract for improved outer tactical vests. Work will be performed in Pompano Beach, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Mar. 18, 2008, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-07-C-0085).
 
Global Fleet Sales, Inc., Charlottesville, Va., was awarded on Jul. 1, 2008, a $10,390,250 firm-fixed price contract for mobile maintenance vehicles. Work will be performed in Thailand and is expected to be completed by Feb. 4, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on May 18, 2006, and nine bids were received. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (WHZV-06-D-G002).

Remarks For The Hon. Steven C. Preston
Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
Announcing the PATRIOT EXPRESS PILOT LOAN
Washington, DC

June 13, 2007, 11:00 a.m.

Thank you, Joel, and all of you for joining us today. As I look out over the room, I am thrilled to see so many people of such stature, because it is an indication of your desire to serve those who have served all of us so bravely and ably.

It’s fitting we come together today, on the eve of National Flag Day. In his proclamation, President Bush said, “Flying the flag can be an expression of thanks for the men and women who have served and sacrificed in defense of our freedoms �]�] from the early patriots of the Continental Army to the courageous Americans in uniform who are defending those freedoms around the world today.” And support for service members is something which unites all Americans: it’s not a partisan issue. I commend Senator Kerry for his interest in veterans’ concerns. The first hearing he led as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship was to discuss the small business concerns of veterans.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the SBA’s Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.

Eligible military community members include:

• Veterans
• Service-disabled veterans
• Active-duty service members participating in the military’s Transition Assistance Program
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Current spouses of any of the above
• The widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability

The SBA and its resource partners are focusing additional efforts on counseling and training to augment this loan initiative.

SBA Announces New Patriot Express Loan Initiative for Veterans

Program Focuses on Military Community Including Veterans, Service-disabled, Active-duty in transition, Reserve and Guard, Spouses and Related Groups

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The SBA has announced the new Patriot Express Pilot Loan as the latest extension to the financial, procurement, and technical assistance programs the agency provides to the military community. Patriot Express is a streamlined loan product based on SBA’s highly successful SBA Express Program, but with enhanced guarantee and interest rate characteristics.

“With military activations and extensions having a profound impact on entrepreneurs in the military community, SBA is committed to helping America’s service men and women during the continuing War on Terror,” SBA Administrator Steven Preston said. “We believe that Patriot Express, supported by SBA’s other services, goes directly to the needs of these American Patriots who wish to start businesses, and in the process encourages job creation and growth, an essential part of the President’s economic agenda.”

“SBA thanks the Presidential Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes for its guidance and hard work and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson for his devoted leadership,” Preston added.

Defense Industry Tax Havens Shelter Greedy Busniessmen from the U.S. Taxpayer
Lawmakers want these companies to pay Medicare, Social Security taxes

When the Pentagon announced an obscure California company had won a lucrative military contract, no one mentioned any plans for a Caribbean outpost — a tropical shell the company quickly created that allowed it to duck millions in taxes and deflect U.S. lawsuits.

It's legal, at least for now. Contractors large and small have been heading offshore to shield piles of taxpayer dollars, according to an Associated Press investigation, but irate lawmakers are thundering that they'll put an end to it.

Almost a decade ago, a few months after winning the deal that has totaled more than $2 billion, Combat Support Associates established its subsidiary in the Cayman Islands, a British territory and tax haven.

Making Jobs for Vets a Reality, Tax Breaks for Employers 
by Craig Dellimore, WBBM

CHICAGO  -- Congressman Peter Roskam is spearheading an effort to make it easier for employers to get tax credits when they hire Iraq war veterans.

Union officials with the Illinois Teamsters so-called "Helmets to Hardhats" program says unemployment is unacceptably high among veterans, so it makes no sense that the requirements for one program to help veterans get jobs are unusually high as well.
   
Congressman Peter Roskam agrees, saying he'll work to ease rules for awarding tax credits to employers who seek out and hire vets.
         
A vet must be on food stamps or enrolled in a federal program for needy families for half a year before a business can take the tax credit.

One union official says that's more than is asked of companies that hire ex-felons. Mike Yeager, President of Teamsters Local 786 and a Vietnam vet, says veterans are great hires, with strong training and teamwork, and they deserve to find jobs...

Blackwater Worldwide's gunfights in Iraq have attracted more congressional scrutiny than the private security industry would like. It was bound to happen, though. After all, men with guns tend to draw attention. And isn't that the point? 

By Rafael Enrique Valero, National Journal

But while Congress and the public decide what to make of this new generation of corporate warriors, and what rules if any should apply to them, the industry as a whole isn't looking back.

In October, leaders in the private military security industry -- ArmorGroup, DynCorp, MPRI, and several others -- gathered at the Phoenix Park Hotel near the Capitol for the annual three-day summit of their trade group, the International Peace Operations Association. Panel speakers and members of the audience debated the future of nation-building efforts in failed states. Almost snapping to attention, the former military officers who dominate this industry introduced themselves in sincere baritones of "Lieutenant Colonel So-and-So, retired," or "Major So-and-So, retired." The one active-duty soldier I met handing out his business card that day, Army Lt. Col. James Boozell, a branch chief of the Stability Operations/Irregular Warfare Division at the Pentagon, said that the U.S. military was in fact experiencing a "watershed" moment in its 200-plus-year history -- nation building was now a core military mission to be led by the Army...

NO SCAM ZONE!

Can Veterans Really Get a Free Credit Report without Getting Scammed?

Everyone in the US is now entitled to get a free copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus each year and that includes you, America's Veterans! Unfortunately, many veterans are finding that actually getting their free credit report seems close to impossible.  That's because bogus websites are tricking veterans into paying -- and even the major credit bureaus make it quite difficult. 

In fact, by now you've probably seen the advertisements on the TV, the Web and in your inbox. Companies left and right are offering to provide you with your free credit report -- but for a fee.  Alright, so how is it a free credit report if you have to pay for it? That's exactly what all of us veterans are asking.

$25 Billion in Unclaimed Money. How much is owed to you?

Veterans Find Their Money and Cash In

by John Allen

It is reported that 8 out of 9 people have unclaimed money. The nationwide total of unclaimed money is estimated as high as $25 billion dollars. Chances are you or someone in your immediate family has money waiting to be claimed.

Have you ever put a deposit down for a gas or electric account? Moved and forgot about the deposit? The money is yours, but now the electric company doesn’t know where to send it. The money is placed in state’s treasury department fund for unclaimed property. This is one of hundreds of places missing money may come from.

Personal Loans for Military Members 

Department of Defense Provides Protections for Armed Forces Members and Military Veterans

Effective October 1, 2007, the Department of Defense final regulation of the Talent-Nelson amendment has imposed restrictions on certain types of consumer lending. The final regulation focused on predatory products, such as payday loans, car title loans, and tax refund anticipation loans. The most significant restriction is a 36 percent APR cap on loans to Service members and their dependents, protecting military families from excessive APR rates.

These new restriction will severely limit certain lenders (payday and car title lenders especially) from continuing to do business with Service members and their families.