ms. bruce: our acts of the syrian government has not changed and we've continued to work with our lead in that regard, making sure that that government has a chance to succeed. we've taken actions here, of course, to make sure there are gaffers when it comes to sanctions and allowing the other memorandums of understanding regarding electricity which is the basic aspect of life which is an important there. i think we're in a wait and see with an effort to make sure they have the greatest chance to succeed. will postpone further proceedings on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or three the yeas and nays are ordered or votes objected to under clause 6 of rule 20. the house will resume

proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? mr. comer: i move the house suspend the rules and pass the bill s.160. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: senate 160 an act toll amend the aerial transfer act of 1996 to re-authorize the sale by the department of defense of aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression for purposes and other purposes. pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. comer, and the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. lynch, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from mr. comer: i ask unanimous consent all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. the speaker pro tempore: without objection.

mr. comer: i yield myself as much time as i may consume. thank you, mr. speaker. i'm happy to support senate bill 160, the ariel firefighting enhancement act to amend the wildfire transfer act of 1996 to allow the department of defense to once again sell excess aircraft and aircraft parts for wildfire suppression. this will help facilitate the acquisition of excess military aircraft for the ariel fire suppression fleet and this protects our ariel firefighters and brings in revenue from military aircraft that are not needed. in fact, the congressional budget office anticipates this legislation will reduce government spending. our brave first responders work tirelessly on the frontlines fighting wildfires that continue to get more dangerous every year. this bipartisan commonsense bill gives brave men and women access to more equipment critical in an emergency. i want to thank senators tim shehee and martin hinrich for

introducing this important legislation which passed the senate unanimously in april. i also want to thank representative dan new house for introducing the house companion bill and leading the charge in this chamber. i encourage my colleagues to support senate bill 160. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. lynch: good afternoon, mr. speaker. i rise in support of senate 160, the ariel firefighters enhancementment act and amends the aerial firefighting aircraft of 1996 toith parts for wild suppression efforts for 10 years. this bill re-authorizes the secretary of defense to sell excess department of defense for

those that contract with the government and can only be used for fire suppression. this bill will help the u.s. suppress wildfires and recognizes the important reality that fire season is now year-round and additional resources including aircraft are required to effectively suppress catastrophic wildfires. senate 160 is a bipartisan commonsense bill that will help the united states maintain a robust fleet of wild suppression aircraft and urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and i reserve the balance of my time. the gentleman reserves. for what purpose does -- the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. excuse me. mr. comer: mr. speaker, i have no further speakers and am prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. lynch: i urge passage of the aerial firefighting enhancement act and yield back the balance of our time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back.

mr. comer: i urge my colleagues to support this legislation which will protect our brave aerial firefighters across the country. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: both gentlemen yield. the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 160. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? mr. comer: mr. speaker, i move the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 3490 as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 3490, a bill to require the government accountability office to produce a report on esophogeal cancer and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuan t to the rule, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. comer, and the gentleman from

massachusetts, mr. lynch, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from kentucky. mr. comer: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent all speakers have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. comer: i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. comer: thank you, mr. speaker. the house of representatives has lost a true statesman. gehry connolly was a father, husband, friend, and lifelong public servant that dedicated his life to his constituents, his community, and his country. i was deeply saddened to hear about his sudden passing. from the fairfax county board of supervisors to 16 years in the u.s. house of representatives gerry connolly was a devoted public servant for virginia's 11th congressional district. in congress, gerry connolly was a friend to many of us. he was steadfast for fighting in what he believed in, but he was

always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree. over his tenure on this committee, i'm proud to say we co-sponsored eight bills together, including the mail traffic reporting act, and the fed a.i. governance and transparency act. and i know i'm not alone in that. many of my republican committee colleagues found gerry connolly to be a partner and a friend. i would like to extend my condolences to his family and members of his staff. we lost our colleague after a short but courageous fight against esophogeal cancer, one of the deadliest and fastest growing cancer diagnosis among americans today. the symptoms of this cancer are often overlooked or misdiagnosed leading to late detection and limited treatment options. through this legislation, we hope to raise awareness about esophogeal cancer to improve the

odds for those who contract this disease. i'm proud to have jointed ranking member gerry connolly in sponsoring the gerald e. connolly act and look forward to working with my colleagues for the passage. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. lynch: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to thank the majority for their courtesy in moving this bill expeditiously to the floor. the esophogeal cancer awareness act was introduced by our dear friend, the late ranking member gerry connolly and by a bipartisan and unanimous vote by our committee the bill was renamed in his honor. i'd like to acknowledge gerry's wife smitty and daughter katelyn rose in the gallery, along with many of gerry's staff, current and former staff.

to witness the debate on this bill. our ranking member, mr. connolly, lived his life serving others and making our country a better place. he was a steadfast advocate of the disadvantaged and voiceless and toad up for what was right and what was just. gerry was a skilled statesman, an accomplished legislator and a fierce defender of democracy. i'm sure he'd want everyone here to continue fighting like hell to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and to defend the rights of every american and bring accountability and transparency to power. esophogeal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among american men. it's also one of the deadliest. this bill would direct the g.a.o. to report on key issues relating to esophogeal cancer including the federal spending for it under the federal health accountability program and

screening rates among high screening individuals within that program. this bill will hopefully offer some significant amount of help in the fight against esophogeal cancer. mr. connolly was the epitome of a public servant and will be deeply missed. it is our job now to continue this fight in his memory. i reserve the balance of our time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman reminds members not to refer to members in the gallery. mr. comer: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. lynch: i'd like to yield to mr. garcia for his remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. how much time? mr. lynch: as much time as he would consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. garcia: i would like to thank for you your leadership and to honor this member and support this bill which supports

our fight against cancer and improve health care for all federal workers. this is such an important way to honor the legacy of our colleague, the ranking member gerry connolly. he was a public servant and fighter to many of us on the oversight committee and he worked to hold our government accountable for 30 years and was dedicated to improving the lives of all americans. he was a champion of our federal work force for transparency and making the government work for all we serve. he believed in the hauer of congress and fighting tirelessly for the constituents he served and of course for the rule of law and our constitution. he serves the county ex-tive where he worked to expand public housing and public workers. he delivered for his community and delivered for the country, and he left a proud legacy. gerry represented the best of us in public service and we're in strong support of this bill and miss him greatly and every member of our committee will work to carry on his legacy.

