Markup of H.R. 7984, H.R. 5333 and Other Bills (House Small Business Committee hearing, April 17, 2024)

Summary

Transcript of the April 17, 2024 House Small Business Committee markup, Small Business Committee Document Number 118-049, of seven bills. They include H.R. 7984, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act, H.R. 7987, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, H.R. 7988, the SPUR Act of 2024, and H.R. 7989 on disability employment. Chairman Roger Williams and Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez opened. The appendix prints the bills, a Meuser substitute to H.R. 5333 and minority views on all seven. H.R. 7989 was adopted 23 ayes, 0 nays and 0 present, and the committee adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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Full text

MARKUP OF: H.R. 7984, THE RURAL SMALL
BUSINESS RESILIENCE ACT; H.R. 5333, THE
INVESTING IN ALL OF AMERICA ACT; H.R.
8014, THE TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICT-
ABILITY IN SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
ACT; H.R. 7987, THE PLAIN LANGUAGE IN
CONTRACTING ACT; H.R. 7988, THE SPUR
ACT OF 2024; H.R. 7985, THE ENTREPRENEURS
WITH DISABILITIES REPORTING ACT; H.R. 7989,
THE THINKDIFFERENTLY ABOUT DISABILITY
EMPLOYMENT ACT
HEARING
BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION

HEARING HELD
APRIL 17, 2024

Small Business Committee Document Number 118–049
Available via the GPO Website: www.govinfo.gov

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
56–375 WASHINGTON : 2024
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
ROGER WILLIAMS, Texas, Chairman
BLAINE LUETKEMEYER, Missouri
PETE STAUBER, Minnesota
DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
BETH VAN DUYNE, Texas
MARIA SALAZAR, Florida
TRACEY MANN, Kansas
JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
MARC MOLINARO, New York
MARK ALFORD, Missouri
ELI CRANE, Arizona
AARON BEAN, Florida
WESLEY HUNT, Texas
NICK LALOTA, New York
CELESTE MALOY, Utah
NYDIA VELÁZQUEZ, New York, Ranking Member
JARED GOLDEN, Maine
KWEISI MFUME, Maryland
DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota
GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio
MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, Washington
SHRI THANEDAR, Michigan
MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
HILLARY SCHOLTEN, Michigan
JUDY CHU, California
SHARICE DAVIDS, Kansas
CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire

BEN JOHNSON, Majority Staff Director
MELISSA JUNG, Minority Staff Director

(II)
CONTENTS
OPENING STATEMENTS
Page
Hon. Roger Williams ................................................................................................ 1
Hon. Nydia Velázquez ............................................................................................. 2

APPENDIX
Additional Material for the Record:
H.R. 7984 ........................................................................................................... 34
H.R. 5333 ........................................................................................................... 36
H.R. 8014 ........................................................................................................... 41
H.R. 7987 ........................................................................................................... 45
H.R. 7988 ........................................................................................................... 48
H.R. 7985 ........................................................................................................... 51
H.R. 7989 ........................................................................................................... 54
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 5333, offered by Mr.
Meuser of Pennsylvania ............................................................................... 57
Minority Views, H.R. 7984, the ‘‘Rural Small Business Resilience Act’’ ...... 63
Minority Views, H.R. 5333, ‘‘Investing in All of America Act of 2023’’ ........ 65
Minority Views, H.R. 8014, the ‘‘Transparency and Predictability in Small
Business Opportunities Act’’ ........................................................................ 67
Minority Views, H.R. 7987, the ‘‘Plain Language in Contracting Act’’ ........ 69
Minority Views, H.R. 7988, Small Business Procurement and Utilization
Reform (SPUR) Act ....................................................................................... 70
Minority Views, H.R. 7985, the ‘‘Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Report-
ing Act of 2024’’ ............................................................................................. 72
Minority Views, H.R. 7989, the ‘‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability
Employment Act’’ .......................................................................................... 74
Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) ....................................................... 76

(III)
MARKUP OF: H.R. 7984, THE RURAL SMALL
BUSINESS RESILIENCE ACT; H.R. 5333, THE
INVESTING IN ALL OF AMERICA ACT; H.R.
8014, THE TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICT-
ABILITY IN SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNI-
TIES ACT; H.R. 7987, THE PLAIN LANGUAGE
IN CONTRACTING ACT; H.R. 7988, THE SPUR
ACT OF 2024; H.R. 7985, THE ENTRE-
PRENEURS WITH DISABILITIES REPORTING
ACT; H.R. 7989, THE THINKDIFFERENTLY
ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ACT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:01 a.m., in Room
2360, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Roger Williams [chair-
man of the Committee] presiding.
Present: Representatives Williams, Stauber, Meuser, Van Duyne,
Salazar, Mann, Ellzey, Molinaro, Alford, Crane, Bean, LaLota,
Maloy, Velázquez, Golden, Phillips, Landsman, McGarvey,
Gluesenkamp Perez, Scholten, Thanedar, Chu, Davids, and Pappas.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The committee will now come to order. A
quorum is present. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to
declare recess of the committee at any time. As required by House
rules, a copy of the legislative measures have been made available
to the Members and the public at least 24 hours in advance.
Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule XI, all votes will
be rolled to the end of the meeting. I now recognize myself for
opening remarks.
Good morning again and welcome to today’s markup where we
will be discussing seven bills that will address the needs of our na-
tion’s small business. I am going to be speaking on each of the bills
we bring up today in much greater detail so I will keep these re-
marks very brief.
To put it bluntly, Main Street America has been forced to play
defense every day thanks to this administration’s regulatory agen-
da. My colleagues and I on this committee have the privilege of
being main street’s voice in Washington and that is why our work
is so important.
(1)
2

