[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E94-E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SMALL BUSINESS TELEWORK PROMOTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2008

   Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the 
``Small Business Telework Promotion Act'' to assist our Nation's small 
businesses in establishing successful telework programs for their 
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 were 
an estimated 30 million teleworkers, representing an increase of almost 
100 percent in 4 short years. Unfortunately, the majority of growth in 
new teleworkers comes from organizations employing over 1,500 people, 
while just a few years ago, most teleworkers worked for small to 
medium-sized organizations.
  By not taking advantage of evolving technology to establish 
successful telework programs, some small businesses are losing out on a 
host of benefits that will save them money, and make them more 
competitive. Successful telework programs can help small business 
owners to retain 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. Telework can also give employees more time to spend with 
their families, and reduce stress levels by eliminating the pressure of 
a long commute.
  The bill establishes a 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 the bill directs the SBA 
Administrator to undertake special efforts for businesses owned by, or 
employing, persons with disabilities and disabled America 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.
  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 expand their own telework policies.
  Here is a brief outline of the bill's provisions--
  Section One--provides a short title, namely ``The 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.

[[Page E95]]

  Section Three--directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to 
carry out a 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.

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