we urge every member to honor gerry by supporting this bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. lynch: in closing, i urge all our members to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. comer: i have no further speakers and am prepared to close. i urge my colleagues to support this bill honoring the legacy of our friend and colleague, gerry connolly and hope this legislation can shed light on the impact of esophogeal cancer on government public servants and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 3490 as amended? those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is

passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the house will receive a message. the messenger: message from the president of the united states. the secretary: mr. speaker? the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: i'm directed to deliver a message in writing from the president of the united states.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. comer: i move to pass the connecting small business and career technical education graduates act. the clerk: h.r. 1642, a bill to amend the small business act relating to graduates with career and technical education graduates program for small business developmental centers and women developmental services and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuan t to the rule, the gentleman

from texas, mr. williams, and the gentleman from texas, mr. mcgarvey, each will control 20 minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from testimonies. mr. williams: i ask members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. williams: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: mr. speaker, i rise in strong support of my bill, h.r. 1642, the connecting small business with career and technical education graduates act of 2025. earlier this year i introduced this bill alongside my friend representative olszewski from maryland. and our industries like construction, health care and manufacturing are struggling to find qualified workers. at the same time, thousands of career and technical education graduates are entering the work force with hands on skills the employers desperately needs. this bipartisan legislation

offers a common investigation. it requires the small business administration resource partners to provide small businesses with vital information on how it ensures students andw graduates know about the business counseling resources that are available through s.b.a. partners to help them grow their own businesses. it will take an all hands on deck approach and i am proud to lead this step forward. i am glad to introduce this bill and urge my colleagues to support h.r. 1642, i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky. galveston galveston -- mr. mcgarvey: we consider bills that will strengthen the s.b.a. and work to broaden services available to small businesses. these firms employ half of the private work force and create 2/3 of all new jobs and generate

half of our nation's economic activity. but these aren't just statistics, they are the foundation of our local economies providing services from plumbers and electricians to physicians and making towns attractive places to live and work. and they create millions of neighborhood jobs and reinvest in local communities from funding little league teams to engaging in philanthropy. we saw a surge in startups and 21 million new small businesses were created, majority of which were created by women and women of color. this makes us reason to celebrate. the past few months have caused uncertainty in the small business community and with so many new businesses starting there is much more to support their growth and flourish. i am pleased we are here to consider seven bipartisan bills

to restore trust and accountability and expand resources for disabled entrepreneurs. turning to our first bill. while college affords opportunity for so many of our students, it isn't the only path to success. for students that are looking for skills that prepare them for the work force, career and technical education programs can offer viable alternatives. they collaborate with private and local businesses and taylor needs to the community. at a time when nearly graduated students are seeing higher unemployment rates, small businesses that rely on certain skills are ununable to find qualified workers. to provide information about career and technical information programs, this bill will go a long way in meeting the labor needs of small businesses and giving the graduates of c.t.e. programs the tools they need to

launch and degree their own successful startups. i thank the chairman, mr. williams and others for their work on this bipartisan bill. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i urge my colleagues to bring necessary resolutions to small businesses and i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield to the gentleman from california, mr. tran, for three minutes. mr. tran: i rise in support of h.r. 1642 the connecting small business with career and technical graduates act. small businesses can't survive. this will help small business owners with grots of vocational programs and hire employerers.

they come out of the vocational educational like coastline college and have the skill that orange county needs. this will ensure graduates of career and technical education programs find good paying jobs and they are trained for. it is pro-small business, pro-students, pro-work force and pro-economic growth. it is a win for everyone. i am proud to co-lead h.r. 1642 and thank chairman williams, and others for their leadership in championing this important piece of legislation. i urge my colleagues to vote yes. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: i have no further speakers and prepared to close. i thank chairman williams and others for their bipartisan effort to ensure small businesses have access to the

skilled work force coming out of local career and technical education program. small businesses have raised concerns to find workers with the best skills to staff their businesses. by leveraging our small development business centers we can connect graduates to small businesses in need. moreover, we can help those graduates start and grow their own businesses. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 1642 and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: we have no further speakers and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has the right to close. the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation and yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1642. those in favor, say aye. those

opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 -- for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: mr. speaker, i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. all those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the

gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: i will move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1816 the wosb accountability act. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman call the bill as amended in mr. williams: as amended. the clerk: a bill to establish requirements relating to certification of small business concerns owned and controlled by women for certain purposes and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas, mr. williams and the gentleman from kentucky, mr. mcgarvey each will control 20 minutes. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include execs train yows material on the bill and i ask unanimous consent to consume. i rise in support of wosb.

