ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act

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.

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.

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.

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.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).

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.

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.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), the cosponsor of the legislation.

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.

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.

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.