Rep. Graham Hunt sponsors veteran-owned businesses list bill

By Northwest Military News Team on February 19, 2014

Looks like Rep. Graham Hunt (R-Orting) made the list with his list, if the list is about freshman legislators who sponsor bills that creat certified lists of veteran-owned businesses.

Hunt's sponsored bill, House Bill 2744, would create a certified list, maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs, for veteran-owned businesses that are operating, incorporated and located in Washington state. More than 850 businesses are certified by the DVA and that number will continue to grow, according to Hunt. His bill also encourages state agencies to award three percent of all procurement contracts, exempt from competitive bidding, to veteran-owned businesses.

"This bill will help create jobs in the veteran community. Through the creation of the list, citizens who want to help support veteran-owned businesses will easily be able to find out where to go," said Hunt. "Additionally, a certified veteran-owned business will have a decal they can display in their window letting people know and encouraging them to shop there. This may seem like a small thing but honoring our veterans by growing their business is fundamental to their success. I am proud to be a part of that."

The bill was passed unanimously by the full House and will now be considered by the Senate.