it prohibits agents from counting self certified small business contractors towards agencies small business contracting goals. the committee has repeat he hadly found that self certification are far more susceptible to waste, fraud and abuse. the other contracting goals, this bill is an opportunity to remove it from one of the two remaining statutory defined small business contracting goals. i am proud of this committee's work to remove self certification such as the service disabled veterans and now to help ensure integrity. while we continue to have conversations on how to better align small business contracting goals with merit based principles, this bill would reduce the ability of fraud.

to defend government contracts we help ensure the taxpayer dollars are used as intended and create a more level playing between the wosb program. i urge my colleagues to vote for h.r. 1816 and i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield myself such time as i may consume. both cab and congress have directed changes to increase accountability and ensure proper use. the women owned small business accountability act will continue this act to remove the program to full cab certification. this bill is important to ensure that the women owned small business program works as intended and assist the companies as intended and ultimately levels the playing field for government contracts as intended. the data shows that women are starting and running new

businesses generating jobs in their communities and growing in diverse industries, but fewer and fewer are signing up to work with the government. and again, many more are leaving. women-owned small businesses continue to make up a small share of federal contracts and the government continues to fail to meet the 5% of contracting dollars that congress set three decades ago. better leveraging to recruit and retain small firms from competition and drives innovation. passing this bill today will do that. and i urge all members to support it. i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i yield to mr. lalota from the state of new york. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized recognized. mr. lalota: the fundamental question this bill addresses is

should a federal contract intended for women go to men and fraudsters or should the federal contract for a women-owned small business go to women? even though we republicans and democrats disagree on a lot in this chamber we agree that the cats for women should go to women. yet right now under federal law companies can self certify, check a box claiming to be a women small business and still count towards the federal government's goals. it can take contracts they don't deserve and rob real women of the opportunities meant for them. that is wrong and the kind of washington loophole i am working to call. self certification invites fraud. the small business administration own inspector general has warned about the

risks of fraud under self-certification. this was apparent with the cab's covid-19 lending programs where seflt certification led to billions of dollars in losses. i am in support of this act that ensures contracts meant for women go to women. this legislation is straightforward, mr. speaker and puts an end to the days of businesses just claiming they are women owned without having to prove it. under this bill only certified and women small businesses would count towards the contracting goals just like it should be. it is high time we address this issue and empower women in business to ensure the system works for them and not against them. i thank ranking member velazquez for partnering with her on this important piece of legislation and time stop allowing frud

steers meant for legitimate women entrepreneurs. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas? mr. williams: i reserve. mr. mcgarvey: i yield to the gentlelady from the state of new york the distinguished ranking member member of the small business committee. ms. velazquez: thank you for yielding. in 1994, congress established a goal of awarding 5% of fair contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses, recognizing the obstacles that the male entrepreneurs faced when entering and competing in the fair marketplace congress identified this goal as an uphill battle, three decades later we can see how much of an understatement that was and how much more work has to be done.

empowering female entrepreneurs has been a top priority of mine. in 2000, to give women-owned firms a boost and incentivize agencies to bring in more wosb i wrote the law and created the wosb program. many firms are critical partners as a result of that law. yet the wosb goal has only been met twice and women-owned firms are not seeing the contracting opportunities that should accompany the level of participation in the market. we need to again provide a boost to the wosb program and encourage more competition and success for wosb firms. my legislation we are considering today will move more firms through the s.b.a. certification process so federal agencies have a larger pool of companies that can trigger wosb

we want to ensure women owned firms are who they say they are because that is who the program is designed to empower. we expect contracting officers will have more confidence working with wosb's knowing s.b.a. has already verified them. i urge all members to support this bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: we have no further speakers and am prepared to close and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: i'd like to thank mr. lalota and mr. williams for their work on this bill and close by thanking ms. velazquez for her leadership on this bill and many years to create, strengthen and enhance the women

opened small business program. i urge my colleagues to support this bill. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1816 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 787, the plain language in contracting act as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 787, a bill to require plain language and the inclusion of words that are

clear, concise and accessible for small business concerns and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuan t to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentleman from kentucky, mrl 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. williams: mr. speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: mr. speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 787, the plain language in contracting act represented by lalota, thanedar and trim. it is a vital piece of legislation designed to limit the cumbersome language used in government contract solicitations and will empower small businesses to have a greater ability to compete for valuable government contracts. the number of small businesses contracting with the government has been shrinking for years and over the past few years the

committee on small business has heard firsthand excessive red tape and unclear government speak made working and contracting with the government more difficult and costly for small businesses. currently government contracts are written in an overly complex way that is difficult to navigate unless you're a contract specialist. only 3% of government contracts are written in a way that someone without a college degree can understand. you may have to hire a attorney to understand contracts which creates difficulties in submitting successful bids. though the wonky nature of this so-called government speak has contributed to the shocking loss of small businesses in government contracting. h.r. 787 will finally remove this unnecessary barrier facing small businesses by forcing the government to take commonsense action and write contract solicitations using simple, plain language. i urge all my colleagues to support h.r. 787, the plain language and contracting act and

thank you and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: thank you, mr. speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i'd like to thank my colleagues, representative lalota and tran for their work on this legislation. the requirements of the government can be overwhelming to small businesses including those seeking a federal contract for the first time. this government speak, words you only find in government contracting documents like request for proposals and solicitations compound the complexity and may disincentivize firms from bidding and this bill adds clarity for requiring documents to be written in a plain way, a way that helps firms understand what the government is buying. small firms should not be put off from working with the government because available opportunities are not communicated clearly. we need more small businesses to bring their talent and innovation to federal agencies

