Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1) Disability is a universal human experience that may be acquired by anyone at any time. (2) People who are blind or have significant disabilities are more likely to face barriers to employment and unemployment, as only 22.7 percent of people with a disability were employed in 2024. (3) The AbilityOne Program is a key Federal mechanism with the purpose of increasing meaningful employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities by leveraging the Federal Government’s priority procurement of certain products and services. (4) In fiscal year 2025, the AbilityOne Program provided more than 41,000 private sector jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities with employment, demonstrating the value and capability of Americans with disabilities in fulfilling critical government missions. (5) The AbilityOne Program serves as a critical domestic manufacturing base and trusted source of high quality, mission-essential products and services for Federal agencies. (6) The AbilityOne Program provides a return on investment to the American taxpayer by supporting people with disabilities to pursue meaningful employment, quality training and skills-development, and financial independence. (7) The statutory framework of the AbilityOne Program has not changed in over 50 years, and updates within procurement and disability policy necessitate revisions to ensure continued alignment.