McGarvey Bill to Support Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Introduced in the Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 19, 2024) – Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) applauded the Senate introduction of his bill, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act,by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). The bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to file a report to Congress on the challenges and needs that entrepreneurs with disabilities face when starting or running a small business.
“Too often, Americans with disabilities face barriers to entrepreneurship and joining the workforce—my Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would help Congress better understand those barriers so we can break them down and give everyone a fair shot at the American dream,” said Congressman McGarvey. “We worked hard to get it passed through the House, and I’m grateful that Senator Duckworth and Senator Lummis are partnering with us to get it one step closer to the finish line. I look forward to working together to get our bill to President Biden's desk!”
In February, local Louisville entrepreneur and disability advocate Cody Clark testified in front of the House Small Business Committee about the challenges he and other entrepreneurs with disabilities face in starting or running their own businesses. Rep. McGarvey then introduced the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act to address the barriers he discussed with Mr. Clark, as well as other local entrepreneurs and advocates.
This bipartisan legislation is an identical companion bill to Rep. McGarvey’s bill, which was successfully passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives in April.
In August, Rep. McGarvey welcomed U.S. Labor Department Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams to Louisville for a roundtable with disability advocates, small business owners, and employees to discuss ways the federal government can better serve the disability community.
“We should be doing everything we can to provide Americans with disabilities with the support they need to start and grow small businesses and pursue careers in entrepreneurship,” said Senator Duckworth. “By improving our understanding of what entrepreneurs with disabilities need through better reporting, we can make well-informed decisions and enable more of them to make their dreams of starting a business a reality—all while boosting our economy along the way. This bipartisan bill already passed the House, and I’m proud to lead this legislation in the Senate with Senator Lummis as we push to get it signed into law.”
“Entrepreneurship is a vital part of the American dream, but a lack of resources often prevents many Americans with disabilities from owning their own business,” said Senator Lummis.“Our bipartisan solution will contribute to empowering Americans with disabilities to pursue their passions and realize their dreams of business ownership.”
The legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), CCD Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Melissa Ortiz, founder of Capability Consulting and former Commissioner of the Administration on Disability at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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