    [House Hearing, 118 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                  MARKUP  OF:   H.R.  7984,  THE   RURAL  SMALL
                    BUSINESS  RESILIENCE  ACT;  H.R. 5333,  THE
                    INVESTING  IN  ALL  OF  AMERICA  ACT;  H.R.
                    8014,   THE   TRANSPARENCY   AND   PREDICT-
                    ABILITY  IN  SMALL  BUSINESS  OPPORTUNITIES
                    ACT;  H.R.  7987,  THE  PLAIN  LANGUAGE  IN
                    CONTRACTING   ACT;  H.R.  7988,  THE   SPUR
                    ACT OF 2024;  H.R. 7985, THE  ENTREPRENEURS
                    WITH DISABILITIES REPORTING ACT; H.R. 7989,
                    THE   THINKDIFFERENTLY   ABOUT   DISABILITY
                    EMPLOYMENT ACT

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   before the

                          COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
                                 UNITED STATES
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION
                                   __________

                                  HEARING HELD
                                 APRIL 17, 2024
                                   __________

                    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                Small Business Committee Document Number 118-049
                 Available via the GPO Website: www.govinfo.gov
                                     ______

                      U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    56-375                    WASHINGTON : 2024

                       HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

                        ROGER WILLIAMS, Texas, Chairman
                          BLAINE LUETKEMEYER, Missouri
                            PETE STAUBER, Minnesota
                            DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
                             BETH VAN DUYNE, Texas
                             MARIA SALAZAR, Florida
                              TRACEY MANN, Kansas
                               JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
                            MARC MOLINARO, New York
                             MARK ALFORD, Missouri
                               ELI CRANE, Arizona
                              AARON BEAN, Florida
                               WESLEY HUNT, Texas
                             NICK LALOTA, New York
                              CELESTE MALOY, Utah
                   NYDIA VELAZQUEZ, New York, Ranking Member
                              JARED GOLDEN, Maine
                             KWEISI MFUME, Maryland
                            DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota
                              GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio
                      MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, Washington
                            SHRI THANEDAR, Michigan
                           MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
                           HILLARY SCHOLTEN, Michigan
                              JUDY CHU, California
                             SHARICE DAVIDS, Kansas
                          CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire

                      Ben Johnson, Majority Staff Director
                     Melissa Jung, Minority Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                               OPENING STATEMENTS

                                                                       Page
    Hon. Roger Williams..............................................     1
    Hon. Nydia Velazquez.............................................     2

                                    APPENDIX

    Additional Material for the Record:
        H.R. 7984....................................................    34
        H.R. 5333....................................................    36
        H.R. 8014....................................................    41
        H.R. 7987....................................................    45
        H.R. 7988....................................................    48
        H.R. 7985....................................................    51
        H.R. 7989....................................................    54
        Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 5333, offered
          by Mr. Meuser of Pennsylvania..............................    57
        Minority Views, H.R. 7984, the ``Rural Small Business
          Resilience Act''...........................................    63
        Minority Views, H.R. 5333, ``Investing in All of America Act
          of 2023''..................................................    65
        Minority Views, H.R. 8014, the ``Transparency and
          Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act''.......    67
        Minority Views, H.R. 7987, the ``Plain Language in
          Contracting Act''..........................................    69
        Minority Views, H.R. 7988, Small Business Procurement and
          Utilization Reform (SPUR) Act..............................    70
        Minority Views, H.R. 7985, the ``Entrepreneurs with
          Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024''.......................    72
        Minority Views, H.R. 7989, the ``ThinkDIFFERENTLY About
          Disability Employment Act''................................    74
        Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA)......................    76

                  MARKUP OF:  H.R. 7984,  THE RURAL  SMALL
                   BUSINESS RESILIENCE ACT; H.R. 5333, THE
                   INVESTING IN  ALL OF AMERICA ACT;  H.R.
                   8014,  THE  TRANSPARENCY  AND  PREDICT-
                   ABILITY  IN  SMALL BUSINESS  OPPORTUNI-
                   TIES ACT; H.R. 7987, THE PLAIN LANGUAGE
                   IN CONTRACTING ACT; H.R. 7988, THE SPUR
                   ACT  OF  2024;  H.R. 7985,  THE  ENTRE-
                   PRENEURS  WITH  DISABILITIES  REPORTING
                   ACT;  H.R. 7989,  THE  THINKDIFFERENTLY
                   ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ACT