Moreover, it is our job we put forward meaningful policy solu-
tions that will help our nation’s job creators. When small busi-
nesses can hire more employees and reinvest in their businesses
and communities the country operates at its very best.
The seven bills before us today have been discussed widely by all
Members and staff, and for that I am very grateful. Now before us
today are bills that improve access to disaster assistance for those
in rural areas, increase employment opportunities for people with
disabilities, and require federal contracts to be written in plain lan-
guage, I repeat plain language, so small businesses won’t need a
team of compliance officers to simply be competitive, just to name
a few.
In closing, I would like to thank our Members for bringing these
bills forward for consideration in today’s markup. Every piece of
legislation we are going to look at today is a product of hearings
and investigations we have conducted. I am extremely proud to see
how our committee is generating sound and responsible legislation
that will make main street stronger.
With that I look forward to today’s markup. I yield to the distin-
guished Ranking Member from the great state of New York, Ms.
Velázquez.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for
holding this markup today. We are considering seven bills to make
improvements to SBA programs and services from focusing on
rural disaster and disabled communities to improving the SBIC
program and contracting rules.
We have a strong slate of bills before us. Main street small busi-
nesses are the life blood of our nation’s economy driving innovation
and job creation and helping millions of Americans achieve the
American Dream. I stand committed to creating more opportunities
for entrepreneurs so that they continue to thrive and in turn create
good-paying jobs in our local communities.
I plan to lend my support to the seven bipartisan bills we are
considering today. My hope is that we will work together to bring
a fair ratio of Republican and Democratic bills to the floor in the
near future. Thank you, Mr. Williams, and I look forward to a pro-
ductive markup.
I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you. And does any other Member seek
recognition for the purpose of making an opening statement? See-
ing none, we will now move to the consideration of the first bill.
H.R. 7984
The first bill we will mark up is H.R. 7984, the Rural Small
Business Resilience Act, introduced by Representatives Pappas and
Bean. I now recognize the bill’s sponsor, Mr. Pappas for an opening
statement.
Mr. PAPPAS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. In New
Hampshire, our small businesses are part of the backbone of our
local economies and make up the fabric of our rural communities,
and we know that rural small businesses face unique challenges
that a one-size-fits-all approach by government agencies is simply
ineffective at providing the support that they need.
That is why I introduced the Rural Small Business Resilience
Act. The bipartisan legislation would require the Small Business
3

Administration to tailor its outreach and marketing efforts to reach
our rural small businesses and ensure that small businesses in
rural areas have full access to SBA disaster assistance.
I am glad to be working with Representatives Bean, Golden, and
Mann on this issue, and will continue to work in a bipartisan fash-
ion to build support for this and other legislation that will help
America’s small businesses.
I remain committed to ensuring that rural small businesses and
our local economies can grow and thrive and I urge my colleagues
to support this bill.
I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. I now recognize the bill’s cosponsor, Mr. Bean,
for an opening statement.
Mr. BEAN. Very good morning, Mr. Chairman. Thank you so
much. Good morning, Committee, and good morning those attend-
ing Small Business this morning. We are glad to have you here.
Welcome to your nation’s capital.
I am pleased to co-lead H.R. 7984, the Rural Small Business Re-
silience Act, along with my new good friend, Representative Pappas
from the great state of New Hampshire, also known as the Granite
State. This legislation will require the SBA to appropriately tailor
marketing and outreach materials to rural communities following
a disaster.
We all know the challenges facing America’s rural communities
following a disaster are different than those in urban areas and
often are unique in their needs that go unmet. Natural disasters
are all too common in the free state of Florida. We would still wel-
come you there if you want to come stay or come vacation, where
the yearly threat of hurricanes is top of mind for small business
owners.
In February of this year, the Government Accountability Office,
the GAO, issued a report on how targeted outreach from the SBA
can benefit rural communities. The GAO found that people in rural
areas may not be aware of the assistance the SBA can provide fol-
lowing a disaster.
The GAO recommends the SBA distinguish between rural and
urban communities and their outreach and marketing programs
following a disaster. Thankfully, Mr. Pappas and I have heard that
message loud and clear from the GAO and we think we have the
answer to help rural small businesses get the answer that they are
looking for.
The answer is, and I have it, it is the Rural Small Business Re-
silience Act. And I look forward, Members, to working with you and
working with Representative Pappas on the passage of this com-
monsense bipartisan bill and urge colleagues to join us, join our
team to make this happen.
Mr. Chairman, does everybody know you were up at 5:00 for
baseball this morning and yet you are here today to serve the
needs of small businesses across America? Thank you for your lead-
ership, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you for those remarks. Are there any
other Members who wish to be recognized for a statement on the
bill?
4

Okay. If there are no other Members—I am sorry. Once all Mem-
bers—you—the Chairman—Ranking Member, will you speak on
this bill?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Are you recognizing me?
Mr. WILLIAMS. I am recognizing you, Madam Chair.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend Mr.
Pappas, Mr. Bean, Mr. Golden, and Mr. Mann for their bipartisan
effort to bring H.R. 7984 before the committee today.
The Government Accountability Office provides Congress with
fact-based, nonpartisan information to improve government pro-
grams and save taxpayers dollars. In February GAO issued a re-
port that examined SBA disaster loan program and challenges
rural communities face.
GAO found that rural communities have unique obstacles mak-
ing it harder to recover after a disaster such as a lack of infrastruc-
ture, human resources, and funding. While SBA has taken steps to
better meet the needs of disaster survivors, GAO found a more tar-
geted approach is needed in rural areas.
This legislation would go a long way in signaling to SBA that
strengthening outreach to rural communities is a priority.
I commend Mr. Pappas, Mr. Bean, Mr. Golden, and Mr. Mann for
their leadership, and I yield back. Thank you.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I want to now
recognize myself to speak in support of this legislation.
H.R. 7984, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, will require
the SBA to meet communities where they are following a disaster.
And there is no secret that Americans in rural communities face
different challenges following a disaster than their urban counter-
parts.
It makes sense then that a one-size-fits-all outreach and mar-
keting plan from the SBA is inadequate. The GAO confirmed this
in their February 2024 report stating that oftentimes individuals
in rural areas do not even know assistance is available from the
SBA as they try to get back on their feet following a disaster.
The SBA’s disaster loan program offers loans to help home-
owners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits recover from physical
and economic losses following a declared disaster.
And I am grateful to Representatives Pappas and Bean for intro-
ducing this legislation so that rural Americans will have full access
to their resources when disaster strikes and I urge my colleagues
to support this bill.
If there is no further discussion, the committee now moved to
consider of H.R. 7984.
The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 7984, to require the administration——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is considered and is
read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek recognition
for the purpose of offering an amendment?
Seeing none, the question is now on adoption of H.R. 7984 and
favorably reporting it to the House.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
5

