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Floor Speech

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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));

(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.
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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.

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

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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.

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