and i'm hopeful this bill will contribute to that effort and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. at this time i'd like to yield as much time as he may consume to mr. lalota from the great state of new york. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. lalota: america's small businesses shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to apply for and win a simple government contract, yet that's exactly what washington's bureaucratic process demands today. that's why i'm honored to champion a plain language and contracting act which will reduce the burden on small businesses when trying to secure government contracts. my legislation ensures federal agencies whose clear straightforward solicitations, thereby removing barriers and increasing transparency and giving small businesses a fair shot. time and again small business owners tell the government contracting process is so complex they ultimately walk away. bidding on a contract is hard

enough but when the language is challenging and understanding it requires an advanced degree, it's easy to see why. a study conducted by the naval post graduate school that analyzed one million d.o.d. contracts found less than 3% were in plain english and most were rated difficult or very difficult to read. there's no other way to describe it, it's unacceptable. furthermore, of the 33 million small businesses operating in america, 74,000, only .2% successfully secure federal contracts. .22%. that's just one in every 446 contracts. that's all. when small businesses are shut out from opportunities because they're overwhelmed by the language, we don't just lose a bidder but innovation and local job creation and oftentimes lose

a better price. governments should facilitate businesses and not be a barrier. federal agencies should speak in terms that are clear, consistent and accessible to the american people. the plain language in contracting act does just that. this bill creates a level playing field and ensures every small business can compete for a government contract without needing a lawyer. i want to thank chairman williams and his staff and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for -- and the entire small business committee for supporting this commonsense solution. i urge all members to support the bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. comer -- mr. williams: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield to mr. tran for three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. tran: i rise in support of h.r. 787, the plain language in contracting act.

for years barriers have been contract jargon from preventing veterans and immigrant entrepreneurs from accessing federal contracting stunts. i consistently hear from small business owners in orange county the main reasons they don't apply for a federal contract is that the barriers to entry are simply too high. h.r. 787 will address that barrier facing small business owners and mandate federal agencies to use clear and accessible language in their contracting opportunities. i am proud to co-lead this bill and i want to thank congressman lalota from long island for working with me to improve the s.b.a. and simplify the federal contracting process. let's continue to empower local businesses and ensure that every entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bipartisan bill and i thank you and yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: we'll put this in

plain words since that's what the bill does. small businesses need to be able to understand what is happening in these contracts, having easy to understand language will enable them to apply for these contracts which enables them to bring their talents and innovation to bear in our federal government. over the last decade, small businesses have been leaving at an alarming rate and nothing we are doing is working to reverse that trend. in fact, the number of small business vendors in the government ecosystem has nearly been cut in half. so having this bill, a bill that makes it easier for small business owners, people working around the clock to make their business successful for themselves, their communities and employees now have a easier chance of applying with a contract with the federal government. i hope when this legislation is implemented it will contribute to the goal. i thank the bill's sponsors and yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: we have no further speakers and am prepared to close and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman is recognized.

mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. i urge my colleagues to support this common sense legislation and yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 787 as amended? those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 789, the transparency and predictability in small business opportunities act as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 789, a bill to require the administrator of the small business administration to answer rules for canceled covered solicitations to amend

the small business act to provide small business concerns related to certain canceled solicitations and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuan t to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the the gentleman from kentucky, mr. mcgarvey, each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. williams: and mr. speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: i rise in full support of h.r. 789, the transparency and predictability in small business act represented by alford and make fiume. h.r. 789 seeks to bring claire . small business owners when solicitation for contracts are canceled and often businesses provide time and money for proposals of solicitations but

on are canceled by agencies with no explanation and provided to the businesses that already submitted proposals. h.r. 789 would require agencies to share with the s.b.a. information to why the solicitation was canceled. moreover, this bill requires agencies to assist small businesses impacted by the canceled solicitation by identifying similar contracts to bid on. small businesses deserve to have a full understanding of what opportunities are available to them and know how agencies would fulfill their needs. i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 789. thank you and i return the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: thank you. i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i'd like to thank mr. latimer and m fiume for their work on this legislation. small businesses were provided for predict ability and stability and the government was a reliable partner to be trusted

to pay their bills. before the trump administration, there were requirements that something the government was needed to buy or do was not no longer necessary. and the government canceled it and any small business working on a bid had lost all the time and money invested in the proposal. last year a small business owner testified it cost him an average of $10,000 per proposal and if that solicitation was later canceled, the government does not have to provide him with any assistance or even any information. this bill will change that. while we cannot make small businesses whole, we can make sure they're given additional information and assistance to help adjust their operations and plans moving forward and hopefully to continue their operation in the federal market. i reserve the balance of my time the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield to the gentleman from new york, mr. latimer, three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. latimer: thank you, mr. speaker and mr. mcgarvey. i want to recognize the colleagues who joined in leading this bill, congressman alford of missouri and congressman mfume and i appreciate the opportunity to work together and highlight why this important legislation is needed. small business owners are on resourced constrained and every day they play the role of salesman, compliance officer, marketing professional and more, juggling a variety of business related activities to support their business. when a small business owner submits a proposal to work with the federal government, they invest considerable time and resources into making their submission the best it can be. . they are forced to balance important responsibilities.e last year, the small business committee heard testimony from

the small business owner that said solicitation proposals could cost a small business upwards of $10,000 worth of labor. with that in mind it can be frustrating for a small business owner if a federal agency decides to cancel a solicitation without transparency into why that decision has been made without insight how the decision has been made, it could feel their hard work to submit a proposal was made in vein. if we are worried about this, we must ensure small businesses have trust in their partners. this bill would improve accountability in the federal contracting process for small businesses. the bill would require s.b.a. to issue rules requiring that when a business cancels solicitation it must share a justification why they are cancelling and