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 7984 is
agreed to be reported favorably to the House.
Mr. BEAN. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. What do you seek recognition for?
Mr. BEAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I seek to request a re-
corded vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. A recorded voted has been requested and
a roll call vote is ordered pursuant to Committee Rule 13 and
House rule XI. Further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
H.R. 5333
The next bill we will markup is H.R. 5333, the Investing in All
of America Act of 2023, introduced by Representatives Meuser and
Scholten. The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 5333, to amend the——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, H.R. 5333 is considered as
read and open for amendment.
The bill’s sponsor, Mr. Meuser, has an amendment in the nature
of a substitute at the desk. The amendment has been pre-distrib-
uted to all Members and the clerk will report the amendment.
The CLERK. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to
H.R.——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the amendment is considered
as read and the substitute will be considered base text of the bill
for the purpose of amendment.
I now recognize the bill’s sponsor, Mr. Meuser, for his statement.
Mr. MEUSER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Small business investment companies, SBICs, are privately
owned companies that are licensed and regulated by the SBA.
SBICs raise private capital by the Small Business Administration
and it is matched with leverage by the SBA. SBICs then deploy
these private funds along with the SBA guaranteed funding to in-
vest directly in small businesses.
The SBIC program operates at a zero-subsidy cost to the Amer-
ican taxpayer. In other words, taxpayer funds are not utilized to
support credit extended to SBIC investments. SBIC-backed busi-
nesses have created over 3 million new jobs and supported an addi-
tional 10.5 million jobs over just the last two decades.
Last year alone SBICs invested over $8 billion in small busi-
nesses across America, including $412 million in my home state of
Pennsylvania to small business. Now, the SBIC program has been
very successful in responsibly deploying capital to small businesses.
Recent studies have shown that less than 20 percent of SBIC in-
vestment reaches low- to middle-income communities.
So, H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act, which I intro-
duced with Representative Scholten, would incentive the deploy-
ment of additional capital to small business located in rural or low-
income areas as well as small businesses in the national security
technology sectors. Dollars invested in these areas will not count
against individual SBIC’s leveraged cap.
By creating this incentive, the Investing in All of America Act
will encourage private capital investment in the parts of America
that are, in fact, often overlooked. It is important to note that the
bonus leverage included in this legislation does not change the cost
or risks of the SBIC program.
6

The existing successful private capital ratio to SBA leverage that
has kept the program operating so well and at no subsidy will re-
main the same. This legislation would also adjust the SBIC lever-
age caps to account for inflation. SBIC leverage caps have not been
adjusted since 2015, for single licenses in 2018 for a family of
funds. Since the last adjustments inflation has risen nearly 30 per-
cent.
So, as we continue to deal with increasing inflation, reinstating
the inflation adjustor for the leverage cap is essential to ensure the
investment power of SBICs remain consistent with the broader
markets and ensure the program can continue to provide small
business with the capital they need.
Just yesterday the Subcommittee on Economic Growth Tax and
Capital Access, which I Chair, held a hearing examining the SBIC
program. In addition to discussing the positive effects of the pro-
gram, we did discuss improvements that could be made. I am
happy to say that a number of the reforms suggested by our wit-
nesses are included in this legislation.
While there is more work to do, this legislation will make a posi-
tive impact on those participating in the SBIC programs and assist
them deploying even more capital to worthy small businesses, espe-
cially, again, those who are often overlooked.
Now, before I conclude I would ask, Mr. Chairman, for unani-
mous consent to insert a letter into the record from nearly 100
small business investment companies in support of this legislation.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Granted.
Mr. MEUSER. I would like to thank Representative Scholten for
her partnership on this legislation and bipartisan group of 14
Members who have cosponsored it. I would also like to thank
Chairman Williams for bringing this bill forward for the consider-
ation today.
I look forward to continued working with my colleagues to ensure
the SBA’s programs, like the SBICs, are serving as small business
as well and responsibly deploying capital to areas where it is most
needed.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
I now recognize the bill’s cosponsor, Ms. Scholten, for a state-
ment.
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Thank you so much to the bill’s leader, Mr.
Meuser, and to Chairman Williams for bringing this bill before
committee. This is what I came to Congress to do, these types of
bipartisan, commonsense solutions that help Main Street America
and rural parts of our community that are often overlooked.
Michigan is home to almost 1 million small businesses. That is
99.6 percent of all privately owned businesses in the state. This bill
is going to have a huge impact. On any given day, the issue of ac-
cess to capital is among the greatest challenge for our small busi-
nesses. For low-, middle-income and rural communities this issue
hits even closer to home.
Recent studies have show that less than 20 percent of small busi-
ness investment companies, SBIC funds are reaching these commu-
nities. That is insane. For a program with a long history of success,
this disparity is completely unacceptable and it is incumbent upon
7

this committee the program so that it serves small business owned
by people from all walks of life.
That is exactly what we are doing here today. That is why I am
so proud to lead the Investing in All of America Act, which would
not only incentivize the deployment of additional capital to under-
served communities by not counting dollars invested in rural or
low-income areas or in the national security technology sector
against the SBICs’ leverage count.
This bipartisan solution would bolster SBIC program success as
a zero subsidy, pubic-private partnership by encouraging invest-
ments in rural areas in industries that are vital to national defense
here in West Michigan and across the country.
It is critical that these businesses can get the investments that
they need to continue growing our economy especially those in un-
derserved and rural communities. I strongly urge Members to vote
on this bipartisan and important legislation.
Thank you again to the bill’s cosponsor, Mr. Meuser, and to the
Chair. I yield back the remainder of my time, sir.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
Are there any other Members who wish to recognized for a state-
ment on the bill?
Okay. If there are no Members who wish to be recognized, I
would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to
Representatives Meuser and Scholten for your bipartisan leader-
ship on this bill. H.R. 5333 makes statutory improvements to the
SBAC program to provide access to additional leverage when they
invest in small businesses in rural or underserved communities, or
small business critical to national security.
Due to the capital-intensive nature and early revenue profile
small firms operating in America’s critical technology sector need
institutional investors with longer term time horizons to raise cap-
ital. Yet, due to statutory constraints these investors are often lim-
ited in their ability to participate in the SBIC program, making the
program an unsuitable option for critical technology to raise cap-
ital.
By providing SBICs with additional leverage flexibility, this bill
will enable the SBA and Defense Department to successfully carry
out their joint small business investment company critical tech-
nology initiative. By providing SBICs with additional bonus lever-
age, we are encouraging investment in small employers in our com-
munities that need it most.
I again want to thank Representatives Meuser and Scholten for
their leadership on this issue. I also want to thank Chairman Wil-
liams and his team for their collaboration on technical edits to the
bill and the team at the SBA for their feedback.
I believe through the effort of all parties involved we have got
in this bill to a good place. I am proud to support it and encourage
Members to vote yes.
I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I now recognize
myself to speak in support of this legislation.
Small business are faced with continual disadvantages when it
comes to assessing capital whether it’s burdensome regulations and
8

