Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 7985, which would require the SBA to submit a report to Congress on the challenges facing entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Despite progress to increase employment rates, only 26 percent of people with disabilities participate in the labor force. That is why we need a comprehensive study to assess the resources that are available to people with disabilities, examine their effectiveness, and determine what actions need to be taken to support entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Molinaro to increase opportunities for people with disabilities. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7985.

Entrepreneurship provides people with disabilities a viable option to participate in the labor force and improve their quality of life.

SBA's entrepreneurial ecosystem, comprised of nearly 1,000 resource partners across the country, can provide individuals with free counseling and training to launch and grow their small businesses.

We do not know how well SBA and its resource partners are meeting their needs and what more could be done to better serve these individuals. This bill will go a long way in assessing the outreach and engagement provided by SBA and make legislative recommendations to address any deficiencies in the services provided to people with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Molinaro for their bipartisan efforts, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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