provide plans. and if they do not, the bill would create procedures for a small business to receive assistance in identifying similar contracting opportunities. this bill passed the small business committee in march and passed last congress. it is a bipartisan solution to help small businesses navigate the small business process and i urge support for this important bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i reserve. mr. williams: i would like to yield to mr. alford for the great state of missouri. >> thank you for our friend from kentucky. i rise in strong support of h.r. 789 the transparency and predictability in small business

opportunity act. you know, small businesses aren't just part of our economy, they are our economy, mr. speaker. they are the innovators. they are the job creators, they are the backbone of our communities and heartbeat of main street america. but far too often, they have been overlooked and underserved and frankly undermined by the very government they pay taxes to support. federal agencies are simply not doing enough to open the doors for small businesses to compete. and mr. speaker, this must change. to do that, i am proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill because supporting our small businesses should never be a republican nor deem cat issue. it is an american issue, mr. speaker. here's what's happening. when a federal agency determines they have a need for certain products or services, that

agency's acquisition personnel will post a solicitation on the federal government website for a contractor to fulfill the requirements. that lace out what it wants to buy and when responses are due. and in good faith small businesses dedicate precious time, money and resources, sometimes thousands of dollars to just submit these proposals. too often, too often, they are met with silence, confusion or outright cancellation of the solicitation without any explanation. that's not just inefficient. that's unfair. agencies right now have broad discretion to cancel or amend solicitations without any transparency whatsoever. a small business can go all in

on a contract proposal only to watch advantage like that with no reason given. that's unacceptable. h.r. 789 brings transparency and accountability to this process. it requires agencies to disclose why a solicitation was canceled, because our small businesses deserve to know. additionally, our bill requires federal agency's of small and business to help find additional opportunities if a solicitation on which they made an offer is canceled so they can go after those opportunities. small businesses create most of the new jobs in this country. and in fact, in missouri's 4th congressional district and in rural communities across america, they are the lifeline and fabric of our communities. but time and time again they are

squeezed out by overregulation ignored by the bureaucracy and pushed aside in favor of corporations with high paid consultants and lobbyists. that is wrong. bypassing this we take a step in rebuilding the relationship between our government and the small businesses it's supposed to serve. i thank congressman lat imer and congressman mfume and i congratulate roger williams inputting main street america first. i urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the transparency and predictability in small business opportunity act. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is

recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i have no further speakers and prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves and the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i have no further speakers. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: providing stability will help reduce the barriers that help small businesses from winning government contracts. i would like to thank mr. lat imer and mr. alford and increase transparency and accountability for our small business government contractors. i urge my colleagues so support it and i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 789 as amended. those in favor, say aye. those

opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1804 loan agent oversight act. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 1804, a bill to amend the small business act to require a report on agents and for other purposes pursuant to the rule the gentleman from texas, mr. williams and the gentleman from kentucky, mr. mcgarvey will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without

objection mr. williams: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized mr. williams: i rise in support the bill h.r. 1804 offered by representative meuser and mciver. this brings an additional layer of transparency and flagship 7-a loan program. this bill would require the credit risk management and submit reports on the 7-a loan program. it would require the number of loan programs. it collects information on annual reporting requirement and allow for more effective oversight. similar versions have passed with bipartisan support in the 117th and and 118th congress. i look forward which supports' president trump's agenda. i urge my colleagues to support

h.r. 1804 and i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield myself such time as i may consume. i rise in support of h.r. 18047-a loan agent act. this provides access to capital for small businesses that cannot find it elsewhere. in 2024 they approved 70,000 loans totalling 31 billion loan agents are a part of the program helping to facilitate capital by connecting brokers or by offering other products. as of 2020, these agents helped facilitate of the loans administered. unfortunately some dishonest loan agents cast a stain on the

s.b.a.'s largest lending program. as it increases its reliance, it is essential that it has proper oversight to minimize fraud. this will ensure that competent and honest agents can screen borrowers and prepare forms. that is why this bill is essential. the bill would require s.b.a. to establish a registration system that collects data on 7-a loan agents to better track loans for each individual agents. i thank mr. meuser for their collaboration on this bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: i would like to yield as much time as he would like to consume, mr. meuser from the state of pennsylvania. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized mr. meuser: i thank our

chairman, chairman williams for his continued leadership. i rise in support of my bill, along with my colleague, democrat member, ms. mciver, the 7-a loan agent oversight act which provides the small business administration with the oversight exaights to monitor its flagship program responsibly. it requires the office to report on fraudulent loans made by a loan agent as well as the default rate on loans issued by those agents. loan agents are the middle man between the s.b.a., 7-a lippedder and small business. this legislation is due to the increased role of loan agents in facilitating 7-a loans. the inspector general reported one out of seven loans involved a loan agent. the inspector general noted

there has been more than 335 million in documented loan agent fraud. this needs to be corrected and changed, mr. speaker. additionally, the legislation requires the s.b.a. to submit their findings to congress to conduct proper oversight to ensure it remains a successful public-private partnership that helps small businesses thrive. and they have reigned the biden administration of weakening standards in the 7-a programs. this will protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the record of success well beyond the next four years. i urge the passage of my bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the alreserves his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky.