high interest rates, banks are being forced to tighten their lending
standards.
When this happens, small businesses are often the ones forced to
pay the higher price to much needed funds. This is where the
SBA’s SBIC program comes into help. This program expands the
options available to our nation’s job creators to assess vital funding
to grow and expand their operations.
And H.R. 5333 makes the thoughtful improvements to ensure
that the SBIC program continues to be an essential part of helping
many small businesses navigate these economic challenges and in-
crease the avenues to access capital. The bill allows the SBIC li-
cense commitment to account for inflation and provides additional
leverage to licensees when committing to invest in smaller enter-
prises in underserved areas, specifically in rural America and areas
of critical national defense technologies.
Additionally, the bill directs no new spending and no new man-
dates allowing the program to continue operating at no cost to the
taxpayer. Just yesterday in a subcommittee hearing we heard
about the benefits this bill will have on program participants. The
bill will make meaningful changes to the SBIC program all without
adding additional risk for the taxpayers.
I urge my colleagues to vote yes, on both the amendment and the
nature of substitute on H.R. 5333 and the underlying bill.
So, do any Members seek recognition of the purpose of offering
the amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute?
If there is no further discussion, on the question now on the
amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 5333, offered by
Mr. Meuser.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The amendment
and the nature of the substitute H.R. 5333 offered by Mr. Meuser
is agreed to.
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir?
Mr. MEUSER. I would like to request a recorded vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote——
Mr. MEUSER. I withdraw my request.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Request is withdrawn. Okay. The question now
is now on favorably reporting H.R. 5333 as amended to the House.
Okay.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed?
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 5333, as
amended, is agreed to in order to favorably move to the House.
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir?
Mr. MEUSER. I would now like to request a recorded vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. For what purpose does the gentleman seek rec-
ognition for a recorded vote?
Mr. MEUSER. Yes, sir, for a recorded vote. Thank you.
Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
call is ordered. Pursuant to Committee Rule 13 and House rule XI
further proceedings on the bill is postponed.
9

All right.
H.R. 8014
The next bill we will markup is H.R. 8014, the Transparency and
Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act, introduced by
Representatives Mfume and Alford. I now recognize the bill’s spon-
sor. Mr. Mfume is not here I don’t think. Is he? Okay. All right.
All right.
I now recognize the bill’s cosponsor, Mr. Alford for an opening
statement.
Mr. ALFORD. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you so much,
Ranking Member Velázquez, for holding this markup session today.
I tell you what, I love coming to these sessions. It is a culmination
of hard work, determination, and grit, and we are getting back to
doing the business for Main Street America and I love that.
This committee really exists in Congress to champion main
street, to make sure that small businesses that employ about half
of all Americans continue to thrive. Our role is to help lower the
barriers to creating small businesses and to support small busi-
nesses that already exist. A major tool to help existing small busi-
nesses are government contracts specifically set aside for small
businesses.
However, federal agencies cancel contracts solicitations many
times with no warning and no reason, leaving the small businesses
that spent thousands or tens of thousands of dollars and hours pre-
paring a bid, leaving them out in the cold.
This bill, the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business
Opportunities Act, would help address this problem, help solve it,
help end it. This legislation would require agencies to provide the
Small Business Administration a justification for canceled contract
solicitations. Additionally, this would require the agency canceling
the contract solicitations to disclose available information about
plans to reissue similar solicitations.
Finally, if the agency does not plan on reissuing a solicitation,
the agency’s director of small and disadvantaged business utiliza-
tion must assist the small business in identifying similar con-
tracting opportunities. Basically, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Mem-
ber, this is setting up people for success and breaking down bar-
riers in the process.
I am proud to support this legislation, proud to be on this with
Mr. Mfume. It is going to help provide stability and predictability
to small business contractors, part of our responsibility on this
committee.
Thank you and I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. Are there any other
Members who wish to recognized for a statement on the bill?
Okay. If there are no other Members who wish to be recognized,
I would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend Rep-
resentatives Mfume and Alford for their work on this legislation
which will require the government to provide information to small
business contractors when they cancel solicitations.
The government has flexibility to change requirements and solici-
tations as needed when their circumstances change. While this
flexibility is necessary, the small businesses take on the risk and
10

can incur losses when it happens. We have heard and time and
again the barriers facing small contractors in our industrial base.
The Women’s Chamber of Commerce has complained how numer-
ous small business contracts just go away without explanation or
discussion of the obstacles. And during our hearing on February
6th, Andrew Christ, a small business owner highlighted how small
firms can spend significant amounts, an average of $10,000 to de-
velop a proposal, only to find out that the project has become inac-
tive.
The bill we are considering today would not limit an agency’s
ability to make changes when necessary. It will simply provide
some help to the small business when it does, requiring an agency
to disclose the reasons behind a cancellation and any plans for the
work will provide small contractors with a little more information
to adjust their business plans and operations accordingly.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
I now recognize myself to speak in support of this legislation.
H.R. 8014, the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business
Opportunities Act, seeks to bring clarity to small business owners
when an agency cancels a contract solicitation.
Small business spend an incredible amount of time and resources
preparing to bid on government contracts. When an agency cancels
a contract solicitation the small businesses that started preparing
are left with nothing to show for their work.
Furthermore, there is little clarity about what the agency will do
with the products and services originally intended to purchase. So,
H.R. 8014 will require the agency to share with the SBA justifica-
tions why the contract was cancelled. Moreover, this bill requires
agencies to assist small businesses impacted by the canceled solici-
tation by helping them identify similar contracts to bid on.
Small businesses deserve to have a full understanding of what
opportunities are available to them and to know how agencies will
fulfill their buying needs. So, I urge all my colleagues to support
H.R. 8014.
If there is no further discussion, the committee now moves to
consideration of H.R. 8014.
The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 8014, to require the——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is considered as read
and open for amendment.
Do any Members seek recognition for the purpose of offering an
amendment?
Seeing none, the question is that now on adoption of H.R. 8014
and favorably reporting to the House.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 8014 is
agreed to and ordered favorably to the House.
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. What recognition do you seek?
Mr. ALFORD. I seek to have recorded votes, sir.
11