                                  ----------

                           WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024

                                  House of Representatives,
                               Committee on Small Business,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:01 a.m., in Room
    2360, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Roger Williams
    [chairman of the Committee] presiding.
        Present: Representatives Williams, Stauber, Meuser, Van
    Duyne, Salazar, Mann, Ellzey, Molinaro, Alford, Crane, Bean,
    LaLota, Maloy, Velazquez, Golden, Phillips, Landsman, McGarvey,
    Gluesenkamp Perez, Scholten, Thanedar, Chu, Davids, and Pappas.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The committee will now come to order. A
    quorum is present. Without objection, the Chair is authorized
    to declare recess of the committee at any time. As required by
    House rules, a copy of the legislative measures have been made
    available to the Members and the public at least 24 hours in
    advance.
        Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule XI, all votes
    will be rolled to the end of the meeting. I now recognize
    myself for opening remarks.
        Good morning again and welcome to today's markup where we
    will be discussing seven bills that will address the needs of
    our nation's small business. I am going to be speaking on each
    of the bills we bring up today in much greater detail so I will
    keep these remarks very brief.
        To put it bluntly, Main Street America has been forced to
    play defense every day thanks to this administration's
    regulatory agenda. My colleagues and I on this committee have
    the privilege of being main street's voice in Washington and
    that is why our work is so important.
        Moreover, it is our job we put forward meaningful policy
    solutions that will help our nation's job creators. When small
    businesses can hire more employees and reinvest in their
    businesses and communities the country operates at its very
    best.
        The seven bills before us today have been discussed widely
    by all Members and staff, and for that I am very grateful. Now
    before us today are bills that improve access to disaster
    assistance for those in rural areas, increase employment
    opportunities for people with disabilities, and require federal
    contracts to be written in plain language, I repeat plain
    language, so small businesses won't need a team of compliance
    officers to simply be competitive, just to name a few.
        In closing, I would like to thank our Members for bringing
    these bills forward for consideration in today's markup. Every
    piece of legislation we are going to look at today is a product
    of hearings and investigations we have conducted. I am
    extremely proud to see how our committee is generating sound
    and responsible legislation that will make main street
    stronger.
        With that I look forward to today's markup. I yield to the
    distinguished Ranking Member from the great state of New York,
    Ms. Velazquez.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for
    holding this markup today. We are considering seven bills to
    make improvements to SBA programs and services from focusing on
    rural disaster and disabled communities to improving the SBIC
    program and contracting rules.
        We have a strong slate of bills before us. Main street
    small businesses are the life blood of our nation's economy
    driving innovation and job creation and helping millions of
    Americans achieve the American Dream. I stand committed to
    creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs so that they
    continue to thrive and in turn create good-paying jobs in our
    local communities.
        I plan to lend my support to the seven bipartisan bills we
    are considering today. My hope is that we will work together to
    bring a fair ratio of Republican and Democratic bills to the
    floor in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Williams, and I look
    forward to a productive markup.
        I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you. And does any other Member seek
    recognition for the purpose of making an opening statement?
    Seeing none, we will now move to the consideration of the first
    bill.
        H.R. 7984
        The first bill we will mark up is H.R. 7984, the Rural
    Small Business Resilience Act, introduced by Representatives
    Pappas and Bean. I now recognize the bill's sponsor, Mr. Pappas
    for an opening statement.
        Mr. PAPPAS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. In New
    Hampshire, our small businesses are part of the backbone of our
    local economies and make up the fabric of our rural
    communities, and we know that rural small businesses face
    unique challenges that a one-size-fits-all approach by
    government agencies is simply ineffective at providing the
    support that they need.
        That is why I introduced the Rural Small Business
    Resilience Act. The bipartisan legislation would require the
    Small Business Administration to tailor its outreach and
    marketing efforts to reach our rural small businesses and
    ensure that small businesses in rural areas have full access to
    SBA disaster assistance.
        I am glad to be working with Representatives Bean, Golden,
    and Mann on this issue, and will continue to work in a
    bipartisan fashion to build support for this and other
    legislation that will help America's small businesses.
        I remain committed to ensuring that rural small businesses
    and our local economies can grow and thrive and I urge my
    colleagues to support this bill.
        I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. I now recognize the bill's cosponsor, Mr.
    Bean, for an opening statement.
        Mr. BEAN. Very good morning, Mr. Chairman. Thank you so
    much. Good morning, Committee, and good morning those attending
    Small Business this morning. We are glad to have you here.
    Welcome to your nation's capital.
        I am pleased to co-lead H.R. 7984, the Rural Small Business
    Resilience Act, along with my new good friend, Representative
    Pappas from the great state of New Hampshire, also known as the
    Granite State. This legislation will require the SBA to
    appropriately tailor marketing and outreach materials to rural
    communities following a disaster.
        We all know the challenges facing America's rural
    communities following a disaster are different than those in
    urban areas and often are unique in their needs that go unmet.
    Natural disasters are all too common in the free state of
    Florida. We would still welcome you there if you want to come
    stay or come vacation, where the yearly threat of hurricanes is
    top of mind for small business owners.
        In February of this year, the Government Accountability
    Office, the GAO, issued a report on how targeted outreach from
    the SBA can benefit rural communities. The GAO found that
    people in rural areas may not be aware of the assistance the
    SBA can provide following a disaster.
        The GAO recommends the SBA distinguish between rural and
    urban communities and their outreach and marketing programs
    following a disaster. Thankfully, Mr. Pappas and I have heard
    that message loud and clear from the GAO and we think we have
    the answer to help rural small businesses get the answer that
    they are looking for.
        The answer is, and I have it, it is the Rural Small
    Business Resilience Act. And I look forward, Members, to
    working with you and working with Representative Pappas on the
    passage of this commonsense bipartisan bill and urge colleagues
    to join us, join our team to make this happen.
        Mr. Chairman, does everybody know you were up at 5:00 for
    baseball this morning and yet you are here today to serve the
    needs of small businesses across America? Thank you for your
    leadership, and I yield back the balance of my time.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you for those remarks. Are there any
    other Members who wish to be recognized for a statement on the
    bill?
        Okay. If there are no other Members--I am sorry. Once all
    Members--you--the Chairman--Ranking Member, will you speak on
    this bill?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Are you recognizing me?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. I am recognizing you, Madam Chair.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend Mr.
    Pappas, Mr. Bean, Mr. Golden, and Mr. Mann for their bipartisan
    effort to bring H.R. 7984 before the committee today.
        The Government Accountability Office provides Congress with
    fact-based, nonpartisan information to improve government
    programs and save taxpayers dollars. In February GAO issued a
    report that examined SBA disaster loan program and challenges
    rural communities face.
        GAO found that rural communities have unique obstacles
    making it harder to recover after a disaster such as a lack of
    infrastructure, human resources, and funding. While SBA has
    taken steps to better meet the needs of disaster survivors, GAO
    found a more targeted approach is needed in rural areas.
        This legislation would go a long way in signaling to SBA
    that strengthening outreach to rural communities is a priority.
        I commend Mr. Pappas, Mr. Bean, Mr. Golden, and Mr. Mann
    for their leadership, and I yield back. Thank you.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I want to now
    recognize myself to speak in support of this legislation.
        H.R. 7984, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, will
    require the SBA to meet communities where they are following a
    disaster. And there is no secret that Americans in rural
    communities face different challenges following a disaster than
    their urban counterparts.
        It makes sense then that a one-size-fits-all outreach and
    marketing plan from the SBA is inadequate. The GAO confirmed