mr. mcgarvey: i yield to the gentlelady from new jersey, ms. mciver. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. >> i rise in support of h.r. 1804 commonsense bipartisanship leadership that i am proud to co-lead to bring better oversight to one of the small business administration's most important loan programs 7-a. look, small business owners aren't asking for easy but for a fair shake and a real shot. that is what the 7-a loan program is supposed to. help turn a good idea into a successful business. this program is the reason that someone with a solid plan or a good-byes, but without a big investors can open up shop. when small business owners step up with a vision, a new chapter for the family plumbing business

or pet supply store, it is upon the government to make sure they have the tools to actually work. there hasn't been sufficient oversight of this program and that means we haven't done all we can to protect small businesses from fraud. over the last decade, 335 million documented agent fraud. it tackles this problem in two ways. it creates accountability for loan agents by making sure that the people who connect businesses to resources don't operate in the dark. second, by requiring information on second by requiring information on default rates and other information gives congress the data we need to do our jobs. it is on us to ensure the programs we use to support small businesses actually work and

work honestly. ensuring 7-a loans work is important because the program is a lifeline. it is a way to make sure that when people go to apply for a loan they are walking into a fair process, not a rigged one. whether it's the mom in newark who wants to open up a store or the first generation american in bloomsberg, pennsylvania, who wants to bring taste of home to town, small businesses create good jobs. they give back. they reinvest. and they show us what is possible in our communities. h.r. 1804, our 7-a loan agent oversight act, is a smart, targeted fix and willmen make sure that small business owners' creams stay atonightable. once again i'd like to thank my colleague for co-leading this bill with me and i'd like to thank our chair and ranking member for their support. i urge my colleagues to support this bill. with that, i yield.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey texas i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: we have no further speakers, i'm prepared to close and reserve my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will close, the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: i thank my colleagues, mr. meuser and ms. mcier have for working in a bipartisan way to strengthen the flagship 7-a loan program. for too long a few bad apples have ruined one of the best programs in government. we can root out bad behavior without punishing loan agents who are acting in good faith on behalf of their clients and accessing capital day need to grow. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on 1804 and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from texas re--

mr. williams: reserve. the speaker pro tempore: his time has expired. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the distinguished gentleman from texas yields back his time. all time is yielded. the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1804. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair -- in the opinion of the chair 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. williams: i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20,

further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1634, the think differently about disability employment act, as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 1634, a bill 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 speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentleman from kentucky, mr. mcgarvey, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and

extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. williams: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: i rise in full support of the think differently about disability employment act introduced by represents stauber and simon. i'd like to thank my colleagues for their collaboration on this important legislation which aims to break down barriers and provide greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities nationwide. far too many individuals with disabilities continue to face systematic challenges when trying to enter the work force or start a small business. as congress we have a responsibility to recognize their talents and create opportunities that empower them to succeed. the bill takes a simple, practical step toward directing the s.b.a. to work directly with the national council on disability and together they will coordinate efforts to help individuals with disables pursue

entrepreneurship, secure employment with small business and overcome accessibility challenges. this will help ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to business could being through existing programs like the small business development centers. importantly, h.r. 1634 is a commonsense, no cost solution that provides individuals with disabilities more tuns to succeed on main street and start their own small business. i urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort and i thank you and reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i rise in support of h.r. 1634, the think differently about disability employment act. though we have made considerable progress on bringing people with disable into the work force the numbers reveal how far we still have to go. only 23% of the over 44 million individuals living with a disability are employed.

this is not because they lack the scores willingness to work. but often because they face persistent structural barriers such as discrimination, limited flexibility in workplace and inadequate transportation options, among others. while small firms employ half the private sector work force they may face challenges of their own such as outdated infrastructure or uncertainty about accommodations. but helping small firms hire people with disabouts can directly benefit their company and in turn boost the overall economy. this bipartisan bill requires the s.b.a. collaborate with the national council on disability to help employers hire more people with disabilities and provide a much-needed support to these entrepreneurs. i want to thank mr. stauber, msd mr. pappas for their bipartisan collaboration on this bill. i reseven the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. at this time i'd like to yield

as much time as he may consume to mr. stobber from the great state of minnesota. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. stauber: mr. speaker, before i begin, i want to thank both my republican and democrat colleagues for their kind words. they are both spot-on. i couldn't be more proud to stand here and support this bill. i rise today in strong support of my bill, the think differently about disability employment act. i want to begin by thanking my colleagues from california, missouri, new hampshire, representative simon, alford and pappas. for their support of this important legislation. as a father to a young man with down syndrome i have seen firsthand just how much untapped talent exists within the disability community. unfortunately outdated systems and perceptions still keep far too many of these individuals on the sidelines in our economy. that's just unfair and it's a

missed opportunity for american growth and innovation. and depriving our economy of their incredible contributions. the think differently about disability employment act takes a critical step forward toward breaking down these barriers. this bill directs the small business administration and the national council on disability to collaborate in providing resources and assistance to individuals with disabilities who want to start their own business or find meaningful employment. and it also ensures that small businesses have the guidance they need to hire and support employees with disabilities. through this bill, we're ensuring that individuals with disabilities can turn their ambition into reality. whether that means starting a company or securing meaningful work. at the same time, we're helping small businesses tap into a

skilled and motivated work force by offering them the guidance to do so confidently. individuals with disabilities should not be overlooked. they should be empowered. and i urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that every american, regardless of their ability, as the opportunity to contribute, succeed, and thrive in this great nation. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: i yield to the gentlelady from california, ms. simon, for three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for three minutes. ms. simon: thank you, mr. speaker. and thank you, congressman mcgarvey. thank you, congressman stauber. i am so excited to work with you so closely in my time in congress to advance the