Mr. WILLIAMS. A record of votes has been requested and a roll
call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule
XI, further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
H.R. 7987
The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7987, the Plain Language
in Contracting Act, introduced by Representatives LaLota and
Thanedar. I recognize the bill’s sponsor, Mr. LaLota for an opening
statement.
Mr. LALOTA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman, it shouldn’t be as hard as the federal government
makes it for America’s small businesses to apply for an to win a
federal contract. Small business, who are the life blood of America’s
economy and often have a single-digit or a low double-digit number
of employees, shouldn’t require a lawyer or compliance office to
compete for and ultimately win a federal contract. But we have a
solution.
My bill, and a shout-out to my cosponsor and Representative
Thanedar, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, would help solve
that problem by making it easier for small businesses to secure
government contracts.
There are over 33 million small businesses in America, 33 mil-
lion. And many of these companies offer products and services that
are crucial for the procurement of key projects both here in the
United States and abroad. However, of those 33 million only about
65,000 of those small businesses actually win federal prime con-
tracts. That is a terrible ratio.
We have heard from many small business owners who say that
complexity of the bidding process for a government contract ulti-
mately turns them away. Preparing for that bid is difficult enough,
but the process is made even more difficult when the government
is ambiguous about what it wants and its language is so complex
that understanding it requires an advance degree.
I challenge everyone of you, both Members, audience, and folks
at home to try to understand some of these contract requirements.
I know that it is frustrating for me and it is absolutely ridiculous.
It takes an advanced law degree to make sense of it and even a
lot of folks with those degrees can’t make that sense.
In fact, a naval postgraduate school commissioned a study of over
1 million DOD solicitations and they found three key things. Less
than 3 percent of DOD contract solicitations are written in plain
English. Second, most DOD solicitations require a college education
just to understand it. And third and final, on a standard read-
ability scale most DOD contracts are either difficult or very dif-
ficult to read on their rating scale.
The detrimental effect of our government’s convoluted language
on small businesses cannot be overstated. It is a direct cause of
small businesses’ exodus from federal contracting leading to a sig-
nificant loss in competition. And let me be clear, the competition
lost by reduced small business hurts all of us, especially on the
pricing and the quality. Small businesses are the backbone of our
great nation’s economy and we should be doing everything we can
to support them.
That is why I am proud I have introduced my bill, the Plain Lan-
guage in Contracting Act, which will require federal agencies to use
12

clear language when publishing contact solicitations, finally allow-
ing greater access to solicitations bids.
I urge all of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support
this commonsense bill. Again, one more shout-out to my colleague,
Representative Thanedar, with whom I also serve on the Homeland
Security Committee for his co-lead on this, and, Chairman Wil-
liams, for you and your staff, for your diligence on this.
This could be my fourth bill that gets to the House floor and ap-
preciate it, sir. I yield.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
And I recognize the bill’s co-sponsor, Mr. Thanedar, for an open-
ing statement.
Mr. THANEDAR. Thank you, Chairman Williams and Ranking
Member Velázquez. I appreciate both of you and your leadership in
this bipartisan effort. What a great work. This is really what I
came to Congress to do. As an entrepreneur I am delighted with
what this committee does and the collaboration with both sides.
Today, alongside my esteemed colleague, Representative LaLota
from New York, I am proud to co-lead the Plain Language in Con-
tracting Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at revolutionizing how
government communicates with small businesses.
As a co-lead on this vital legislation, I am deeply committed to
simply find the often convoluted and inaccessible notices that
hinder small businesses’ access to government contracts.
Having experienced the challenges of entrepreneurship firsthand,
Representative LaLota and I recognize the urgent need to cut
through bureaucratic jargon and provide clear, concise, and acces-
sible information to our nation’s small business owners. This bill
not only aligns with our core values of transparency and efficiency
but also reflects our unwavering dedication to fostering a level
playing field for all businesses regardless of size.
By requiring the inclusion of key words and adherence to federal
plain language guidelines we are not just drafting legislation, we
are empowering small businesses to navigate the complexity of gov-
ernment contracting with confidence and ease. This is about just—
is this about more than just policy. It is about supporting the back-
bone of our economy and ensuring that every entrepreneur has the
opportunity to succeed.
I am proud to stand alongside Representative LaLota and our
colleagues in this bipartisan effort and I look forward to working
tirelessly to advance this critical legislation for the betterment of
our small business community and our nation as a whole.
Thank you, Representative LaLota, and thank you all, and I
yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
statement on this bill? If there are no other Members to be recog-
nized, I would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on
the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
work done on this legislation that seeks to provide clarity for some
small business government contractors working or looking to work
with the federal government. It would require certain contracting
13

documents, including requests for proposals and solicitations be
written in a way that is clear, concise, and accessible.
The goals of this bill are laudable. There are certainly ways in
which the federal government can improve in this area in the lan-
guage used and on contracting opportunities is one. Thanks to our
sponsor for their work.
Thank you again and I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. And I now recognize
myself to speak in support of this legislation.
H.R. 7987, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, is a very im-
portant piece of legislation which removes a hurdle small busi-
nesses face as they consider doing business with the government.
The complexity of government contracting often turns small busi-
nesses away from even attempting to compete for these awards.
The government-speak used in federal contracting only adds confu-
sion to small businesses and often takes a team of attorneys to
fully comprehend what they mean or services that are being re-
quested and government language is so problematic that the com-
mittee has heard firsthand testimony from small business owners
about the challenges of navigating government language.
In a subcommittee hearing we held just yesterday we heard that
most DOD solicitations require at least some higher education to
understand what is written. This burden is just one of the many
reasons that small businesses’ participation in the industrial base
has been cut by nearly one-half over the past decade.
The Plain Language in Contracting Act makes it easier for small
businesses to federal contracting to navigate these unnecessarily
complex documents by finally requiring agencies to write concisely.
I want to thank the Ranking Member and her staff and her team
for working with us in drafting this bill and I urge all of my col-
leagues to vote for the Plain Language in Contracting Act.
If there is no further discussion, the committee now moved to
consideration of H.R. 7987.
Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. The clerk will report.
Mr. LALOTA. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes.
Mr. LALOTA. Disregard, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. WILLIAMS. What you would——
Mr. LALOTA. Disregard my comment, Mr. Chairman. I pulled a
Meuser, sorry.
Mr. WILLIAMS. We good? We can—do you want us to take a re-
cess and we will——
Mr. LALOTA. No, sir. No, sir.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. Here we go. If there is no further discus-
sion, the committee now moves to consider H.R. 7987. The clerk
will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 7986, to require plain language——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is considered as read
and open for amendment. Do any Members seek recognition for the
purpose of offering an amendment?
If no, seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of H.R.
7987 and favorably reporting it to the House.
14

