U.S. Representative Mike Carey said on April 27 that his NO BOSS Act passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives, following floor consideration and remarks delivered that day. The bipartisan legislation aims to expand access to a federal program supporting unemployed workers who want to start their own businesses, according to an April 27 post on X.
The topic is significant as it addresses barriers faced by unemployed individuals seeking self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. The bill seeks to make it easier for more people to participate in the Self-Employment Assistance Program.
“Moments ago, my NO BOSS Act passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives. Watch my remarks on the Floor to learn more about how this bill will support the creation of new American small businesses. The NO BOSS Act makes small tweaks to the Self-Employment Assistance, or SEA, Program to support unemployed workers who decide to create their own next jobs. Entrepreneurship should not be a last resort for those who are unable to find any other form of employment,” Carey said.
The NO BOSS Act increases the cap on Self-Employment Assistance Program participation from 5 percent to 10 percent of unemployment insurance claimants in each state. It also removes the requirement that participants must be likely to exhaust regular unemployment benefits before qualifying and adds submitting an approved business plan or market feasibility study as a qualifying activity, according to Carey’s office.
Small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all U.S. businesses and have created roughly two-thirds of net new jobs over the past three decades. The Self-Employment Assistance Program is currently offered in only five states and remains significantly underutilized nationwide. The reforms in the NO BOSS Act draw from successful state-level pilots to broaden access for aspiring entrepreneurs, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Carey has represented Ohio’s 15th Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2021 and serves on the Ways and Means Committee with a focus on pro-growth policies that support small businesses and American workers, according to his official biography.
