WASHINGTON — Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, has co-sponsored a bill to help Congress better understand the barriers for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

The bipartisan effort follows testimony before a House subcommittee earlier this year.

In January, Cody Clark, a small business owner, magician and motivational speaker from Louisville, testified before a House small business subcommittee about the obstacles facing entrepreneurs and employees with disabilities.

“In spite of being diagnosed with autism at 15 months young, and my parents being warned by doctors I’d never walk, talk or hold down any sort of job, I do all three every day,” Clark said.

Some programs, Clark said, are geared more toward helping workers over entrepreneurs.

“Cody Clark came up from Louisville, did an amazing job testifying in front of the committee, but talked realistically about some of the struggles he’s had, the barriers he’s had to overcome, and why we need to do more,” McGarvey said this week. “We need to make sure that everybody has the ability to become an entrepreneur.”

McGarvey, the subcommittee’s top Democrat, is co-sponsoring legislation to take a deeper look.

It would require the Small Business Administration to report to Congress on the issue within six months.

The bill would direct the agency to assess the challenges and needs of entrepreneurs with a disability, describe the SBA’s resources to support them, and provide recommendations for legislative action.

In a statement, Clark said the legislation would help increase the employment rate of people with disabilities.

“It makes a big step in that direction of making sure that we’re looking out for all entrepreneurs out there,” said McGarvey. “I think it’s a great bipartisan bill in a session where, quite frankly, we’re not seeing enough of them.”

The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., has passed out of committee.

McGarvey said he expects it to come up for its next vote when House members return next week.