All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and H.R. 7987——
Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Seek recognition.
Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chairman, I request a role call vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The Member asked for a recorded vote.
A recorded vote has been requested and roll call vote is order. Pur-
suant to committee rule 13 and House rule XI, further proceedings
on this bill——
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Chair?
Mr. WILLIAMS.—are postponed.
H.R. 7988
The next bill we will—Gluesenkamp Perez. I now recognize the
bill’s sponsor, Mr. Stauber, for an opening statement.
Mr. STAUBER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I rise to
speak in favor of my bill, H.R. 7988, the Small Business Procure-
ment and Utilization Reform Act of 2024, or the SPUR Act.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the
innovators, the job traders, and the driving force behind economic
growth. In Minnesota, small businesses account for over 99 percent
of all businesses and employ over half of the workforce.
It is no exaggeration to say that the success of our economy is
tied to the success of our small businesses. I believe there is no bet-
ter way for the government to support small businesses than to en-
sure they have ever opportunity to contract with the largest pur-
chaser of goods and services in the world, the federal government.
The problem is that while government agencies set aside contract
opportunities for small businesses participation in federal con-
tracting has declined by half in the last decade. We have an exist-
ing system in place that helps us see that we need to improve.
Agencies are graded on the total number and value of small busi-
ness contracts, yet they do not factor in small businesses who won
a federal contract for the first time. So, without incorporating this
into the agency’s scoreboard grade, we have no ability to tell
whether the shrinking pool of small businesses are first time con-
tractors or have been contracting for multiple years.
My bill, the SPUR Act, addresses this concern. It will provide us
with more information to see where the federal government can im-
prove. I would like to thank my colleague from Washington, Rep-
resentative Gluesenkamp Perez, for her support of this important
legislation.
Too many federal agencies fall short of their goals for awarding
contracts to small businesses leaving billions of dollars in contracts
out of reach of America’s small businesses. And I urge my col-
leagues to support this legislation as it will help ensure that the
federal government is doing everything it can to support small
businesses in America.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize the
bill’s cosponsor, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez, for an opening statement.
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Thank you, Chairman Williams,
and thank you to my colleague, Mr. Stauber, for his partnership on
this bill and your valiant efforts at pronouncing my last name.
15

The SBA is tasked with ensuring that small businesses are given
a fair shot at competing for federal contracting dollars. SBA pub-
lishes an annual small business procurement scorecard that grades
each federal agency on their spending towards the goal and gives
agencies a score for their performance. We all know the adage
there is lies, damn lies, and statistics. And I am certainly not ac-
cusing anyone of lying here, but I think it is important that when
we are looking at these numbers we are understanding what they
are representing.
Put simply the federal government is not retaining current small
business government contractors and new small businesses are not
choosing to enter the federal market. This is a big problem.
For our local economies to thrive it is important that we level the
playing field, ensure more Southwest Washington small businesses
can benefit from these opportunities. Our bill would require that
the SBA include the number of new entrants into the federal mar-
ket and the methodology for scoring each federal agency’s small
business performance.
After the pandemic hit in 2020, my husband and I spent the bet-
ter part of the year working on upgrades to the infrastructure in
our auto shop, like better ventilation, lighting, things that would
keep our employees and customers safe.
Our good friends who own an autobody shop spent the entire
year trying to figure out how to navigate a contract with the City
of Portland. To me this is a really good example of how it is a real
loss to our workforce and our local economy when small business
owners have to spend the whole year figuring out how to do busi-
ness with the government.
Our bill will help shed light on how successful federal agencies
are at making sure that new businesses see the value in con-
tracting with the federal government and have the capacity to over-
come the regulatory burdens to tap into these resources.
I am proud to co-lead this bill with Representative Stauber and
I urge my colleagues on the committee to support it. Thank you
and I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. Are there any other
Members who wish to be recognized for a statement on the bill?
If there are no other Members who wish to be recognized, I
would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend Rep-
resentatives Stauber and Gluesenkamp Perez for the work to re-
quire SBA to consider new small business contractors when grad-
ing a federal agency performance toward meeting its small busi-
nesses goals.
The government has roughly 40 percent fewer small businesses
in its ecosystem then it did just a decade ago. This decline of the
industrial base has produced negative consequences for both the
government and small firms and taxpayers. They lose out on the
stability government contracting can provide and the government
loses out on the innovation and competition that a larger small
based of small businesses provides.
Yet despite this decline, federal agencies award a record amount
of contracting dollars to small businesses each year. This means
fewer small businesses are getting larger contracts. And since con-
16

tracts are getting larger, fewer small businesses are willing and
able to compete for them. This legislation is a productive step that
will help break that cycle.
By requiring a year-over-year comparison of new entrants rather
than a single target, federal agencies will be compelled to continu-
ously focus on bringing in new companies and addressing the bar-
riers, like contract size, that prevent greater small business partici-
pation.
I again applaud the work put into this legislation. It is a
thoughtful product that I am pleased to support and I urge my col-
leagues to support as well.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
And I now recognize myself to speak in support of this legisla-
tion.
H.R. 7988 makes it clear that small businesses are vital in the
American industrial base. Each year agencies set a goal to spend
at least 23 percent of their contract dollars with main street. The
government generally meets this goal in dollars, but the number of
small businesses actually winning contracts continues to decline
and agencies are prioritizing the total dollars it awards, not the
number of small firms.
The decline in participation that we are seeing is a critical threat
to America’s industrial base and we must take action to reverse
this trend. That is why the SPUR Act is critical. It will force agen-
cies to factor in small businesses who won a government contract
for the first time when they are graded on SBA’s annual procure-
ment scorecard.
As agencies plan out their contracting activities they must en-
sure that increasing small businesses awards is a priority so that
they have every opportunity to compete for these contracts. So, I
urge all my colleagues to support the SPUR Act.
And if there is no further discussion, the committee now moves
to consideration of H.R. 7988. The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 7988——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispensed. With—and without objection, the bill is considered as
read and open for amendment. Do any Members seek recognition
for the purpose of offering an amendment?
Seeing none, the question is now on adoption of H.R. 7988 in
favor of reporting it to the House.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
Do you seek recognition?
Mr. STAUBER. I ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.
Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule
XI, any further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
H.R. 7985
The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7985, Entrepreneurs with
Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024, introduced by Representatives
McGarvey and Molinaro. I now recognize the bill’s sponsor, Mr.
McGarvey for an opening statement.
17

Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for
your support of H.R. 7985 and for including it in today’s markup.
I would also like to especially thank Chairman Molinaro. Not
only is he the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Entre-
preneurship, and Workforce Development, but he held a really
great hearing about how we help people with disabilities become
entrepreneurs and he very compassionately, courageously detailed
the obstacles his own daughter has faced. And of course, brought
up, for everyone on that subcommittee, brought up Maeve from
Maeve’s Coffee in the Hudson Valley, who was an absolute star in
showing us the opportunities that exist if we are willing to invest
and make this part of the American Dream available to everybody.
I was also honored to have my constituent, Cody Clark, come up
from Louisville, a small business owner, disability rights advocate,
and I think the first person to perform a magic trick in front of this
committee, at least this Congress. He did a great job telling us
about the problems that people with disabilities face and his expe-
rience as an entrepreneur. His experience and those like the ones
we heard from helped lead to today’s legislation.
This bipartisan legislation will require the Small Business Ad-
ministration to submit a report to Congress on the challenges faced
by entrepreneurs with disabilities. The report will include an as-
sessment of these entrepreneurs’ challenges and needs and detail
what resources the SBA currently provides to entrepreneurs with
disabilities. Importantly, it is also going to recommend legislative
action to improve how the SBA serves entrepreneurs with disabil-
ities.
By requiring a report from the Small Business Administration,
this bill will better help Congress understand how to support these
entrepreneurs who face different challenges. I encourage all of my
colleagues to support this bill, and yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
I now recognize the bill’s cosponsor, Mr. Molinaro, for an opening
statement.
Mr. MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was glad to hear
the great applause for this legislation, cheering in the hallways. I
commend Mr. McGarvey for sponsoring the bill and thank you, Mr.
Chairman, for moving the Entrepreneurs with Disability Reporting
Act here today.
I do want to extend my appreciation, Mr. McGarvey, Cody was
a wonderful witness, but also a strong testament to the ability of
every individual should be given the support from family and re-
moved obstacles by government to attain success. And I for one was
very grateful that Maeve was able to join us, but an important
hearing addressing the challenges and obstacles that many with in-
tellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities face every day.
This particular bill, bipartisan in nature, will provide much need-
ed clarity for entrepreneurs with disabilities as the navigate SBA’s
complex maze of over 50 different programs geared towards assist-
ing them in starting a business. As of April 2022, 74 percent of
adults with disabilities work outside the traditional workforce with
approximately 1.8 million of these individuals with disabilities as
business owners themselves.
18

Entrepreneurs of ability should have a fair shot at pursuing their
passion and we ought to work hard to remove obstacles from them.
As the Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Inno-
vation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development I join my
colleagues in remaining committed to empowering our entre-
preneurs with disabilities to contribute more to main street and
lead really more independent and fulfilled lives.
I am grateful again to Mr. McGarvey and the commitment of this
committee to move this legislation today. This act would provide a
comprehensive assessment of the needs of our entrepreneurs with
disabilities and help to inform lawmakers of legislative solutions to
address the challenges these individuals face and breakdown bar-
riers so they can pursue their employment options.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill. As I like to say back
home this is one more effort to show America what it means to
think differently for those with intellectual, physical, and develop-
mental disabilities.
And with that I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
statement on this bill?
If no other Members wish to be recognized, I would like to recog-
nize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased sup-
port the legislation offered by Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Molinaro,
which will require the SBA to submit a report to Congress on the
challenges facing entrepreneurs with disabilities.
There are 44 million people with disabilities in the United
States. While progress has been made to increase employment
rates, disabled individuals lag behind people without disabilities.
Only 26 percent of people with disabilities participate in the labor
force.
As a country we can do better and we must do better. Studies
have found higher rates of self-employment among disabled Ameri-
cans, most often because it offers more flexibility and the ability to
work remotely. That is why we need a comprehensive study to as-
sess the SBA resources that are available to entrepreneurs with
disabilities examine their effectiveness and determine what actions
need to be take to help support entrepreneurs with disabilities.
I applaud Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Molinaro for their leadership
on this issue. I support the bill, and I yield back my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back.
H.R. 7985, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of
2024, will require the SBA to issue a report to Congress on the
challenges individuals with disabilities face when starting a busi-
ness. Furthermore, it would require the SBA to look at resources
across the federal government that assist individuals with disabil-
ities.
The Government Accountability Office estimate there are only 50
programs across 9 federal agencies that support employment oppor-
tunities for individuals with disabilities. However, as we know fed-
eral agencies often fail to coordinate or collaborate on such pro-
grams to ensure that their efforts are not duplicated.
19

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024 will
require the SBA to look at this fragmented system and do its part
to consolidate and streamline these efforts. I thank Representatives
McGarvey and Molinaro for introducing this legislation. I urge all
Members to vote yes.
If there’s no further discussion, the committee now moves to con-
sideration of H.R. 7985. The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 7985, to require the administrator of the
Small Business Administration——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispensed and, without objection, the bill is considered as read
and open for amendment. Do any Members seek recognition for
purpose of offering an amendment?
Seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of H.R. 7985
and favorably reporting to the House?
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
Mr. MCGARVEY. Chairman?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Seek recognition.
Mr. MCGARVEY. Mr. Chairman, I seek a roll call vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. A recorded vote has been requested and
a roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and
House rule XI further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
H.R. 7989
The next bill we will markup is H.R. 7989, the
ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disabilities Employment Act, intro-
duced by Representatives Molinaro and Pappas.
I now recognize the bill’s sponsor, Mr. Molinaro for an opening
statement.
Mr. MOLINARO. Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I am proud
to speak in favor of this bill and very grateful to the committee for
moving forward H.R. 7989, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Dis-
abilities Employment Act.
Building off of a nationwide effort to an initiative we refer to as
ThinkDIFFERENTLY in my home state this bill will require great-
er cooperation between the SBA and the National Counsel on Dis-
ability to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
for the disability community. In New York State alone, as was
noted, 60 percent of working-age people with disabilities are unem-
ployed. Nationwide that number rises to 80 percent of those with
intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities remain unem-
ployed and outside the workforce.
We know from small businesses throughout upstate New York
and across America, we understand the many benefits of hiring in-
dividuals with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabil-
ities. And especially we understand that in many cases their
unique skillsets are sound economic investments, but, as impor-
tantly, help to boost company morale and make a benefit to the
company overall. And their participation in the workforce promotes
greater employee engagement.
The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act
paves the way for lawmakers to assess the challenges that employ-
ees and entrepreneurs with disabilities face while proactively work-
20

ing to ensure those with disabilities have the support to pursue
real career opportunities.
I’d like to thank my colleague, Representative Pappas, for his
partnership and leadership on the bill and I urge my colleagues to
support this very simple, smart, bipartisan legislation that is
meant again to tear down barriers and create opportunities for ev-
eryone of every ability and perhaps show Congress and the world
what it means to think differently.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize the
bill’s cosponsor, Mr. Pappas, for an opening statement.
Mr. PAPPAS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Small busi-
ness ownership is a major pathway for all Americans to achieve
success and self-sufficiency and people with disabilities participate
in entrepreneurship at a higher rate than nondisabled Americans.
The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act will
support collaboration between SBA and the National Counsel on
Disability to help folks with disabilities pursue small business own-
ership and employment opportunities.
Individuals with disabilities deserve equal access to support from
SBA and this bipartisan legislation is an important step forward
that will help achieve that. This will support entrepreneurship and
employment of individuals with disabilities while helping our main
street economies grow and our communities thrive.
So, I am pleased to partner with Representative Molinaro on this
bill. I thank him for his steadfast leadership in this space and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back.
Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized for a
statement on this bill?
If there are no other Members who wish to be recognized, I
would like to recognize the Ranking Member to speak on the bill.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the spon-
sor of this bill and I strongly support the bill.
I yield back.
Mr. WILLIAMS. I now recognize myself to speak in support of
this legislation.
Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be self-employed
than the average American. Across the federal government there
are numerous programs and resources to assist Americans with
disabilities, yet resources tailored to entrepreneurs with disabilities
at the SBA are sorely lacking. H.R. 7989, the
ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disabilities Employment Act, will re-
quire the SBA to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with
the National Council on Disability, which is an independent federal
agency whose mission is to provide a recommendation to policy-
makers and issues impacting individuals with disabilities.
This makes the National Disability Council equally qualified or
uniquely qualified to advise and assist the SBA in the pursuit of
assisting individuals with disabilities achieve the American dream.
I would like to thank Representative Molinaro for his commit-
ment to ensuring Congress works to pave the pathway to success
for entrepreneurs and employees with disabilities and thank him
21

