Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026. It updates the laws governing the AbilityOne Program, which helps people who are blind or have significant disabilities find meaningful employment. The legislation renames the governing committee to the Commission for the Employment of Individuals Who are Blind or Have Significant Disabilities. It sets clearer rules for the types of non-profit agencies that can participate in federal procurement. It also requires participating agencies to provide employee professional development and pay workers a rate consistent with nondisabled peers doing similar work. Finally, the bill requires federal agencies to publicly report how much they spend on products and services provided through this program.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The legislation directly enhances employment stability, career growth, and fair compensation for individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities.
- Scored +7
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill updates the AbilityOne Program to strengthen employment opportunities and protections for individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires federal entities to publicly report annual procurement spending percentages related to the AbilityOne program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 3(a)(3)(B)(iv) requires qualified non-profit agencies to pay each participating employee at a rate consistent with that paid to nondisabled peers doing the same job or similar work. This is positive because it ensures fair and equal pay for workers who are blind or have significant disabilities.
-
Section 3(a)(3)(B)(iii) requires qualified non-profit agencies to provide employee professional development for participating employees. This benefits individuals by supporting upskilling, career growth, and individualized employee plans.
-
Section 3(a) adds Section 8503(a)(2)(E), which gives purchasing priority to products produced and offered for sale by qualified nonprofit agencies for blind individuals. This directly supports the employment mission for blind individuals within the federal procurement system.
-
Section 3(c) and Section 8504(c) require federal entities that procured products or services from the procurement list to make publicly available an annual report detailing the percentage of funds obligated for those purchases. This ensures transparency and holds elected officials and government agencies accountable for supporting employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Section 3(a) adds Section 8503(a)(3)(B)(ii), which requires an entity to employ participating employees for at least 51 percent of the hours of direct labor performed under the chapter during the fiscal year. This could place a heavy administrative or operational burden on non-profit agencies that struggle to maintain these exact staffing thresholds due to fluctuating workforce numbers.
-
Section 3(a) adds Section 8503(a)(4), which mandates that if an agency head determines a qualified nonprofit agency has unsatisfactorily provided a product or service, they must document that unsatisfactory performance in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System. This could negatively impact a non-profit agency's reputation and threaten its ability to secure future federal contracts.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The legislation directly enhances employment stability, career growth, and fair compensation for individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill mandates fair and equal pay consistent with nondisabled peers and supports professional development for participating employees with significant disabilities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill updates the AbilityOne Program to strengthen employment opportunities and protections for individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires federal entities to publicly report annual procurement spending percentages related to the AbilityOne program.
- 10/19/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/16/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Mark AmodeiRepublican · Nevada
Mike EzellRepublican · Mississippi
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Pete SessionsRepublican · Texas
Suhas SubramanyamDemocrat · Virginia
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin
James WalkinshawDemocrat · Virginia