[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E563-E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL AND SMALL BUSINESS TELEWORK PROMOTION ACT

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
``Federal and Small Business Telework Promotion Act'' to assist our 
Nation's small businesses in establishing successful telework programs 
for their employees and to secure energy saving opportunities, like 
teleworking for our Nation's Federal employees.
  Across America, numerous employers are responding to the needs of 
their employees and establishing telework programs. In 2000, there were 
an estimated 16.5 million teleworkers. By the end of 2004, there will 
be an estimated 30 million teleworkers, representing an increase of 
almost 100 percent.
  Unfortunately, the majority of growth in new teleworkers comes from 
organizations employing over 1,500 people, while just a few years

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ago, most teleworkers worked for small to medium-sized organizations.
  By not taking advantage of modem technology and establishing 
successful telework programs, small businesses are losing out on a host 
of benefits that will save them money, and make them more competitive. 
By establishing successful telework programs, small business owners 
would be able to retain these valuable employees by allowing them to 
work from a remote location, such as their home or a telework center.
  In addition to the cost savings realized by businesses that employ 
teleworkers, there are a number of related benefits to society and the 
employee. For example, telecommuters help reduce traffic and cut down 
on air pollution by staying off the roads during rush hour. Fully 80 
percent of home-only teleworkers commute to work on days they are not 
teleworking. This also gives employees more time to spend with their 
families and reduces stress levels by eliminating the pressure of a 
long commute.
  Mr. Speaker, our legislation seeks to conserve the energy consumption 
of the Federal workforce and to extend the benefits of a successful 
telework program to our Nation's small businesses.
  Specifically, each agency shall take such actions as are necessary to 
reduce the level of fuel consumed by vehicles of employees of the 
agency. Due to the needs to reduce our dependence on imported oil, the 
bill directs all Federal agencies to find ways to reduce energy 
consumption by 10 percent in the year following the bill's passage. 
Agencies can achieve this reduction through telework, carpooling, 
bicycling and walking to work, fuel-efficient trip planning, public 
transportation use; and limiting travel.
  Further the bill establishes a pilot program in the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) to raise awareness about telework among small 
business employers and to encourage those small businesses to establish 
telework programs for their employees.
  Additionally, an important provision in our bill directs the SBA 
Administrator to undertake special efforts for businesses owned by, or 
employing, persons with disabilities and disabled American veterans. At 
the end of the day, telework can provide more than just environmental 
benefits and improved quality of life. It can open the door to people 
who have been precluded from working in a traditional office setting 
due to physical disabilities.
  The legislation is also limited in cost and scope. It establishes the 
pilot program in a maximum of five SBA regions and caps the total cost 
to five million dollars over two years. It also restricts the SBA to 
activities specifically proscribed in the legislation: Developing 
educational materials; conducting outreach to small business; and 
acquiring equipment for demonstration purposes. Finally, it requires 
the SBA to prepare and submit a report to Congress evaluating the pilot 
program.
  Several hurdles to establishing successful telework programs could be 
cleared by enacting our legislation. The bill will go a long way 
towards educating small business owners on how they can draft 
guidelines to make a telework program an affordable, manageable reality 
and demonstrating the willingness of the Federal Government to expand 
their own telework policies.
  Here is a brief outline of the bill's provisions--
  Section One--provides a short title, namely ``Federal and Small 
Business Telework Promotion Act.''
  Section Two--sets forth findings regarding the potential benefits of 
increasing the extent to which employees have the option of 
teleworking.
  Section Three--amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act by 
adding a new subsection requiring Federal agencies to act so far as 
possible to reduce the amount of fuel used by its employees by at least 
10 percent during the year after enactment. Military use of fuel would 
not be affected. An agency could seek to achieve this reduction through 
increased telework opportunities; more carpooling; more people 
bicycling or walking to work; fuel-efficient trip planning; greater use 
of public transportation; or by limiting use of vehicles for business 
travel.
  Section Four--directs the Small Business Administration to carry out 
a pilot program to raise awareness of telework among small businesses 
and to encourage them to offer telework options to their employees. 
This program is to include special outreach to businesses owned by or 
employing people with disabilities, including disabled veterans. 
Priority for locating the pilot program will be given to regions where 
Federal agencies and small businesses have demonstrated a strong 
commitment to telework. The pilot program will terminate after 2 years. 
This section also authorizes appropriation of $5 million for 
implementation by SBA.

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