    this in their February 2024 report stating that oftentimes
    individuals in rural areas do not even know assistance is
    available from the SBA as they try to get back on their feet
    following a disaster.
        The SBA's disaster loan program offers loans to help
    homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits recover from
    physical and economic losses following a declared disaster.
        And I am grateful to Representatives Pappas and Bean for
    introducing this legislation so that rural Americans will have
    full access to their resources when disaster strikes and I urge
    my colleagues to support this bill.
        If there is no further discussion, the committee now moved
    to consider of H.R. 7984.
        The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 7984, to require the administration----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is
    considered and is read and open for amendment. Do any Members
    seek recognition for the purpose of offering an amendment?
        Seeing none, the question is now on adoption of H.R. 7984
    and favorably reporting it to the House.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 7984
    is agreed to be reported favorably to the House.
        Mr. BEAN. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. What do you seek recognition for?
        Mr. BEAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I seek to request a
    recorded vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. A recorded voted has been requested and
    a roll call vote is ordered pursuant to Committee Rule 13 and
    House rule XI. Further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
        H.R. 5333
        The next bill we will markup is H.R. 5333, the Investing in
    All of America Act of 2023, introduced by Representatives
    Meuser and Scholten. The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 5333, to amend the----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, H.R. 5333 is considered as
    read and open for amendment.
        The bill's sponsor, Mr. Meuser, has an amendment in the
    nature of a substitute at the desk. The amendment has been pre-
    distributed to all Members and the clerk will report the
    amendment.
        The CLERK. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to
    H.R.----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the amendment is
    considered as read and the substitute will be considered base
    text of the bill for the purpose of amendment.
        I now recognize the bill's sponsor, Mr. Meuser, for his
    statement.
        Mr. MEUSER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Small business investment companies, SBICs, are privately
    owned companies that are licensed and regulated by the SBA.
    SBICs raise private capital by the Small Business
    Administration and it is matched with leverage by the SBA.
    SBICs then deploy these private funds along with the SBA
    guaranteed funding to invest directly in small businesses.
        The SBIC program operates at a zero-subsidy cost to the
    American taxpayer. In other words, taxpayer funds are not
    utilized to support credit extended to SBIC investments. SBIC-
    backed businesses have created over 3 million new jobs and
    supported an additional 10.5 million jobs over just the last
    two decades.
        Last year alone SBICs invested over $8 billion in small
    businesses across America, including $412 million in my home
    state of Pennsylvania to small business. Now, the SBIC program
    has been very successful in responsibly deploying capital to
    small businesses. Recent studies have shown that less than 20
    percent of SBIC investment reaches low- to middle-income
    communities.
        So, H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act, which I
    introduced with Representative Scholten, would incentive the
    deployment of additional capital to small business located in
    rural or low-income areas as well as small businesses in the
    national security technology sectors. Dollars invested in these
    areas will not count against individual SBIC's leveraged cap.
        By creating this incentive, the Investing in All of America
    Act will encourage private capital investment in the parts of
    America that are, in fact, often overlooked. It is important to
    note that the bonus leverage included in this legislation does
    not change the cost or risks of the SBIC program.
        The existing successful private capital ratio to SBA
    leverage that has kept the program operating so well and at no
    subsidy will remain the same. This legislation would also
    adjust the SBIC leverage caps to account for inflation. SBIC
    leverage caps have not been adjusted since 2015, for single
    licenses in 2018 for a family of funds. Since the last
    adjustments inflation has risen nearly 30 percent.
        So, as we continue to deal with increasing inflation,
    reinstating the inflation adjustor for the leverage cap is
    essential to ensure the investment power of SBICs remain
    consistent with the broader markets and ensure the program can
    continue to provide small business with the capital they need.
        Just yesterday the Subcommittee on Economic Growth Tax and
    Capital Access, which I Chair, held a hearing examining the
    SBIC program. In addition to discussing the positive effects of
    the program, we did discuss improvements that could be made. I
    am happy to say that a number of the reforms suggested by our
    witnesses are included in this legislation.
        While there is more work to do, this legislation will make
    a positive impact on those participating in the SBIC programs
    and assist them deploying even more capital to worthy small
    businesses, especially, again, those who are often overlooked.
        Now, before I conclude I would ask, Mr. Chairman, for
    unanimous consent to insert a letter into the record from
    nearly 100 small business investment companies in support of
    this legislation.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Granted.
        Mr. MEUSER. I would like to thank Representative Scholten
    for her partnership on this legislation and bipartisan group of
    14 Members who have cosponsored it. I would also like to thank
    Chairman Williams for bringing this bill forward for the
    consideration today.
        I look forward to continued working with my colleagues to
    ensure the SBA's programs, like the SBICs, are serving as small
    business as well and responsibly deploying capital to areas
    where it is most needed.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        I now recognize the bill's cosponsor, Ms. Scholten, for a
    statement.
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Thank you so much to the bill's leader, Mr.
    Meuser, and to Chairman Williams for bringing this bill before
    committee. This is what I came to Congress to do, these types
    of bipartisan, commonsense solutions that help Main Street
    America and rural parts of our community that are often
    overlooked.
        Michigan is home to almost 1 million small businesses. That
    is 99.6 percent of all privately owned businesses in the state.
    This bill is going to have a huge impact. On any given day, the
    issue of access to capital is among the greatest challenge for
    our small businesses. For low-, middle-income and rural
    communities this issue hits even closer to home.
        Recent studies have show that less than 20 percent of small
    business investment companies, SBIC funds are reaching these
    communities. That is insane. For a program with a long history
    of success, this disparity is completely unacceptable and it is
    incumbent upon this committee the program so that it serves
    small business owned by people from all walks of life.
        That is exactly what we are doing here today. That is why I
    am so proud to lead the Investing in All of America Act, which
    would not only incentivize the deployment of additional capital
    to underserved communities by not counting dollars invested in
    rural or low-income areas or in the national security
    technology sector against the SBICs' leverage count.
        This bipartisan solution would bolster SBIC program success
    as a zero subsidy, pubic-private partnership by encouraging
    investments in rural areas in industries that are vital to
    national defense here in West Michigan and across the country.
        It is critical that these businesses can get the
    investments that they need to continue growing our economy
    especially those in underserved and rural communities. I
    strongly urge Members to vote on this bipartisan and important
    legislation.
        Thank you again to the bill's cosponsor, Mr. Meuser, and to
    the Chair. I yield back the remainder of my time, sir.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
        Are there any other Members who wish to recognized for a
    statement on the bill?
        Okay. If there are no Members who wish to be recognized, I
    would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the
    bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to
    Representatives Meuser and Scholten for your bipartisan
    leadership on this bill. H.R. 5333 makes statutory improvements
    to the SBAC program to provide access to additional leverage
    when they invest in small businesses in rural or underserved
    communities, or small business critical to national security.
        Due to the capital-intensive nature and early revenue
    profile small firms operating in America's critical technology
    sector need institutional investors with longer term time
    horizons to raise capital. Yet, due to statutory constraints
    these investors are often limited in their ability to
    participate in the SBIC program, making the program an
    unsuitable option for critical technology to raise capital.
        By providing SBICs with additional leverage flexibility,
    this bill will enable the SBA and Defense Department to
    successfully carry out their joint small business investment
