Roger Williams

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sessions.) The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1804.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1634) to provide for a memorandum of understanding between the Small Business Administration and the National Council on Disability to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 1634, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act, introduced by Representatives Stauber and Simon. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their collaboration on this important legislation which aims to break down barriers and provide greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities nationwide. Far too many individuals with disabilities continue to face systematic challenges when trying to enter the workforce or start a small business. As Congress, we have a responsibility to recognize their talents and create opportunities that empower them to succeed. The bill takes a simple, practical step toward directing the SBA to work directly with the National Council on Disability, and together they will coordinate efforts to help individuals with disabilities pursue entrepreneurship, secure employment with small businesses, and overcome accessibility challenges. This will help ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to business counseling through existing SBA programs, like the Small Business Development Centers. Importantly, H.R. 1634 is a commonsense, no-cost solution that provides individuals with disabilities more opportunities to succeed on Main Street and start their own small businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1621) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to submit to Congress a report on the entrepreneurial challenges facing entrepreneurs with a disability, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1621, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2025, introduced by Representatives McGarvey and Stauber. Mr. Speaker, this legislation requires the SBA to report to Congress on the challenges facing individuals with disabilities and what resources or programs the SBA provides to assist them. The report will also include legislative recommendations to address those challenges. America is the land of opportunity, meaning that anyone can and should be able to engage in entrepreneurship without regard to whether they have a disability. This bipartisan legislation will assess the challenges that individuals with disabilities encounter when starting a small business and identify whether and how government policies may exacerbate those challenges. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives McGarvey and Stauber for their leadership on this important issue and for introducing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal family matter, I was unable to vote on H.R. 881--the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 120.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of my friend, Joshua King, of Weatherford, Texas. Joshua was a man of strong faith, a dedicated Texas patriot, and a loving family man. Spiritually and physically, he embodied what it means to be a good husband, father, and son. He was a giver who spent his time and energy making the world a better place. Throughout his battle with cancer, he stayed faithful to God and always trusted in the Lord. No matter the situation, he always managed to see the good in life and to see the good in people. He loved baseball and the Texas Rangers, the outdoors, and cherished spending time with loved ones. Josh will be remembered for his strength, his courage, selflessness, and faithfulness. He touched people he never knew he touched. My prayers are with his family, who are my dear friends, and all their friends during this difficult time. In God we trust.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Medal of Honor Day to commemorate the opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. This museum is a one-of-a-kind tribute to those who risked and, in many cases, sacrificed their lives to save their fellow soldiers and others. The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest military decoration for valor in combat by our heroes in the armed forces, symbolizing courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. Future generations must learn from history, remember those who came before us, and ensure that their stories are never forgotten. Thank you to those who have dedicated their time to telling the stories of American patriots and preserving history for all to admire. Let us continue to be inspired by the stories of our Nation's heroes and promise to strive for greatness in our daily lives. May God bless our servicemembers and their families. May God bless Texas. And may God bless the greatest country in the history of the world, the one we love and call, the United States of America. In God We Trust.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my dear friend and former colleague, Mia Love. On Sunday, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma, Mia passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones. She was a woman of faith, a patriot, an extraordinary leader, and a fighter who inspired many to do great things. Under the care of the exceptional doctors at Duke University, Mia fought alongside my wife, Patty. I am forever grateful for her enduring friendship and support throughout this journey. I also extend my deepest thanks to the caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates whose tireless work brings us closer to a future without glioblastoma. Mia's legacy of strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to others will never be forgotten and certainly not forgotten by the Williams family. My prayers are with her family as we continue to fight and find a cure for this deadly disease. In God we trust.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 804, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, led by my colleagues, Representatives Morrison, Downing, Pappas, and Bean. As we look ahead to the summer months, many Americans are eager for the warm weather and sunshine, but with that comes the reality that hurricane season is approaching. Many communities, particularly in rural America, are still working to recover from the devastating storms of last season, even as we prepare for the next. Too often, small businesses and disaster survivors in rural communities are unaware of the critical assistance the SBA provides after disasters. That assistance can be the difference between staying open or shutting down for good. Rural small businesses face unique challenges. Disaster recovery efforts must be tailored to meet the needs of rural America to ensure they have access to the full range of resources and support. The Rural Small Business Resilience Act is critical to ensuring SBA disaster assistance is tailored to the needs of rural America. As someone who spent a lifetime in business, I know that getting the correct information to the right people at the right time is key. This bill will ensure disaster survivors in rural communities are not left in the dark when they need help the most. I urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 804, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 828) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to report on the veterans interagency task force, to require the Comptroller General of the United States to report on access to credit for small business concerns owned and controlled by covered individuals, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 828, the SERV Act, led by my colleagues Representatives Davids, Alford, and Conaway. It is an honor to reflect on the tremendous contributions of our veterans who have defended our freedoms and continue serving our country once they transition back to civilian life, often on Main Street America. Our Nation's heroes are uniquely positioned to become successful businessowners because of the skills they gained in the military, which have made them natural and effective leaders. Unfortunately, veterans often face barriers when starting or growing their businesses. Chief among them are access to capital and general awareness of available resources. The SERV Act seeks to reduce those barriers by directing the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development to create an action plan to improve outreach to veterans and inform them of available resources that directly apply to their unique needs. We must work together to ensure that our veterans have access to the tools necessary to start or grow their businesses. I urge my colleagues to support our veterans and pass the SERV Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 825) to prohibit individuals convicted of defrauding the Government from receiving any assistance from the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.