Bush approves set-asides for vets

President Bush has signed a bill that creates a new small business set-aside category for companies owned by veterans disabled while in the service.

The legislation will give service-disabled veteran-owned businesses a weight similar to woman-owned and 8(a) firms in federal contract. Bush signed the bill last week.

"As hard as I worked on the damn thing, I certainly was expecting it," said John Moliere, president of Standard Communications Inc. and a Vietnam War veteran. "The time had come, surely. We received a lot of support on the Hill."

Now comes the harder part, said Moliere. "All we need is for our brethren in the government to use it. I think they will."