[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3690-H3692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ThinkDIFFERENTLY ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ACT

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 7989) to provide for a memorandum of understanding 
between the Small Business Administration and the National Council on 
Disability to increase employment opportunities for individuals with 
disabilities, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7989

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``ThinkDIFFERENTLY About 
     Disability Employment Act''.

     SEC. 2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT 
                   OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Small Business 
     Administration, in consultation with the Chair of the 
     National Council on Disability, shall--
       (1) provide assistance to individuals with disabilities who 
     desire to become entrepreneurs or to be self-employed;
       (2) help individuals with disabilities find employment at 
     small business concerns (as defined under section 3 of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632));

[[Page H3691]]

       (3) assist small business concerns with hiring individuals 
     with disabilities and with accessibility issues applicable to 
     individuals with disabilities.
       (b) Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement.--The 
     Administrator, in consultation with the Chair, shall carry 
     out and coordinate the activities described in subsection (a) 
     by entering into one or more memoranda of understanding or 
     other appropriate agreements.
       (c) Outreach and Education.--In carrying out the activities 
     described in subsection (a), the Administrator, in 
     consultation with the Chair, shall conduct outreach and 
     education about such activities.
       (d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
     with the Chair, shall submit to Congress a report on 
     activities carried out pursuant to any memorandum or 
     agreement described in subsection (b) that includes the 
     following:
       (1) A description of how the Administrator, in consultation 
     with the Chair, carried out such activities.
       (2) An analysis of opportunities to expand the technical 
     capabilities of the Small Business Administration in carrying 
     out such activities.
       (3) A description of achievements under any such memorandum 
     or agreement.
       (4) A description of the plans of the Administrator, in 
     consultation with the Chair, to continue activities to expand 
     employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

     SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH CUTGO.

       No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7989, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY 
about Disability Employment Act.
  Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be self-employed 
than the average American, and across the Federal Government, there are 
numerous programs and resources to assist American small businesses. 
Yet, many of these resources are not tailored to entrepreneurs with 
disabilities.
  In order to ensure that we are not leaving behind this population, 
this bill will increase coordination between the SBA and the National 
Council on Disability. The National Council on Disability is an 
independent Federal agency whose mission is to provide recommendations 
to policymakers on issues impacting individuals with disabilities. This 
bipartisan council is uniquely qualified to advise and assist the SBA 
in their pursuit of assisting individuals with disabilities to achieve 
the American Dream.
  I thank Representatives Molinaro and Pappas for their commitment to 
ensuring Congress works to pave the way to success for entrepreneurs 
and employees with disabilities.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representatives Molinaro and Pappas for 
introducing the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act.
  Earlier in the year, our committee heard testimony about the 
importance of supporting individuals with disabilities. Not only do 
they have the skills and desire to work, but hiring people with 
disabilities directly benefits the company they work for and the 
overall economy.
  Through this bipartisan legislation, the SBA can collaborate with the 
National Council on Disability to help employers hire people with 
disabilities and provide much-needed support to these entrepreneurs.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).
  Mr. MOLINARO. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams for supporting 
this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About 
Disability Employment Act.
  This is yet one more piece of legislation the House is taking up to 
build off the work that we began when I served as county executive, our 
ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative. I thank Representative Chris Pappas for 
not only his support and cosponsorship of the legislation but his 
partnership on issues of significance to those living with 
intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities.
  The ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative is a call to action. It is now a 
national model seeking to break down barriers and create opportunities 
for those living with intellectual, physical, and developmental 
disabilities. The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act does 
just that.
  The bill requires cooperation between the SBA and the National 
Council on Disability to expand employment and entrepreneurship 
opportunities for our disability community. Reports have shown and we 
know that nearly 70 percent of those living with intellectual, 
physical, and developmental disabilities are unemployed. They are 
relegated to the sidelines.
  Too many overlook the immense potential our disability community has, 
especially when it comes to supporting Main Street. Some believe that 
certain people can't achieve certain things because they presume that 
they can't. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  Employment and entrepreneurship opportunities allow individuals with 
disabilities not only to sharpen their soft skills and lead more 
independent lives, but they add value and benefit to employers.
  The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act paves the way 
for lawmakers to assess the challenges our employees and entrepreneurs 
with disabilities face while proactively seeking to ensure those with 
disabilities have the support they need to pursue careers and 
opportunities of their own.
  Again, I thank my colleague Representative Pappas for his partnership 
on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, 
bipartisan legislation.
  Too many living with disabilities are left on the sideline when a 
simple act of preparing them to enter the workforce or entering the 
workforce not only transforms and enhances their lives but will advance 
the work and opportunities with employers and small businesses and 
certainly work to strengthen the national economy.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), the cosponsor of the 
legislation.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the chair 
for bringing this legislation to the floor. I rise to urge support of 
this bipartisan bill that would make needed improvements in the way 
that Federal partners coordinate and collaborate to support 
entrepreneurs with disabilities.
  The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act is a bipartisan 
piece of legislation I was proud to work on alongside Congressman 
Molinaro, and I thank him for his leadership on these issues.
  This legislation would require the SBA and the National Council on 
Disability to collaborate to help people with disabilities pursue small 
business ownership and employment opportunities.
  Specifically, it would require the SBA to report to Congress on the 
challenges entrepreneurs with disabilities face, better understand 
current resources available to them, and recommend ways to address the 
challenges and needs these entrepreneurs have.
  I remain committed to working across the aisle on behalf of our small 
businesses and continuing to bring the voices of our Main Streets to 
the Halls of Congress to ensure we are meeting their needs and ensure 
that we are supporting them moving forward in the challenges that they 
face.

[[Page H3692]]

  This bipartisan bill is a commonsense step. It is good for people. It 
is good for small businesses.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Molinaro, once again, for his 
leadership, and I urge the House to pass the bill today.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 
44.1 million Americans are individuals with disabilities. It is 
important to ensure that all Americans are included and accommodated in 
the workplace and business community. However, only 26 percent of 
people with disabilities participate in America's labor force.
  One such way to improve these numbers is through entrepreneurship. 
There are about 1.8 million small businesses owned by people with 
disabilities in the U.S. Owning a small business is a major pathway for 
all Americans, especially people with disabilities, to achieve self-
sufficiency.
  Today's legislation would require the SBA to enter an MOU with the 
National Council on Disability to promote entrepreneurship and 
employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Molinaro and Mr. Pappas for their 
collaboration, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Madam Speaker, from the start of this Congress, Representative 
Molinaro has been a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities. 
I am thankful for his efforts in the Committee on Small Business to 
continue his work to ensure Federal resources are being used as 
effectively as possible so every entrepreneur has a chance to succeed.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 7989.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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