[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2399-H2401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THINKDIFFERENTLY ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ACT
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1634) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1634
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. 1. 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)); and
(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. 2. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the
requirements of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. 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 the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 1634, the
ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act, introduced by
Representatives Stauber and Simon.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their collaboration on this
important legislation which aims to break down barriers and provide
greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities nationwide.
Far too many individuals with disabilities continue to face
systematic
[[Page H2400]]
challenges when trying to enter the workforce or start a small
business. As Congress, we have a responsibility to recognize their
talents and create opportunities that empower them to succeed.
The bill takes a simple, practical step toward directing the SBA to
work directly with the National Council on Disability, and together
they will coordinate efforts to help individuals with disabilities
pursue entrepreneurship, secure employment with small businesses, and
overcome accessibility challenges. This will help ensure that
individuals with disabilities have access to business counseling
through existing SBA programs, like the Small Business Development
Centers.
Importantly, H.R. 1634 is a commonsense, no-cost solution that
provides individuals with disabilities more opportunities to succeed on
Main Street and start their own small businesses.
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1634, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY
About Disability Employment Act.
Although we have made considerable progress on bringing people with
disabilities into the workforce, the numbers reveal how far we still
have to go. Only 23 percent of the over 44 million individuals living
with a disability are employed. This is not because they lack the
skills or the willingness to work, but often because they face
persistent structural barriers, such as discrimination, limited
flexibility in the workplace, and inadequate transportation options,
among others.
While small firms employ half the private-sector workforce, they may
face challenges of their own, such as outdated infrastructure or
uncertainty about accommodations. Helping small firms hire people with
disabilities can directly benefit their company and in turn boost the
overall economy.
This bipartisan bill requires that SBA collaborate with the National
Council on Disability to help employers hire more people with
disabilities and provide much needed support to these entrepreneurs.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stauber, Ms. Simon, Mr. Alford, and Mr.
Pappas for their bipartisan collaboration on this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I thank both my Republican
and Democrat colleagues for their kind words. They are both spot on,
and I couldn't be more proud to stand here and support this bill.
I rise today in strong support of my bill, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About
Disability Employment Act.
I want to begin by thanking my colleagues from California, Missouri,
and New Hampshire, Representatives Simon, Alford, and Pappas, for their
support of this important legislation.
As a father to a young man with Down syndrome, I have seen firsthand
just how much untapped talent exists within the disability community.
Unfortunately, outdated systems and perceptions still keep far too many
of these individuals on the sidelines in our economy.
That is just unfair, and it is a missed opportunity for American
growth and innovation, and deprives our economy of their incredible
contributions.
The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act takes a critical
step towards breaking down these barriers. This bill directs the Small
Business Administration and the National Council on Disability to
collaborate in providing resources and assistance to individuals with
disabilities who want to start their own business or find meaningful
employment, and it also ensures that small businesses have the guidance
they need to hire and support employees with disabilities.
Through this bill, we are ensuring that individuals with disabilities
can turn their ambitions into reality, whether that means starting a
company or securing meaningful work. At the same time, we are helping
small businesses tap into a skilled and motivated workforce by offering
them the guidance to do so confidently.
Individuals with disabilities should not be overlooked. They should
be empowered.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that
every American, regardless of their ability, has the opportunity to
contribute, succeed, and thrive in this great Nation.
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Simon).
Ms. SIMON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman McGarvey for yielding me
the time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Stauber, and I am excited to work
with him so closely during my time in Congress to advance the
opportunities for folks with disabilities in this country. It is just a
deep honor for the two of us to continue on our path of
representing Americans with disabilities.
As the first congenitally blind person to serve in the United States
Congress, I am honored to rise today in support of this bipartisan bill
with Representative Stauber, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability
Employment Act.
As a community organizer and leader for over 20 years, I focused on
finding jobs and opportunities for low-income folks in the bay area in
California, and I came to Congress to bring those communities with me,
particularly the disability community, a community that I belong to.
The disability community is too often left out of policy
conversations, and today, Democrats and Republicans are bringing our
brothers and sisters to the table.
Right now, the unemployment rate for people with intellectual,
physical, and developmental disabilities remains alarmingly high in
this country. Ashamedly, it is at 80 percent. Yes, 80 percent. This, we
know, is unacceptable.
We can close the disability employment gap, not only to advance
independence, dignity, and freedom for Americans with disabilities, but
to drive economic growth.
This bill, my bill, our bill, creates an essential partnership
between the Small Business Administration and the National Council on
Disability to help individuals with disabilities pursue self-
employment, dignity, launch small businesses, and thrive in the
workforce.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill and build an
economy that works for all of us. Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to say
we can move this forward today.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank Representative Stauber for advocating for
his son and the millions of folks with disabilities in this country to
have their just due and to support me in this legislation moving
forward. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Williams and Ranking
Member Velazquez for their efforts in moving this bill forward.
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues: Mr. Stauber, for sharing his
story, for acting on behalf of his son and so many Americans with
disabilities; Ms. Simon for her passion and her work in this area; and
Mr. Alford and Mr. Pappas for their bipartisan work on improving
entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for people with
disabilities.
Every individual, no matter their disability, deserves a shot at
participating in our economy and getting that shot at the American
Dream. Whether it is getting a job in a local small business or
launching their own startup, this bill directs the SBA and the National
Council on Disability to collaborate on ways to help individuals with
disabilities do just that.
By passing this bill, we can start clearing the structural barriers
faced by people with disabilities, while growing the economy and
helping small business owners.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1634, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this commonsense 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. 1634, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
[[Page H2401]]
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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