    company critical technology initiative. By providing SBICs with
    additional bonus leverage, we are encouraging investment in
    small employers in our communities that need it most.
        I again want to thank Representatives Meuser and Scholten
    for their leadership on this issue. I also want to thank
    Chairman Williams and his team for their collaboration on
    technical edits to the bill and the team at the SBA for their
    feedback.
        I believe through the effort of all parties involved we
    have got in this bill to a good place. I am proud to support it
    and encourage Members to vote yes.
        I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I now
    recognize myself to speak in support of this legislation.
        Small business are faced with continual disadvantages when
    it comes to assessing capital whether it's burdensome
    regulations and high interest rates, banks are being forced to
    tighten their lending standards.
        When this happens, small businesses are often the ones
    forced to pay the higher price to much needed funds. This is
    where the SBA's SBIC program comes into help. This program
    expands the options available to our nation's job creators to
    assess vital funding to grow and expand their operations.
        And H.R. 5333 makes the thoughtful improvements to ensure
    that the SBIC program continues to be an essential part of
    helping many small businesses navigate these economic
    challenges and increase the avenues to access capital. The bill
    allows the SBIC license commitment to account for inflation and
    provides additional leverage to licensees when committing to
    invest in smaller enterprises in underserved areas,
    specifically in rural America and areas of critical national
    defense technologies.
        Additionally, the bill directs no new spending and no new
    mandates allowing the program to continue operating at no cost
    to the taxpayer. Just yesterday in a subcommittee hearing we
    heard about the benefits this bill will have on program
    participants. The bill will make meaningful changes to the SBIC
    program all without adding additional risk for the taxpayers.
        I urge my colleagues to vote yes, on both the amendment and
    the nature of substitute on H.R. 5333 and the underlying bill.
        So, do any Members seek recognition of the purpose of
    offering the amendment to the amendment in the nature of a
    substitute? If there is no further discussion, on the question
    now on the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R.
    5333, offered by Mr. Meuser.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The
    amendment and the nature of the substitute H.R. 5333 offered by
    Mr. Meuser is agreed to.
        Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir?
        Mr. MEUSER. I would like to request a recorded vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote----
        Mr. MEUSER. I withdraw my request.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Request is withdrawn. Okay. The question now
    is now on favorably reporting H.R. 5333 as amended to the
    House. Okay.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        Opposed?
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R.
    5333, as amended, is agreed to in order to favorably move to
    the House.
        Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir?
        Mr. MEUSER. I would now like to request a recorded vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. For what purpose does the gentleman seek
    recognition for a recorded vote?
        Mr. MEUSER. Yes, sir, for a recorded vote. Thank you.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
    call is ordered. Pursuant to Committee Rule 13 and House rule
    XI further proceedings on the bill is postponed.
        All right.
        H.R. 8014
        The next bill we will markup is H.R. 8014, the Transparency
    and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act,
    introduced by Representatives Mfume and Alford. I now recognize
    the bill's sponsor. Mr. Mfume is not here I don't think. Is he?
    Okay. All right. All right.
        I now recognize the bill's cosponsor, Mr. Alford for an
    opening statement.
        Mr. ALFORD. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you so much,
    Ranking Member Velazquez, for holding this markup session
    today. I tell you what, I love coming to these sessions. It is
    a culmination of hard work, determination, and grit, and we are
    getting back to doing the business for Main Street America and
    I love that.
        This committee really exists in Congress to champion main
    street, to make sure that small businesses that employ about
    half of all Americans continue to thrive. Our role is to help
    lower the barriers to creating small businesses and to support
    small businesses that already exist. A major tool to help
    existing small businesses are government contracts specifically
    set aside for small businesses.
        However, federal agencies cancel contracts solicitations
    many times with no warning and no reason, leaving the small
    businesses that spent thousands or tens of thousands of dollars
    and hours preparing a bid, leaving them out in the cold.
        This bill, the Transparency and Predictability in Small
    Business Opportunities Act, would help address this problem,
    help solve it, help end it. This legislation would require
    agencies to provide the Small Business Administration a
    justification for canceled contract solicitations.
    Additionally, this would require the agency canceling the
    contract solicitations to disclose available information about
    plans to reissue similar solicitations.
        Finally, if the agency does not plan on reissuing a
    solicitation, the agency's director of small and disadvantaged
    business utilization must assist the small business in
    identifying similar contracting opportunities. Basically, Mr.
    Chairman and Ranking Member, this is setting up people for
    success and breaking down barriers in the process.
        I am proud to support this legislation, proud to be on this
    with Mr. Mfume. It is going to help provide stability and
    predictability to small business contractors, part of our
    responsibility on this committee.
        Thank you and I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. Are there any
    other Members who wish to recognized for a statement on the
    bill?
        Okay. If there are no other Members who wish to be
    recognized, I would like to recognize the Ranking Member to
    speak on the bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend
    Representatives Mfume and Alford for their work on this
    legislation which will require the government to provide
    information to small business contractors when they cancel
    solicitations.
        The government has flexibility to change requirements and
    solicitations as needed when their circumstances change. While
    this flexibility is necessary, the small businesses take on the
    risk and can incur losses when it happens. We have heard and
    time and again the barriers facing small contractors in our
    industrial base.
        The Women's Chamber of Commerce has complained how numerous
    small business contracts just go away without explanation or
    discussion of the obstacles. And during our hearing on February
    6th, Andrew Christ, a small business owner highlighted how
    small firms can spend significant amounts, an average of
    $10,000 to develop a proposal, only to find out that the
    project has become inactive.
        The bill we are considering today would not limit an
    agency's ability to make changes when necessary. It will simply
    provide some help to the small business when it does, requiring
    an agency to disclose the reasons behind a cancellation and any
    plans for the work will provide small contractors with a little
    more information to adjust their business plans and operations
    accordingly.
        I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back,
    Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
        I now recognize myself to speak in support of this
    legislation. H.R. 8014, the Transparency and Predictability in
    Small Business Opportunities Act, seeks to bring clarity to
    small business owners when an agency cancels a contract
    solicitation.
        Small business spend an incredible amount of time and
    resources preparing to bid on government contracts. When an
    agency cancels a contract solicitation the small businesses
    that started preparing are left with nothing to show for their
    work.
        Furthermore, there is little clarity about what the agency
    will do with the products and services originally intended to
    purchase. So, H.R. 8014 will require the agency to share with
    the SBA justifications why the contract was cancelled.
    Moreover, this bill requires agencies to assist small
    businesses impacted by the canceled solicitation by helping
    them identify similar contracts to bid on.
        Small businesses deserve to have a full understanding of
    what opportunities are available to them and to know how
    agencies will fulfill their buying needs. So, I urge all my
    colleagues to support H.R. 8014.
        If there is no further discussion, the committee now moves
    to consideration of H.R. 8014.
        The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 8014, to require the----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is
    considered as read and open for amendment.
        Do any Members seek recognition for the purpose of offering
    an amendment?
        Seeing none, the question is that now on adoption of H.R.
    8014 and favorably reporting to the House.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 8014
    is agreed to and ordered favorably to the House.
        Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. What recognition do you seek?
        Mr. ALFORD. I seek to have recorded votes, sir.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. A record of votes has been requested and a
    roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and
    House rule XI, further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
        H.R. 7987
        The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7987, the Plain
    Language in Contracting Act, introduced by Representatives
    LaLota and Thanedar. I recognize the bill's sponsor, Mr. LaLota
    for an opening statement.
        Mr. LALOTA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman, it shouldn't be as hard as the federal government
    makes it for America's small businesses to apply for an to win
    a federal contract. Small business, who are the life blood of
    America's economy and often have a single-digit or a low
    double-digit number of employees, shouldn't require a lawyer or
    compliance office to compete for and ultimately win a federal
    contract. But we have a solution.
        My bill, and a shout-out to my cosponsor and Representative
    Thanedar, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, would help
    solve that problem by making it easier for small businesses to
    secure government contracts.
        There are over 33 million small businesses in America, 33
    million. And many of these companies offer products and
    services that are crucial for the procurement of key projects
    both here in the United States and abroad. However, of those 33
    million only about 65,000 of those small businesses actually
    win federal prime contracts. That is a terrible ratio.
        We have heard from many small business owners who say that
    complexity of the bidding process for a government contract
    ultimately turns them away. Preparing for that bid is difficult
    enough, but the process is made even more difficult when the
    government is ambiguous about what it wants and its language is
    so complex that understanding it requires an advance degree.
        I challenge everyone of you, both Members, audience, and
    folks at home to try to understand some of these contract
    requirements. I know that it is frustrating for me and it is
    absolutely ridiculous. It takes an advanced law degree to make
    sense of it and even a lot of folks with those degrees can't
    make that sense.
        In fact, a naval postgraduate school commissioned a study
    of over 1 million DOD solicitations and they found three key
    things. Less than 3 percent of DOD contract solicitations are
    written in plain English. Second, most DOD solicitations
    require a college education just to understand it. And third
    and final, on a standard readability scale most DOD contracts
    are either difficult or very difficult to read on their rating
    scale.
        The detrimental effect of our government's convoluted
    language on small businesses cannot be overstated. It is a
    direct cause of small businesses' exodus from federal
    contracting leading to a significant loss in competition. And
    let me be clear, the competition lost by reduced small business
    hurts all of us, especially on the pricing and the quality.
    Small businesses are the backbone of our great nation's economy
    and we should be doing everything we can to support them.
        That is why I am proud I have introduced my bill, the Plain
    Language in Contracting Act, which will require federal
    agencies to use clear language when publishing contact
    solicitations, finally allowing greater access to solicitations
    bids.
        I urge all of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to
    support this commonsense bill. Again, one more shout-out to my
    colleague, Representative Thanedar, with whom I also serve on
    the Homeland Security Committee for his co-lead on this, and,
    Chairman Williams, for you and your staff, for your diligence
    on this.
        This could be my fourth bill that gets to the House floor
    and appreciate it, sir. I yield.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        And I recognize the bill's co-sponsor, Mr. Thanedar, for an
    opening statement.
        Mr. THANEDAR. Thank you, Chairman Williams and Ranking
    Member Velazquez. I appreciate both of you and your leadership
    in this bipartisan effort. What a great work. This is really
    what I came to Congress to do. As an entrepreneur I am
    delighted with what this committee does and the collaboration
    with both sides.
        Today, alongside my esteemed colleague, Representative
    LaLota from New York, I am proud to co-lead the Plain Language
    in Contracting Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at
    revolutionizing how government communicates with small
    businesses.
        As a co-lead on this vital legislation, I am deeply
    committed to simply find the often convoluted and inaccessible
    notices that hinder small businesses' access to government
    contracts.
        Having experienced the challenges of entrepreneurship
    firsthand, Representative LaLota and I recognize the urgent
    need to cut through bureaucratic jargon and provide clear,
    concise, and accessible information to our nation's small
    business owners. This bill not only aligns with our core values
    of transparency and efficiency but also reflects our unwavering
    dedication to fostering a level playing field for all
    businesses regardless of size.
        By requiring the inclusion of key words and adherence to
    federal plain language guidelines we are not just drafting
    legislation, we are empowering small businesses to navigate the
    complexity of government contracting with confidence and ease.
    This is about just--is this about more than just policy. It is
    about supporting the backbone of our economy and ensuring that
    every entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed.
        I am proud to stand alongside Representative LaLota and our
    colleagues in this bipartisan effort and I look forward to
    working tirelessly to advance this critical legislation for the
    betterment of our small business community and our nation as a
    whole.
        Thank you, Representative LaLota, and thank you all, and I
    yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
    statement on this bill? If there are no other Members to be
    recognized, I would like to recognize the Ranking Member to
    speak on the bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
    work done on this legislation that seeks to provide clarity for
    some small business government contractors working or looking
    to work with the federal government. It would require certain
    contracting documents, including requests for proposals and
    solicitations be written in a way that is clear, concise, and
    accessible.
        The goals of this bill are laudable. There are certainly
    ways in which the federal government can improve in this area
    in the language used and on contracting opportunities is one.
    Thanks to our sponsor for their work.
        Thank you again and I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I now
    recognize myself to speak in support of this legislation.
        H.R. 7987, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, is a very
    important piece of legislation which removes a hurdle small
    businesses face as they consider doing business with the
    government.
        The complexity of government contracting often turns small
    businesses away from even attempting to compete for these
    awards. The government-speak used in federal contracting only
    adds confusion to small businesses and often takes a team of
    attorneys to fully comprehend what they mean or services that
    are being requested and government language is so problematic
    that the committee has heard firsthand testimony from small
    business owners about the challenges of navigating government
    language.
        In a subcommittee hearing we held just yesterday we heard
    that most DOD solicitations require at least some higher
    education to understand what is written. This burden is just
    one of the many reasons that small businesses' participation in
    the industrial base has been cut by nearly one-half over the
    past decade.
        The Plain Language in Contracting Act makes it easier for
    small businesses to federal contracting to navigate these
    unnecessarily complex documents by finally requiring agencies
    to write concisely. I want to thank the Ranking Member and her
    staff and her team for working with us in drafting this bill
    and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for the Plain Language
    in Contracting Act.
        If there is no further discussion, the committee now moved
    to consideration of H.R. 7987.
        Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The clerk will report.
        Mr. LALOTA. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes.
        Mr. LALOTA. Disregard, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. What you would----
        Mr. LALOTA. Disregard my comment, Mr. Chairman. I pulled a
    Meuser, sorry.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. We good? We can--do you want us to take a
    recess and we will----
        Mr. LALOTA. No, sir. No, sir.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. Here we go. If there is no further
    discussion, the committee now moves to consider H.R. 7987. The
    clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 7986, to require plain language----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is
    considered as read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek
    recognition for the purpose of offering an amendment?
        If no, seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of
    H.R. 7987 and favorably reporting it to the House.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R.
    7987----
        Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Seek recognition.
        Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman, I request a role call vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The Member asked for a recorded vote. A
    recorded vote has been requested and roll call vote is order.
    Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule XI, further
    proceedings on this bill----
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chair?
        Mr. WILLIAMS.--are postponed.
        H.R. 7988
        The next bill we will--Gluesenkamp Perez. I now recognize
    the bill's sponsor, Mr. Stauber, for an opening statement.
        Mr. STAUBER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I rise to
    speak in favor of my bill, H.R. 7988, the Small Business
    Procurement and Utilization Reform Act of 2024, or the SPUR
    Act.
        Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are
    the innovators, the job traders, and the driving force behind
    economic growth. In Minnesota, small businesses account for
    over 99 percent of all businesses and employ over half of the
    workforce.
        It is no exaggeration to say that the success of our
    economy is tied to the success of our small businesses. I
    believe there is no better way for the government to support
    small businesses than to ensure they have ever opportunity to
    contract with the largest purchaser of goods and services in
    the world, the federal government.
        The problem is that while government agencies set aside
    contract opportunities for small businesses participation in
    federal contracting has declined by half in the last decade. We
    have an existing system in place that helps us see that we need
    to improve.
        Agencies are graded on the total number and value of small
    business contracts, yet they do not factor in small businesses
    who won a federal contract for the first time. So, without
    incorporating this into the agency's scoreboard grade, we have
    no ability to tell whether the shrinking pool of small
    businesses are first time contractors or have been contracting
    for multiple years.
        My bill, the SPUR Act, addresses this concern. It will
    provide us with more information to see where the federal
    government can improve. I would like to thank my colleague from
    Washington, Representative Gluesenkamp Perez, for her support
    of this important legislation.
        Too many federal agencies fall short of their goals for
    awarding contracts to small businesses leaving billions of
    dollars in contracts out of reach of America's small
    businesses. And I urge my colleagues to support this
    legislation as it will help ensure that the federal government
    is doing everything it can to support small businesses in
    America.
        Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize
    the bill's cosponsor, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez, for an opening
    statement.
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Thank you, Chairman Williams, and
    thank you to my colleague, Mr. Stauber, for his partnership on
    this bill and your valiant efforts at pronouncing my last name.
        The SBA is tasked with ensuring that small businesses are
    given a fair shot at competing for federal contracting dollars.
    SBA publishes an annual small business procurement scorecard
    that grades each federal agency on their spending towards the
    goal and gives agencies a score for their performance. We all
    know the adage there is lies, damn lies, and statistics. And I
    am certainly not accusing anyone of lying here, but I think it
    is important that when we are looking at these numbers we are
    understanding what they are representing.
        Put simply the federal government is not retaining current
    small business government contractors and new small businesses
    are not choosing to enter the federal market. This is a big
    problem.
        For our local economies to thrive it is important that we
    level the playing field, ensure more Southwest Washington small
    businesses can benefit from these opportunities. Our bill would
    require that the SBA include the number of new entrants into
    the federal market and the methodology for scoring each federal
    agency's small business performance.
        After the pandemic hit in 2020, my husband and I spent the
    better part of the year working on upgrades to the
    infrastructure in our auto shop, like better ventilation,
    lighting, things that would keep our employees and customers
    safe.
        Our good friends who own an autobody shop spent the entire
    year trying to figure out how to navigate a contract with the
    City of Portland. To me this is a really good example of how it
    is a real loss to our workforce and our local economy when
    small business owners have to spend the whole year figuring out
    how to do business with the government.
        Our bill will help shed light on how successful federal
    agencies are at making sure that new businesses see the value
    in contracting with the federal government and have the
    capacity to overcome the regulatory burdens to tap into these
    resources.
        I am proud to co-lead this bill with Representative Stauber
    and I urge my colleagues on the committee to support it. Thank
    you and I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. Are there any
    other Members who wish to be recognized for a statement on the
    bill?
        If there are no other Members who wish to be recognized, I
    would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the
    bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend
    Representatives Stauber and Gluesenkamp Perez for the work to
    require SBA to consider new small business contractors when
    grading a federal agency performance toward meeting its small
    businesses goals.
        The government has roughly 40 percent fewer small
    businesses in its ecosystem then it did just a decade ago. This
    decline of the industrial base has produced negative
    consequences for both the government and small firms and
    taxpayers. They lose out on the stability government
    contracting can provide and the government loses out on the
    innovation and competition that a larger small based of small
    businesses provides.
        Yet despite this decline, federal agencies award a record
    amount of contracting dollars to small businesses each year.
    This means fewer small businesses are getting larger contracts.
    And since contracts are getting larger, fewer small businesses
    are willing and able to compete for them. This legislation is a
    productive step that will help break that cycle.
        By requiring a year-over-year comparison of new entrants
    rather than a single target, federal agencies will be compelled
    to continuously focus on bringing in new companies and
    addressing the barriers, like contract size, that prevent
    greater small business participation.
        I again applaud the work put into this legislation. It is a
    thoughtful product that I am pleased to support and I urge my
    colleagues to support as well.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
        And I now recognize myself to speak in support of this
    legislation.
        H.R. 7988 makes it clear that small businesses are vital in
    the American industrial base. Each year agencies set a goal to
    spend at least 23 percent of their contract dollars with main
    street. The government generally meets this goal in dollars,
    but the number of small businesses actually winning contracts
    continues to decline and agencies are prioritizing the total
    dollars it awards, not the number of small firms.
        The decline in participation that we are seeing is a
    critical threat to America's industrial base and we must take
    action to reverse this trend. That is why the SPUR Act is
    critical. It will force agencies to factor in small businesses
    who won a government contract for the first time when they are
    graded on SBA's annual procurement scorecard.
        As agencies plan out their contracting activities they must
    ensure that increasing small businesses awards is a priority so
    that they have every opportunity to compete for these
    contracts. So, I urge all my colleagues to support the SPUR
    Act.
        And if there is no further discussion, the committee now
    moves to consideration of H.R. 7988. The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 7988----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispensed. With--and without objection, the bill is
    considered as read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek
    recognition for the purpose of offering an amendment?
        Seeing none, the question is now on adoption of H.R. 7988
    in favor of reporting it to the House.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
        Do you seek recognition?
        Mr. STAUBER. I ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
    call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House
    rule XI, any further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
        H.R. 7985
        The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7985, Entrepreneurs
    with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024, introduced by
    Representatives McGarvey and Molinaro. I now recognize the
    bill's sponsor, Mr. McGarvey for an opening statement.
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for
    your support of H.R. 7985 and for including it in today's
    markup.
        I would also like to especially thank Chairman Molinaro.
    Not only is he the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Innovation,
    Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, but he held a
    really great hearing about how we help people with disabilities
    become entrepreneurs and he very compassionately, courageously
    detailed the obstacles his own daughter has faced. And of
    course, brought up, for everyone on that subcommittee, brought
    up Maeve from Maeve's Coffee in the Hudson Valley, who was an
    absolute star in showing us the opportunities that exist if we
    are willing to invest and make this part of the American Dream
    available to everybody.
        I was also honored to have my constituent, Cody Clark, come
