[House Report 119-31]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { REPORT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-31
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ENTREPRENEURS WITH DISABILITIES REPORTING ACT OF
2025
_______
March 24, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Williams of Texas, from the Committee on Small Business, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 1621]
The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 1621) to require the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration to submit to Congress a report on the
entrepreneurial challenges facing entrepreneurs with a
disability, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that
the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Bill Summary........................................2
II. Need for Legislation............................................2
III. Hearings........................................................2
IV. Committee Consideration.........................................2
V. Committee Votes.................................................2
VI. Section-by-Section of H.R. 1621.................................4
VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................4
VIII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditure4
IX. Oversight Findings & Recommendations............................4
X. Performance Goals and Objectives................................4
XI. Statement of Duplication of Federal Programs....................5
XII. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits........................................................5
XIII. Federal Mandates Statement......................................5
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................5
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................5
XVI. Statement of Constitutional Authority...........................5
XVII. Minority Views..................................................6
I. PURPOSE AND BILL SUMMARY
On February 26, 2025, Rep. McGarvey and Rep. Stauber (R-MN)
introduced H.R. 1621, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting
Act of 2025. H.R. 1621 requires the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration (SBA) to submit a report to Congress on
the challenges facing entrepreneurs with disabilities.
II. NEED FOR LEGISLATION
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
there are nearly 50 programs spread across nine Federal
agencies that support employment for individuals with
disabilities. Navigating the federal bureaucracy can be a
challenge for anyone, but it is particularly challenging for
disabled entrepreneurs who are forced to scour 50 different
programs when looking for assistance in starting a business.
The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2025
requires the SBA to submit a report to Congress regarding the
challenges that disabled individuals face when starting a
business. The SBA would be required to review what resources
the federal government already provides to entrepreneurs with
disabilities, and recommend how these programs can be
streamlined and improved.
III. HEARINGS
On February 5, 2025, the Committee on Small Business held a
hearing examining matters related to H.R. 1621 titled ``Hope on
the Horizon: Prioritizing Small Business Growth in the 119th
Congress.''
IV. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Committee on Small Business met in open session, with a
quorum being present, on March 5, 2025, and ordered H.R. 1621
favorably reported to the House of Representatives. During the
markup, no amendments were offered.
V. COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. The Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 1621 to
the House of Representatives at 11:45 AM.
VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION OF H.R. 1621
Section 1: Short title
This bill may be cited as the ``Entrepreneurs with
Disabilities Reporting Act of 2025.''
Section 2: Report on entrepreneurship challenges of entrepreneurs with
disabilities
Within 180 days, the SBA Administrator must issue a report
to Congress on the challenges entrepreneurs with disabilities
face when starting and operating a business. In addition, the
report must include the resources, support, and outreach the
SBA provides to these individuals, a description of joint
efforts with other federal agencies to address these needs,
deficiencies in these resources, and recommendations for
legislative actions to address the challenges entrepreneurs
with disabilities face.
VII. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the cost
estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974. The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a cost estimate for
the Committee's provisions.
VIII. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following opinion and estimate with respect to new budget
authority, entitlement authority, and tax expenditures. While
the Committee has not received an estimate of new budget
authority contained in the cost estimate prepared by the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to Sec.
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee does
not believe that there will be any additional costs
attributable to this legislation. H.R. 1621 does not direct new
spending, but instead reallocates funding independently
authorized and appropriated.
IX. OVERSIGHT FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,
the oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee on
Small Business with respect to the subject matter contained in
H.R. 1621 are incorporated into the descriptive portions of
this report.
X. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goals and objectives of H.R. 1621 are to require a
report from SBA to Congress on the challenges facing
entrepreneurs with disabilities and the variety of resources
available across the federal government.
XI. STATEMENT OF DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, no provision of H.R. 1621 is known to
be duplicative of another Federal program, including any
program that was included in a report to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
XII. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF
BENEFITS
With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that the bill
does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e),
9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
XIII. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
XV. APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
XVI. STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House,
the Committee finds that the authority for this legislation in
Art. I, Sec. 8, cl.1 of the Constitution of the United States.
XVII. MINORITY VIEWS
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 44.1
million Americans have disabilities.\1\ However, only 22.7
percent participate in America's labor force\2\ due to
employment barriers, including discrimination, education, lack
of flexibility, and transportation. Starting and owning a small
business can help individuals with disabilities overcome these
employment barriers and set out on a path to prosperity.
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\1\Table S1810: Disability Characteristics, U.S. Census Bureau
(2022), https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1810.
\2\U.S. Bur of Stats. Persons with a Disability: Labor Force
Characteristics Summary, February 25, 2025.
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Individuals with disabilities have a higher rate of self-
employment (17 percent) than non-disabled Americans (11
percent). People with disabilities often choose
entrepreneurship over joining the labor force for several
reasons, including greater flexibility and inclusion with
respect to their work scheduling and environment.\3\ In fact,
there are approximately 1.8 million small businesses owned by
people with disabilities in the U.S.\4\
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\3\Nat'l Disability Inst., Small Business Ownership by People with
Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities 1-2, 13-14 (Apr. 2022).
\4\Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, 6 Funding Opportunities for Disabled
Entrepreneurs, U.S. Chamber of Com. (Nov. 1, 2023), https://
www.uschamber.com/co/run/business-financing/funding-options-for-
disabled-entrepreneurs.
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However, launching and scaling a small business can be
challenging, particularly for individuals with disabilities,
and it requires significant support. Access to capital and
mentorship can significantly increase the success rate of
entrepreneurs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) can
assist individuals with disabilities through their programs and
help them achieve the American dream.
Nydia M. Velazquez,
Ranking Member.
[all]