opportunities for folks with disabilities in this country. it is a deep honor for you and i to continue our path representing americans with disabilities. as the first congenitally blind person to serve in the united states congress, i'm honored, i'm honored to rise today in support of this bipartisan bill with representative stauber, the think differently about disability employment act. as a community organizer and leader for over 20 year, i focused on finding jobs and tuns for low-income folks in the bay area in california and i came to congress to bring those communities with me. particularly the disability community, a community that i belong. to the disability community is too often left out of policy conversations and we today are bringing our brothers and sisters and siblings to the table. right now the unemployment rate for people with intellectual, physical, developmental disables remain alarmingly high in this

country. ashamedly at 80%. this we know is unacceptable. we can close the disability employment gap, not only to advance independence, dignity, freedom for americans with disabilities, but to drive economic growth. this bill, my bill, our bill, creates an essential partnership between the small business administration and the national council on disability to help individuals with disability pursue self-employment, dignity, launch small businesses and thrive in the work force. i strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill and build an economy that works for all of us. mr. speaker, i am so honored to say we can move this forward today. i would like, again, to thank representative stauber for advocating for your son and millions of folks with disabilities in this country to have their just due and to support me in this legislation moving forward. finally, chair, i would like to thank mr. williams, ranking member velazquez, for their efforts in moving this bill

forward. i will yield back. thank you, sir. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: we have no further speakers and i'm prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. the gentleman from kentucky is recognized for his close. mr. mcgarvey: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to start by thanking my colleagues, mr. stauber, for sharing his story, for advocating on behalf of his son and so many americans with disabilities. for ms. simon for her passion and work in this area. mr. alford and mr. pappas for their bipartisan work on improving entrepreneurship and opportunities for people with disabilities. thank you. every individual, no matter their disability, deserves a shot at participating in our economy and getting that shot at the american dream. whether it's getting a job with a local small business or launching their own startup, this bill directs the s.b.a. and national council on disability to collaborate on ways to help individuals with disability do

just that. by passing this bill we can start clearing the structural barriers faced by people with disabilities. while growing the economy and helping small business owners. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 1634 and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky yield back his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas yields back. all time is yielded. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1634 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the distinguished gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. williams: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and

pass the bill h.r. 1621, the entrepreneurs with disabilities reporting act of 2025 as ame amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 1621, a bill to require the administrator of the small business administration to submit to congress a report on the entrepreneurial challenges facing entrepreneurs with a disability and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentleman from kentucky, mr. mcgarvey, each will control 20 minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their rashes and include extraneous material on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. williams: i yield myself such time as the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: i rise in support of the entrepreneurs with disabilities reporting act of 2025, introduced by representative mcgarvey and stauber. this legislation requires the san joaquin to report to --

s.b.a. to report to congress on the challenges facing individuals with disabilities and what resources or programs the s.b.a. provides to assist them. the report will also include legislative recommendations to address those challenges. america is the land of opportunity. meaning anyone can and should be able to engage in entrepreneurship, regardless to whether they have a disability. this bipartisan legislation will assess the challenges that individuals with disabilities encounter when starting a small business, and identify whether and how government policies may exacerbate these challenges. i thank representatives mcgarvey and stauber for their leadership on this important issue and for introducing this bill and i urge a yes vote on the bill and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgarvey: mr. speaker, i rise in support of my bill, h.r. 1621, the entrepreneurs with disabilities reporting act of 2025.

as vice ranking member of the house small business committee, i'm proud to partner with congressman stauber who has done incredible work in this area to support americans with disabilities and help ensure every american has the same opportunity to become a successful entrepreneur. this is, after all, the fundamental promise of the american dream. that any person in this country can work hard, take risks, and hopefully find success. but americans with disabilities, like other underprivileged groups, see fewer opportunities to make their entrepreneurial dream a reality. there are 44 million people with disabilities in the united states. and my home state of kentucky, approximately 18% of people have a disability. yet people with disabilities make up just 6% of our nation's small business owners. we have to change that. far too often, entrepreneurs with disabilities encounter significant barriers, both physical and intangible, whether starting their own business --

when starting their own business. including having harder time getting bank loan and startup investments and insufficient outreach from federal programs. we know this is just the tip of the iceberg and that more barriers exist. today nearly two million small businesses are owned by people with disabilities. but there could be so many more. here's how. by improving the public programs that serve differently abled individuals and implementing policies that make work and entrepreneurship more accessible. accommodations, tackling ableism, the list goes on. and to pull this off, our bill would require s.b.a. to conduct a comprehensive study of the resources that are available to entrepreneurs with disabilities. examine their effectiveness. and determine what actions need to be taken to help support these entrepreneurs. by conducting this report, s.b.a. will have the opportunity to revisit the effectiveness of their programs, to ensure our government better serves people with disabilities who want to start their own small business. this bill came together in a way

that i think the founders might have envisioned. last congress the small business committee heard from my constituent, cody clark, a small business owner, disability rights advocate, and i think the only person who has ever performed a magic trick in front of our committee. he testified on the challenges that entrepreneurs with disabilities face based on his experiences as an entrepreneur with autism and this bill was born from his insight and experience. i encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical legislation for cody. and for every other american with their own entrepreneurial dream. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. at this time i would like to yield as much time as he may consume to mr. stauber from the great state of minnesota. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. stauber: mr. speaker, i rise today to speak in favor of the entrepreneurs with disabilities act of 2025. and i'd like to start by thanking my friend and colleague

from kentucky, representative mcgarvey, for introducing this bill and his hard work in getting this bill to this point. every day people with disabilities across our great country demonstrate resilience, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. yet many roadblocks make entrepreneurialship unnecessarily difficult. these individuals, they don't lack talent, they lack access. access to capital, access to resources, and the support needed to turn their ideas into successful businesses. the entrepreneurs with disabilities act ensures that we take a hard look at the obstacles standing in the way of aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities. it directs the small business administration to assess whether current programs are effectively serving these individuals and to identify where improvements can

needed -- improvements are needed. if we are serious about fostering economic growth and opportunity, we cannot leave behind the millions of great americans with disabilities who want to contribute, they want to innovate, and they want to build something of their own. removing these obstacles isn't just the right thing to do, it's a smart investment in economic growth. entrepreneurs with disabilities bring creativity and they bring drive. we should be clearing the path and not blocking it. and you know, mr. speaker, today's a fly-in day for the house of representatives. this conversation between chairman williams, mr. mcgarvey, and the leadership of ranking member velazquez. it won't get the headlines. because this doesn't sell, apparently, to the news media.