    up from Louisville, a small business owner, disability rights
    advocate, and I think the first person to perform a magic trick
    in front of this committee, at least this Congress. He did a
    great job telling us about the problems that people with
    disabilities face and his experience as an entrepreneur. His
    experience and those like the ones we heard from helped lead to
    today's legislation.
        This bipartisan legislation will require the Small Business
    Administration to submit a report to Congress on the challenges
    faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities. The report will
    include an assessment of these entrepreneurs' challenges and
    needs and detail what resources the SBA currently provides to
    entrepreneurs with disabilities. Importantly, it is also going
    to recommend legislative action to improve how the SBA serves
    entrepreneurs with disabilities.
        By requiring a report from the Small Business
    Administration, this bill will better help Congress understand
    how to support these entrepreneurs who face different
    challenges. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this
    bill, and yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        I now recognize the bill's cosponsor, Mr. Molinaro, for an
    opening statement.
        Mr. MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was glad to hear
    the great applause for this legislation, cheering in the
    hallways. I commend Mr. McGarvey for sponsoring the bill and
    thank you, Mr. Chairman, for moving the Entrepreneurs with
    Disability Reporting Act here today.
        I do want to extend my appreciation, Mr. McGarvey, Cody was
    a wonderful witness, but also a strong testament to the ability
    of every individual should be given the support from family and
    removed obstacles by government to attain success. And I for
    one was very grateful that Maeve was able to join us, but an
    important hearing addressing the challenges and obstacles that
    many with intellectual, physical, and developmental
    disabilities face every day.
        This particular bill, bipartisan in nature, will provide
    much needed clarity for entrepreneurs with disabilities as the
    navigate SBA's complex maze of over 50 different programs
    geared towards assisting them in starting a business. As of
    April 2022, 74 percent of adults with disabilities work outside
    the traditional workforce with approximately 1.8 million of
    these individuals with disabilities as business owners
    themselves.
        Entrepreneurs of ability should have a fair shot at
    pursuing their passion and we ought to work hard to remove
    obstacles from them.
        As the Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on
    Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development I join
    my colleagues in remaining committed to empowering our
    entrepreneurs with disabilities to contribute more to main
    street and lead really more independent and fulfilled lives.
        I am grateful again to Mr. McGarvey and the commitment of
    this committee to move this legislation today. This act would
    provide a comprehensive assessment of the needs of our
    entrepreneurs with disabilities and help to inform lawmakers of
    legislative solutions to address the challenges these
    individuals face and breakdown barriers so they can pursue
    their employment options.
        I urge my colleagues to support the bill. As I like to say
    back home this is one more effort to show America what it means
    to think differently for those with intellectual, physical, and
    developmental disabilities.
        And with that I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
    statement on this bill?
        If no other Members wish to be recognized, I would like to
    recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased
    support the legislation offered by Mr. McGarvey and Mr.
    Molinaro, which will require the SBA to submit a report to
    Congress on the challenges facing entrepreneurs with
    disabilities.
        There are 44 million people with disabilities in the United
    States. While progress has been made to increase employment
    rates, disabled individuals lag behind people without
    disabilities. Only 26 percent of people with disabilities
    participate in the labor force.
        As a country we can do better and we must do better.
    Studies have found higher rates of self-employment among
    disabled Americans, most often because it offers more
    flexibility and the ability to work remotely. That is why we
    need a comprehensive study to assess the SBA resources that are
    available to entrepreneurs with disabilities examine their
    effectiveness and determine what actions need to be take to
    help support entrepreneurs with disabilities.
        I applaud Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Molinaro for their
    leadership on this issue. I support the bill, and I yield back
    my time.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
        H.R. 7985, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting
    Act of 2024, will require the SBA to issue a report to Congress
    on the challenges individuals with disabilities face when
    starting a business. Furthermore, it would require the SBA to
    look at resources across the federal government that assist
    individuals with disabilities.
        The Government Accountability Office estimate there are
    only 50 programs across 9 federal agencies that support
    employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
    However, as we know federal agencies often fail to coordinate
    or collaborate on such programs to ensure that their efforts
    are not duplicated.
        The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024
    will require the SBA to look at this fragmented system and do
    its part to consolidate and streamline these efforts. I thank
    Representatives McGarvey and Molinaro for introducing this
    legislation. I urge all Members to vote yes.
        If there's no further discussion, the committee now moves
    to consideration of H.R. 7985. The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 7985, to require the administrator of the
    Small Business Administration----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is
    considered as read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek
    recognition for purpose of offering an amendment?
        Seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of H.R.
    7985 and favorably reporting to the House?
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Chairman?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Seek recognition.
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Mr. Chairman, I seek a roll call vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. A recorded vote has been requested and
    a roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and
    House rule XI further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
        H.R. 7989
        The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7989, the
    ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disabilities Employment Act, introduced
    by Representatives Molinaro and Pappas.
        I now recognize the bill's sponsor, Mr. Molinaro for an
    opening statement.
        Mr. MOLINARO. Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I am proud to
    speak in favor of this bill and very grateful to the committee
    for moving forward H.R. 7989, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About
    Disabilities Employment Act.
        Building off of a nationwide effort to an initiative we
    refer to as ThinkDIFFERENTLY in my home state this bill will
    require greater cooperation between the SBA and the National
    Counsel on Disability to expand employment and entrepreneurship
    opportunities for the disability community. In New York State
    alone, as was noted, 60 percent of working-age people with
    disabilities are unemployed. Nationwide that number rises to 80
    percent of those with intellectual, physical, and developmental
    disabilities remain unemployed and outside the workforce.
        We know from small businesses throughout upstate New York
    and across America, we understand the many benefits of hiring
    individuals with intellectual, physical, and developmental
    disabilities. And especially we understand that in many cases
    their unique skillsets are sound economic investments, but, as
    importantly, help to boost company morale and make a benefit to
    the company overall. And their participation in the workforce
    promotes greater employee engagement.
        The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act paves
    the way for lawmakers to assess the challenges that employees
    and entrepreneurs with disabilities face while proactively
    working to ensure those with disabilities have the support to
    pursue real career opportunities.
        I'd like to thank my colleague, Representative Pappas, for
    his partnership and leadership on the bill and I urge my
    colleagues to support this very simple, smart, bipartisan
    legislation that is meant again to tear down barriers and
    create opportunities for everyone of every ability and perhaps
    show Congress and the world what it means to think differently.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize
    the bill's cosponsor, Mr. Pappas, for an opening statement.
        Mr. PAPPAS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Small
    business ownership is a major pathway for all Americans to
    achieve success and self-sufficiency and people with
    disabilities participate in entrepreneurship at a higher rate
    than nondisabled Americans. The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About
    Disability Employment Act will support collaboration between
    SBA and the National Counsel on Disability to help folks with
    disabilities pursue small business ownership and employment
    opportunities.
        Individuals with disabilities deserve equal access to
