Congressman Morgan McGarvey Introduces Bill to Support Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2024) – Today, Congressman McGarvey (KY-03) and Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19) introduced H.R. 7985, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024. This bipartisan legislation would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit a report to Congress on challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities. The report will include an assessment of these entrepreneurs’ challenges and needs, detail what resources SBA currently provides to entrepreneurs with disabilities, and recommend legislative action to improve how SBA serves entrepreneurs with disabilities.
“There’s more that we can do to make it easier for people with disabilities to enter the workforce and start small businesses — by requiring a report from the Small Business Administration, this bill will help Congress better understand how to support entrepreneurs with disabilities,” said Rep. McGarvey. “Unfortunately, many Americans with disabilities face barriers to the workforce — people with disabilities make only up six percent of our country’s small business owners. As Ranking Member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, andWorkforce Development, I’m proud to partner with Chairman Molinaro on this bipartisan bill to support Americans with disabilities to realize their potential and become successful entrepreneurs.”
"Entrepreneurs, of every ability, should have a fair shot at pursuing their passion. Unfortunately, we know that barriers for the disability community often get in the way. I am proud to join Congressman McGarvey in introducing this bipartisan bill to identify and help overcome the challenges those with disabilities face when starting a small business,” said Chairman Molinaro.
“It was great to hear that our efforts at the beginning of the year might result in a new law! If this were to pass, it would mean a lot to people with disabilities everywhere because, by allowing entrepreneurship to be just as encouraged as other employment options, we can gain the full freedom to make our own employment decisions. We would be allowed to pursue careers in fields that we love and have found acceptance in and be able to make our own schedules and accommodations for our disabilities. Entrepreneurship's combination of freedom and flexibility make it a good fit for lots of people with disabilities and I think this bill being passed would help increase the disability employment rate as a whole,” said Cody Clark, disability rights advocate. Cody Clark, a Louisville native, testified at a Small Business subcommittee hearing about the challenges entrepreneurs with disabilities face.
The full bill text can be found here.
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