H.R. 10443 — American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026

This section makes findings that disability is a universal human experience, that only 22.7 percent of people with disabilities were employed in 2024, and that the AbilityOne Program provided more than 41,000 jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities in fiscal year 2025. It further finds that the program serves as a domestic manufacturing base and has not been updated in over 50 years.

This section revises definitions and procedures for the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled program. It updates the term to “blind individual,” redefines direct labor to include supervisory, technical, and administrative work, adds definitions for employee professional development and participating employee, and defines individual with a significant disability to include those meeting criteria under 29 USC 705 or receiving SSDI, SSI, Medicaid, or VA disability benefits. It also permits time-limited additions to the procurement list of up to 5 years for new or emerging products and services and requires public notice of 14 days for additions and 7 days for removals.