    support from SBA and this bipartisan legislation is an
    important step forward that will help achieve that. This will
    support entrepreneurship and employment of individuals with
    disabilities while helping our main street economies grow and
    our communities thrive.
        So, I am pleased to partner with Representative Molinaro on
    this bill. I thank him for his steadfast leadership in this
    space and I urge my colleagues to support it.
        I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
        Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
    statement on this bill?
        If there are no other Members who wish to be recognized, I
    would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the
    bill.
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the sponsor
    of this bill and I strongly support the bill.
        I yield back.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. I now recognize myself to speak in support of
    this legislation.
        Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be self-
    employed than the average American. Across the federal
    government there are numerous programs and resources to assist
    Americans with disabilities, yet resources tailored to
    entrepreneurs with disabilities at the SBA are sorely lacking.
    H.R. 7989, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disabilities Employment
    Act, will require the SBA to enter into a Memorandum of
    Understanding with the National Council on Disability, which is
    an independent federal agency whose mission is to provide a
    recommendation to policymakers and issues impacting individuals
    with disabilities.
        This makes the National Disability Council equally
    qualified or uniquely qualified to advise and assist the SBA in
    the pursuit of assisting individuals with disabilities achieve
    the American dream.
        I would like to thank Representative Molinaro for his
    commitment to ensuring Congress works to pave the pathway to
    success for entrepreneurs and employees with disabilities and
    thank him and Mr. Pappas for introducing this legislation. I
    urge all my colleagues to vote yes this legislation.
        So, if there is no further discussion, the committee now
    moves to the consideration of H.R. 7989. The clerk will report.
        The CLERK. H.R. 7989, to provide----
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the
    bill is dispended and, without objection, the bill is
    considered and read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek
    recognition for the purpose of offering an amendment?
        Seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of H.R.
    7989 and favorably reporting to the House.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. H.R. 7989--
    do you seek recognition?
        Mr. MOLINARO. I request a recorded vote.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
    call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House
    rule XI, further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
        The committee now stands in recess. Subject to the call of
    the Chair, we will resume at a later time. But I think we
    decided on 11:30, right? We will resume at 11:30.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The committee will now come to order. The
    committee will now resume consideration of the bills on which
    roll call votes were requested and postponed. We will start
    with H.R. 7984.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 7984 and ordering it
    favorably to the House. The clerk will call the role.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        [No response.]
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chaiman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, how am I reported?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. As absent.
        Mr. STAUBER. Please change it to a yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Chairman, how was my vote recorded?
        The CLERK. The congressman was recorded as no vote or as
    not voting.
        Mr. ELLZEY. Ellzey, aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Do any other Members with to vote or change
    their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. On that vote, Mr. LaLota is recorded as an aye.
        Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. H.R. 7984 is adopted and will be reported
    favorably to the House.
        Before I move on, there are two people I want to thank that
    have made our hearing go as it has today, go very well. I want
    to first of all thank Ellen. Thank you very much for all you
    have done on your side and we appreciate it very much. And
    also, I want to thank Andrew, who has done a good job over
    here. They have made everything run well and we appreciate
    them. So, thank you.
        The question is now on adopting H.R. 5333, as amended, and
    order it favorably reported to the House. The clerk will call
    the role.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Ellzey, aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt.
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chaiman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. STAUBER. Stauber votes aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. Are there any other Members who have
    not voted or wish to change their vote?
        All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 5333, as
    amended, is adopted and will be reported favorably to the
    House.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 8014 and ordering it
    favorably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chaiman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 8014
    is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 7987 and ordering it
    favorably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chaiman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7987
    is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 7988 and ordering it
    favorably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chairman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members that have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        Seeing none the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7988
    is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 7985 and ordering it
    favorably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chairman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        Seeing none the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7985
    is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
        The question now is on adopting H.R. 7989 and ordering it
    favorably reported to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
        The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Stauber?
        Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
        Mr. Meuser?
        Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
        Ms. Van Duyne?
        Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
        Ms. Salazar?
        Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
        Mr. Mann?
        Mr. MANN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
        Mr. Ellzey?
        Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
        Mr. Molinaro?
        Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
        Mr. Alford?
        Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
        Mr. Crane?
        Mr. CRANE. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
        Mr. Bean?
        Mr. BEAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
        Mr. Hunt?
        [No response.]
        Mr. LaLota?
        Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
        Ms. Maloy?
        Ms. MALOY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
        Mr. Golden?
        Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
        Mr. Mfume?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Phillips?
        [No response.]
        Mr. Landsman?
        Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
        Mr. McGarvey?
        Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
        Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
        Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
        Ms. Scholten?
        Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
        The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
        Mr. Thanedar?
        Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
        Ms. Chu?
        Ms. CHU. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
        Ms. Davids?
        Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
        Mr. Pappas?
        Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
        Ranking Member Velazquez?
        Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Aye.
        The CLERK. Ranking Member Velazquez votes aye.
        Chairman Williams?
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
        The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
    voted or wish to change their vote?
        All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
        The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
    0 present.
        Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7989
    is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
        Without objection, committee staff is authorized to make
    technical and conforming changes and Members have 2 business
    days to file additional supplemental, dissenting, and minority
    views.
        I want to thank everyone for being here today. I also want
    to say it was a great hearing. I think when you go home you can
    tell them about a committee that actually is getting something
    done in a bipartisan fashion. And I appreciate everybody's work
    on both sides of the aisle.
        And if there is no further business, this concludes today's
    markup. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11:57 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]

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