ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1634
Last Updated: October 9, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

ID: S001212

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

June 4, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose the real disease beneath.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act (HR 1634) claims to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by creating a memorandum of understanding between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Council on Disability. How noble. In reality, this bill is a classic case of "feel-good" legislation, designed to make politicians look compassionate while doing nothing substantial.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires the SBA Administrator to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities who want to become entrepreneurs or find employment at small businesses. It also mandates outreach and education about these activities. Wow, a whole lot of nothing new here. The most significant "change" is the creation of another bureaucratic agreement that will likely gather dust on some shelf.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: politicians seeking to boost their image, disability advocacy groups looking for a symbolic victory, and small business owners who might get some token benefits from this charade. The real stakeholders – individuals with disabilities – will likely see no tangible improvements in their employment prospects.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a prime example of "legislative placebo effect." It's designed to make people feel good, but it won't actually address the underlying issues facing individuals with disabilities in the workforce. The lack of additional funding (Section 3) ensures that this initiative will be nothing more than a hollow promise.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of " Politician-itis," characterized by grandiose language, empty promises, and a complete disregard for actual problem-solving. The symptoms include:

* Overuse of buzzwords like "increase employment opportunities" without any concrete plans to achieve this goal. * Creation of another bureaucratic agreement that will likely be ignored or underfunded. * A blatant attempt to pander to disability advocacy groups without providing meaningful support.

Treatment: This bill needs a healthy dose of skepticism, followed by a strong injection of reality. Politicians should focus on creating tangible solutions rather than feel-good legislation. Until then, this bill will remain a prime example of the " Emperor's New Clothes" – all show and no substance.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$150,125
24 donors
PACs
$500
Organizations
$10,925
Committees
$0
Individuals
$138,700
1
DEMOCRACY ENGINE INC
1 transaction
$500
1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUITY
2 transactions
$6,600
2
LEECH LAKE - PAC
1 transaction
$3,300
3
GOOGLE
1 transaction
$1,000
4
CHAIN BRIDGE BANK
1 transaction
$25

No committee contributions found

1
KING, RUSSELL
2 transactions
$13,200
2
ZOTTO, CARLA DEL
1 transaction
$10,000
3
ANDERSON, ROLLIS
1 transaction
$9,900
4
FAISON, JAY
1 transaction
$6,600
5
NYSTROM, BRIAN AND MARY ANN
1 transaction
$6,600
6
OSBORNE, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
7
HUBBARD, KAREN MRS.
1 transaction
$6,600
8
HUBBARD, STANLEY
1 transaction
$6,600
9
JOHNSON, TODD MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
10
MAKI, BRIAN MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
11
MURPHY, MARK B.
1 transaction
$6,600
12
ULRICH, ROBERT
1 transaction
$6,600
13
MCKINZIE, KAREN M.
1 transaction
$6,600
14
MCKINZIE, KEITH MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
15
OLSON, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$6,600
16
SPEVACEK, CHARLES MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
17
CERVENKA, DEBRA A
1 transaction
$6,600
18
KOCH, BARBARA
1 transaction
$6,600
19
GRUSS, MARK L.
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

ID: S001231

Top Contributors

10

1
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Aug 26, 2024
2
H RAHMAN MD FRCS INC
Organization SANTA ANA, CA
$500
Feb 20, 2024
3
SHAZAD MALIK, ESQ, P.A.
Organization COWAN HEIGHTS, CA
$500
Feb 20, 2024
4
ELKE WURZBACH
Organization LONG BEACH, CA
$500
Sep 20, 2024
5
ELKE WURZBACH
Organization LONG BEACH, CA
$500
Oct 3, 2024
6
ARK, MANDEEP
SELF-EMPLOYED ENTREPRENEUR
Individual FRESNO, CA
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
7
GOCHMAN, MOLLY
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Oct 4, 2023
8
RAYANT, GARRY
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Oct 1, 2023
9
SIGNH, JASPREET
LAW OFFICE OF JASPREET SINGH LAWYER
Individual ELK GROVE, CA
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
10
HEISING, CAITLIN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ATHERTON, CA
$6,600
Mar 1, 2023

Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

ID: A000379

Top Contributors

10

1
OTOE-MISSOURIA TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Jun 21, 2023
2
CM DUBOIS STRATEGIES LLC
Organization WEBSTER GROVES, MO
$2,000
Mar 18, 2024
3
WAYPOINT CONSULTING LLC
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$1,100
Dec 13, 2023
4
CHERRY, DERON
UNITED BEVERAGE COMPANY PRESIDENT
Individual KANSAS CITY, MO
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
5
CHERRY, DERON
UNITED BEVERAGE COMPANY PRESIDENT
Individual KANSAS CITY, MO
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
6
REDFORD, STAN
REDFORD CONSTRUCTION OWNER
Individual RAYMORE, MO
$3,300
Jul 26, 2024
7
THOMPSON, CRAIG
GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CEO
Individual CLINTON, MO
$3,300
Sep 7, 2024
8
COOPER, SHANNON
Individual
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
9
GRAY, CHARLES M
REMAX BROKER
Individual CLINTON, MO
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
10
GUTHRIE, JASON
J&S FARMS OWNER
Individual
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023

Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

ID: P000614

Top Contributors

10

1
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
2
THE CHICKSAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$2,300
Oct 7, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 5, 2023
4
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 19, 2023
5
THE CHICKSAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 14, 2024
6
DUDA, JENNIFER
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MENLO PARK, CA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
7
JURVETSON, KARLA
SELF EMPLOYED PHYSICIAN
Individual LOS ALTOS, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
8
SCHUSTER, MARK
WINGATE COMPANIES CHAIRMAN
Individual NEWTON CENTRE, MA
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
9
STOVER, MATTHEW
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual CHESTER, NH
$3,300
Oct 26, 2024
10
WALSH, MARK
AMALGAMATED BANK BANKER
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024

Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

ID: G000604

Top Contributors

10

1
MCLAUGHLIN, JANE
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual LYME, NH
$4,500
Aug 24, 2024
2
FLORY, ROBERT H. JR
FLORY INVESTMENTS, INC. PRESIDENT
Individual DAMARISCOTTA, ME
$4,100
Sep 30, 2024
3
FLORY, ROBERT H. JR
FLORY INVESTMENTS, INC. PRESIDENT
Individual DAMARISCOTTA, ME
$4,100
Sep 30, 2024
4
KRAUSZ, STEVEN
US VENTURE PARTNERS VENTURE CAPITAL
Individual PORTOLA VALLEY, CA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
5
HIRSHBERG, GARY
STONYFIELD FARM INC. SENIOR ADVISOR
Individual CONCORD, NH
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
6
DRAKE, LAWRENCE C JR
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual PORTSMOUTH, NH
$3,300
Oct 19, 2024
7
CUTLER, DOULGAS
CUTLER MANAGEMENT CORP MANAGEMENT
Individual DANIA, FL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
8
JAMES, AMABEL
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
9
NUNNELLY, MARK
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual DOVER, MA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
10
ROBY, DAVID M.
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual LYME, NH
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 40 nodes and 38 connections

Total contributions: $180,775

Top Donors - Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

Showing top 24 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC4 Orgs19 Individuals