and Mr. Pappas for introducing this legislation. I urge all my col-
leagues to vote yes this legislation.
So, if there is no further discussion, the committee now moves to
the consideration of H.R. 7989. The clerk will report.
The CLERK. H.R. 7989, to provide——
Mr. WILLIAMS. Without objection, the first reading of the bill
is dispended and, without objection, the bill is considered and read
and open for amendment. Do any Members seek recognition for the
purpose of offering an amendment?
Seeing none, the question is now on the adoption of H.R. 7989
and favorably reporting to the House.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, say no.
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. H.R. 7989—do you
seek recognition?
Mr. MOLINARO. I request a recorded vote.
Mr. WILLIAMS. A recorded vote has been requested and a roll
call vote is ordered. Pursuant to committee rule 13 and House rule
XI, further proceedings on the bill are postponed.
The committee now stands in recess. Subject to the call of the
Chair, we will resume at a later time. But I think we decided on
11:30, right? We will resume at 11:30.
[Recess.]
Mr. WILLIAMS. The committee will now come to order. The com-
mittee will now resume consideration of the bills on which roll call
votes were requested and postponed. We will start with H.R. 7984.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 7984 and ordering it favor-
ably to the House. The clerk will call the role.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
[No response.]
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
[No response.]
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
22

The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
[No response.]
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chaiman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, how am I reported?
Mr. WILLIAMS. As absent.
Mr. STAUBER. Please change it to a yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
23

Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Chairman, how was my vote recorded?
The CLERK. The congressman was recorded as no vote or as not
voting.
Mr. ELLZEY. Ellzey, aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Do any other Members with to vote or change
their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will report.
The CLERK. On that vote, Mr. LaLota is recorded as an aye.
Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. H.R. 7984 is adopted and will be reported favor-
ably to the House.
Before I move on, there are two people I want to thank that have
made our hearing go as it has today, go very well. I want to first
of all thank Ellen. Thank you very much for all you have done on
your side and we appreciate it very much. And also, I want to
thank Andrew, who has done a good job over here. They have made
everything run well and we appreciate them. So, thank you.
The question is now on adopting H.R. 5333, as amended, and
order it favorably reported to the House. The clerk will call the
role.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
[No response.]
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Ellzey, aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt.
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
24

Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chaiman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. STAUBER. Stauber votes aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. Are there any other Members who have
not voted or wish to change their vote?
All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 5333, as
amended, is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 8014 and ordering it favor-
ably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
25

[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
26

The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chaiman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 8014
is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 7987 and ordering it favor-
ably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
27

Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chaiman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
28

Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7987
is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 7988 and ordering it favor-
ably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
29

Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Aye.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chairman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members that have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
Seeing none the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7988
is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 7985 and ordering it favor-
ably to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
30

The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
31

The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Aye.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chairman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
Seeing none the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7985
is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
The question now is on adopting H.R. 7989 and ordering it favor-
ably reported to the House. The clerk will call the roll.
The CLERK. Mr. Luetkemeyer?
[No response.]
Mr. Stauber?
Mr. STAUBER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Stauber votes aye.
Mr. Meuser?
Mr. MEUSER. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Meuser votes aye.
Ms. Van Duyne?
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Van Duyne votes aye.
Ms. Salazar?
Ms. SALAZAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Salazar votes aye.
Mr. Mann?
Mr. MANN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Mann votes aye.
Mr. Ellzey?
Mr. ELLZEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Ellzey votes aye.
Mr. Molinaro?
Mr. MOLINARO. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Molinaro votes aye.
Mr. Alford?
Mr. ALFORD. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Alford votes aye.
Mr. Crane?
Mr. CRANE. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Crane votes aye.
Mr. Bean?
Mr. BEAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Bean votes aye.
Mr. Hunt?
[No response.]
Mr. LaLota?
32

Mr. LALOTA. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. LaLota votes aye.
Ms. Maloy?
Ms. MALOY. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Maloy votes aye.
Mr. Golden?
Mr. GOLDEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Mr. Golden votes aye.
Mr. Mfume?
[No response.]
Mr. Phillips?
[No response.]
Mr. Landsman?
Mr. LANDSMAN. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Landsman votes aye.
Mr. McGarvey?
Mr. MCGARVEY. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. McGarvey votes aye.
Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez?
Ms. GLUESENKAMP PEREZ. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez votes aye.
Ms. Scholten?
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Yes.
The CLERK. Ms. Scholten votes aye.
Mr. Thanedar?
Mr. THANEDAR. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Thanedar votes aye.
Ms. Chu?
Ms. CHU. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Chu votes aye.
Ms. Davids?
Ms. DAVIDS. Aye.
The CLERK. Ms. Davids votes aye.
Mr. Pappas?
Mr. PAPPAS. Aye.
The CLERK. Mr. Pappas votes aye.
Ranking Member Velázquez?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Aye.
The CLERK. Ranking Member Velázquez votes aye.
Chairman Williams?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Aye.
The CLERK. Chairman Williams votes aye.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Are there any other Members who have not
voted or wish to change their vote?
All right. Seeing none, the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Mr. Chairman, on that vote 23 ayes, 0 nays, and
0 present.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Okay. The motion is agreed to and H.R. 7989
is adopted and will be reported favorably to the House.
Without objection, committee staff is authorized to make tech-
nical and conforming changes and Members have 2 business days
to file additional supplemental, dissenting, and minority views.
I want to thank everyone for being here today. I also want to say
it was a great hearing. I think when you go home you can tell them
33

about a committee that actually is getting something done in a bi-
partisan fashion. And I appreciate everybody’s work on both sides
of the aisle.
And if there is no further business, this concludes today’s mark-
up. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:57 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]
34

APPENDIX
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