Shaheen, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Support for Disabled Entrepreneurs

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are introducing bipartisan legislation that would help reduce barriers and increase support for disabled entrepreneurs starting and expanding their small businesses. The bipartisan Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a designated Coordinator for Disabled Small Business Concerns and to collect data, on a voluntary basis, on the disability status of small business owners participating in SBA programs. “Disabled entrepreneurs face a unique set of obstacles to building and growing their businesses, so it’s critical that these individuals have specialized avenues for support and equal access to resources at the Small Business Administration,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our legislation would do just that, ensuring disabled small business owners can attain financial stability and unlock the kind of innovative, entrepreneurial opportunity that is vital to helping our local economies flourish.” In the United States, one in four people live with disabilities, and according to a 2022 report by National Disability Institute, approximately 1.8 million individuals with disabilities are business owners. Entrepreneurship offers an alternative path to traditional employment for individuals with disabilities. To achieve economic prosperity and independence, Americans living with a disability turn to self-employment and small business development at a rate that is nearly twice that of people without disabilities . Several barriers persist for this community in starting and growing their own businesses, including a lack of targeted technical and programmatic assistance as well as outdated attitudinal norms. To address these barriers, the Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act directs the SBA to: Establish a Coordinator for Disabled Small Business Concerns at the agency; Collect voluntary demographic data from program applicants on disability status; and Publish data on the participation of disabled entrepreneurs in SBA programs. A copy of the bill text can be read HERE . The Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act is endorsed by the National Disability Institute (NDI), America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, NH SBDC, 2Gether-International, American Association of People with Disabilities, Disability Rights Center – NH, Melwood, Alliance for Expanding America's Workforce, CEO Commission for Disability Employment, National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Gallaudet University. As a senior member and former chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee, Shaheen champions the work to support New Hampshire’s small business community. In Congress, Shaheen leads efforts to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump’s tariffs, including with the introduction of the Speedy Tariff Refund Act to ensure full refunds of President Trump’s illegal tariffs that raised costs for American small business owners. Shaheen also directly called out Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for the harm the Administration has inflicted on New Hampshire’s small businesses. Shaheen has traveled across the Granite State to discuss the impact of tariffs on New Hampshire’s tourism industry and to visit businesses impacted by President Trump’s trade war. ###