MilStreet USA
Center of Advocacy

Amplifying Voices. Driving Change.

We unite veterans, military spouses, and allies to shape federal policy, expand contracting access, and create economic opportunity for military-connected entrepreneurs — in collaboration with the United States Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce.

View Legislative PrioritiesJoin the Network
Our Purpose

Why Advocacy Matters

Military spouses and veterans face unique barriers to entrepreneurship: frequent relocations, licensing portability challenges, limited access to federal contracting, and under-recognition in small business programs. Through coordinated advocacy, we work to level the playing field so that military-connected business owners can compete fairly, scale sustainably, and contribute fully to the American economy. MilStreet has reached 100,000+ military-connected entrepreneurs in partnership with the United States Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce.

22–24%

Typical unemployment rate among military spouses (pre-pandemic peaks reached 38%). Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce data.

1M+

Active duty military spouses whose economic contributions are often disrupted by service. Source: DoD demographics.

86%

Of MilStreet-supported businesses reported significant revenue growth after engagement. Source: MilStreet Impact Report 2025.

12M+

Total military spouses (active duty + veteran) in the United States. Source: Combined DoD & VA estimates.

Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce Takes Advocacy to Capitol Hill

Add your voice

Military Spouse Small Business Recognition Act

Sign the petition. All fields are required.

In partnership with

Reserve Organization of America (opens in a new tab)ELPR (opens in a new tab)Team b Strategy (opens in a new tab)
Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)

In May 2026, over 50 military spouses from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for a powerful day of advocacy on Capitol Hill—united behind one mission: advancing economic opportunities for military spouse entrepreneurs.

Led in partnership with the Reserve Organization of America (ROA), ELPR, and Team b Strategy, the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce helped amplify support for the Military Spouse Small Business Recognition Act to recognize military spouse-owned businesses within the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program as a disadvantaged business category.

The message to lawmakers was clear: military spouses are not asking for special treatment—they are asking for recognition of the unique barriers created by military service and the opportunity to compete on a more level playing field.

In the news

Military Spouse Small Business Recognition Act

The Military Spouse Small Business Recognition Act aims to level the playing field for military spouse-owned businesses by modifying existing Small Business Administration (SBA) tools to address structural barriers.

Key Legislative Goals:

  • Amend SBA regulations to categorize military spouse-owned businesses as a Disadvantaged Category. This designation would increase federal contracting eligibility and allow access to other SBA 8(a) Business Development program training and support.
  • Reduce borrowing costs by eliminating SBA guarantee fees on loans up to $1 million for veteran and military spouse-owned businesses and reducing equity requirements by lowering the minimum down payment for startup and ownership-change loans by at least 5%.
  • Direct the SBA to collect and publish participation data regarding military spouses in federal loan programs.

The Case for Action:

Military spouses face unique challenges, including frequent permanent changes of station (PCS) every 2–3 years, licensing hurdles, and credit gaps that follow them across state lines. These barriers contribute to a 22% unemployment rate—the highest of any group—and result in significant taxpayer costs, up to $1.2 billion annually.

Furthermore, 58% of military spouses report working below their education or experience level, and nearly half are either 'self-employed' or interested in starting a business.

Supporting the Military Spouse Small Business Recognition Act is a fiscally responsible, targeted measure to improve military spousal career satisfaction and financial stability - two critical factors affecting military retention.

For further inquiries, contact the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce at (855)-855-8511 or hello@milspousechamber.org.

The Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce introduced this bill in conjunction with the Reserve Organization of America (opens in a new tab).

Current Focus

Legislative Priorities

MilStreet and the Military Spouse Chamber advance policy that expands opportunity for military-connected entrepreneurs. Additional priorities include amendments to the Uniformed Services Absentee Ballot Act and employer-provided backup childcare benefits (Cal. AB 1179 model). See the full list on the partner site.

SBA 8(a) Program Expansion

Active priority

Establish a rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for businesses owned and controlled by military spouses and veteran spouses under the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program. Key alignment: 15 U.S.C. § 637(a) & 13 CFR Part 124.