we in this country as democrats and republicans have more in common than we do different. and today we're letting the american people know that. chairman williams has done a tremendous job in the small business, allowing members to bring ideas of legislation that is bipartisan and, mr. chairman, i want to thank you for your hard work and allowing us to do that. and ranking member velazquez allowing us to do that. mr. mcgarvey, for managing the floor today. this is who we are. and, mr. mcgarvey, or, mr. chairman, i'd like to point out, mr. mcgarvey said, this is the way the founding fathers would have wanted it. i totally agree with that. one of his constituents brought the concern and it took us a little while to get there, but we got there. mr. chair , in a bipartisan fashion we are working to remove

obstacles in the way of the growth for our disability community. mr. speaker, i know your background. you were chosen just like me and millions of other parents to raise a special child that god gave us. and it's up to us now as a country, as legislators, not to leave anybody behind. nobody in our disability community, mr. chair, will ever be left behind. and you're seeing that in a bipartisan fashion. mr. mcgarvey, ranking member velazquez, chairman williams, thank you for your leadership in allowing us to do this. because we are helping the most vulnerable in our communities. that's exactly what we should be doing. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman from texas reserves his time. mr. williams: reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kentucky. mr. mcgarvey: mr. speaker, i have no further speakers and i'm prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized to close. mr. mcgarvey: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to thank my colleagues. chairman williams, ranking member velazquez, for this incredible work. as mr. stauber said, allowing us to work together in this way. i want to thank mr. stauber for his incredible work in this area. for his willingness to advocate for so many americans, including his own child. it takes tremendous strength and courage. really want to thank you for working with me specifically on this important, bipartisan piece of legislation. to ensure that this congress and the s.b.a. do right by americans with disabilities. entrepreneurship is the hallmark of the american dream. it is who we are. a land of opportunity for all. this bill takes a commonsense, bipartisan step toward improving government services for

entrepreneurs with disabilities. by rigger the s.b.a. to -- requiring the s.b.a. to assess current programs and identify challenges and barriers that entrepreneurs with disabilities face, we lay a groundwork for a better, more inclusive society and economy. small businesses are the backbone of the american economy. and if we can make it easier for more people to start a small business, we will all benefit. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 1621 and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. williams: mr. speaker, we have no further speakers and i am prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for close. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman -- all time is yielded back. all time is expired. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, h.r. 1621, as amended.

those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair lays before the house a message. the clerk: to the congress of the united states. in accordance with section 1012-a of the congressional budget and empowerment control act of 1974, 2 united states code 6838-a, i here report 22 rescissions of budget authority totaling $9.4 billion. the proposed rescissions effect programs of the department of state, as well as the cooperation for public broadcasting. united states agency for international development. united states institute of peace and other international assistance programs. the details of these rescissions are set forth in the enclosed letter from the director of the office of management and budget. signed, sincerely, donald j.

trump, the white house, may 28, 2025. the speaker pro tempore: referred to the committee on appropriations and ordered printed. pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares how it's in recess until -- the house in recess until approximately 6:30 p.m. today. members are also taking up several bills out of the small business committee. watch live coverage of the u.s. house when members return here

on c-span. >> mr. president, there's no doubt about it, this is historic in many ways. >> the proceeds of the united states senate are being broadcast to the nation on television for the first time. >> this week, we mark the 39th anniversary of the u.s. senate's first live television pro-- broadcast on c-span 2. join us as senators take to the floor to reflect on this landmark moment in american democracy. >> thanks to c-span2, this public service allows our constituents to see the swearing in of newly-elected members, watching all night-sessions during vote-a-ramas, and tune in to history being made. >> that's why on its 39th birthday, senator grassley and i wanted to highlight how important it is for all television providers, including

major streaming services like youtube tv, owned by google, and hulu plus live tv owned by disney, to provide the american public with c-span and the opportunity to see their government work on the senate floor. >> c-span does not receive one penny of taxpayer dollars. it's funded primarily from satellite and cable providers. >> we're at a different stage in our history. a lot of people are seeing their news this way. we need to expand it and make sure we're on all of those platforms as well as the ones we already are on. so thank you again to senator grassley for working with me to highlight c-span's critical role and thanks to everyone who has had a hand in c-span's success. happy birthday. >> c-span2. 39 years of bringing the u.s. senate live into homes across the country.

thanks to the support of our cable partners. together we bring you democracy unfiltered. >> c-span, democracy unfiltered. we're funded by these television companies and more, including mediacom. >> this is binging, that's buffering, this is a meetup, that's a freeze up. power home. power struggle. security detection. protection. you can have this. or you can have that. this is mediacom. and this is where it's at. >> mediam supports c-span as a public service along with these other television providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> democratic leader hakeem jeffries criticized the house-passed g.o.p. tax and spending legislation at a news conference with reporters. he highlights the bill's negative impacts on health care access from capitol hill, this is about half an