Learn how to support

H.R. 4991 — Post-9/11 Veteran Business Acceleration Act

Reintroduction efforts

Allow military spouses to access unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for entrepreneurship education, training, and business acceleration programs.

Track on Congress.gov

H.R. 6347 — Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Act

Reintroduction efforts

Create a pilot procurement program to increase federal contracting opportunities for military spouse-owned businesses, improving supplier diversity across government agencies.

Track on Congress.gov

Military Spouse Entrepreneur Reimbursement Act

Ongoing advocacy

Provide reimbursement for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) related business costs including professional licenses, certifications, moving services, and essential equipment — reducing financial barriers caused by mandatory military moves.

Military Spouse Co-Working Spaces on Installations

In progress

Partnering with the Army's Soldier for Life program and other services to establish dedicated co-working and business incubation spaces on military installations.

Supplier Diversity & AAFES Inclusion

Ongoing

Working with The Rosie Network and partners to increase inclusion of military spouse-owned products in AAFES supplier diversity programs and the NDVSB eMarketplace.

Actionable Tools

Resources & Toolkits

Download guides, explore partner resources, and get step-by-step instructions for effective advocacy.

Military Spouse & Veteran Entrepreneur Advocacy Toolkit

Updated February 2026 • 18 pages

Comprehensive guide including sample letters to Congress, social media templates, one-pagers on each legislative priority, economic impact statistics, and step-by-step advocacy instructions.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more and apply:

Access toolkit on partner site

Key External Resources

  • Military Spouse Chamber Blog — latest advocacy updates (milspousechamber.org/blog)
  • Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN) — legal resources (msjdn.org)
  • Reserve Organization of America (ROA) — roa.org
  • SBA Office of Veterans Business Development — sba.gov

Ready to take the next step? Learn more and apply:

Visit partner advocacy hub

Quick Start Guides

  • How to Contact Your Legislators — scripts, best practices, and timing tips
  • Building Your Personal Advocacy Story — template for sharing your military spouse or veteran business journey
  • Social Media Advocacy Playbook — hashtags, sample posts, and campaign toolkits

Ready to take the next step? Learn more and apply:

Get personalized guidance
Take Action Today

Get Involved

  1. 01

    Join the Advocacy Network

    Receive legislative alerts, opportunities to sign coalition letters, invitations to briefings, and coordination with MilStreet partners. Joined by 2,400+ advocates this year.

  2. 02

    Amplify on Social

    Share key messages, use our campaign toolkits, and help grow awareness of military spouse entrepreneurship as a national priority.

  3. 03

    Submit Your Ideas

    Have a policy idea or barrier to report? We welcome input from the community to shape our advocacy agenda. Email hello@milspousechamber.org with subject line Advocacy Idea Submission.

  4. 04

    Capitol Hill & Events

    Join us for advocacy days on Capitol Hill, virtual briefings, and partner events. Over 50 spouses participated in May 2026 — next events announced soon.

Powered by Collaboration

Our Advocacy Partners

MilStreet advocates alongside nonprofit leaders, ecosystem partners, and policy stakeholders to create stronger outcomes for military-connected entrepreneurs nationwide.

The Reality

Policy Lands in Real Kitchens and Real Businesses

Advocacy starts with lived experience — founders balancing duty, family, and payroll. Elevating military entrepreneurs means translating those realities into programs and policies that actually hold up on the ground.

  • Voice beyond the beltway
  • Data grounded in community
  • Coalitions across installations
  • Families in the narrative
  • Legislation that reflects service life
Learn more about partner advocacy work
Related Centers

Advocacy Works Best When Backed by the Full Ecosystem

Policy change is strongest when paired with capital, training, marketing, and community. Explore MilStreet centers that support every stage of the military entrepreneur journey.

MilSpouse Business Hub

Chapters, certification, and support built by military spouses, for military spouses.

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Capital Center

Secure funding to scale the businesses advocacy helps protect and grow.

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Training Center

Build skills and credentials that strengthen your voice as an entrepreneur.

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Ready to make an impact?

Join thousands of veterans and military spouses shaping the future of military-connected entrepreneurship. Prefer to partner as an organization? Contact our partnerships team through the Military Spouse Chamber.

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