[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2075-E2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that yesterday the House 
passed S. 2432, the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. The bill, with 
its House amendments, will soon be brought before the Senate for its 
consideration and I look forward shortly to its

[[Page E2076]]

enactment and signature into law by the President.
  In June of this year, I introduced H.R. 4603, the Assistive and 
Universally Designed Technology Improvement Act for Individuals with 
Disabilities. H.R. 4603 was also introduced in the Senate as S. 2173, 
offered by my distinguished Senate colleague from Missouri, Mr. Bond. I 
am very pleased that S. 2432 incorporates a number of provisions from 
my bill, H.R. 4603.
  Mr. Speaker, my Technology Subcommittee has held two hearings, and 
two exhibitions, in this Congress on the need to promote greater access 
to technology for people with disabilities. The testimony from the 
hearings demonstrated that clear need.
  As a result of the hearings, the Technology Subcommittee was 
impressed with the need for a greater emphasis to develop assistive 
technologies. Yet, the area of assistive technology is greatly 
overlooked by the Federal Government and the private sector.
  While the importance of assistive technologies spans age and 
disability classifications, assistive technologies still do not 
maintain the recognition in the Federal Government necessary to provide 
important assistance for research and development programs or to 
individuals with disabilities. The private sector generally lacks 
adequate incentives to produce assistive technologies and end-users 
lack adequate resources to acquire assistive technology.
  It is also believed that there are insufficient links between 
federally funded assistive technology research and development programs 
and the private sector entities responsible for translating research 
and development into significant new products in the marketplace for 
end-users. Accordingly, new partnerships--involving the public and 
private sectors--must be formed to aid Americans with psychical 
disabilities improve their quality of life and provide a means for 
acquiring a job to become self-sufficient.
  The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 legislates a number of 
recommendations made in my Technology Subcommittee hearings. We heard 
of the need to promote greater interest in assistive technologies, to 
enhance investment opportunities by the Federal Government, as well as 
public and private entities, in addressing the unmet technology needs 
of individuals with disabilities, and to allow for increased methods by 
which individuals with disabilities could purchase assistive 
technologies. This bill would do just that.
  The Act builds on the success of the Technology-Related Assistance 
for Individuals with Disabilities (known commonly as the ``Tech Act'' 
or as Public Law 100-407) that we enacted back in 1988. The Tech Act 
supports all 50 States in providing for the technology needs of our 
nation's 49 million disabled citizens, focuses the Federal investment 
in technology that could benefit individuals with disabilities, and 
supports micro-loan programs to provide assistance to individuals who 
desire to purchase assistive devices or services.
  Title I of the Assistive Technology Act authorizes funding for a 
number of grant programs for five years, from fiscal years 1999 through 
2004, extending the Tech Act after its sunset this year. Under the Act, 
States will be able to continue the successful programs of technology 
assistance that has served the disabled community well for the past 
decade.
  In the 10 years since the enactment of the Tech Act, every State has 
established programs that promote assistive technologies to individuals 
with disabilities. For example, a very successful partnership has been 
established with my home state of Maryland to help people with 
disabilities access assistive technology services and devices.
  Additionally, the Assistive Technology Act will help States establish 
and strengthen systems to inform people with disabilities in 
determining their best technology options. While there has been a great 
deal of progress in the creation of new assistive technologies, 
information about these devices is difficult to find and inconsistent. 
The Act would authorize the development of a national, on-line resource 
and distance learning center for people with disabilities. The Act also 
offers an on-line website to inform the disabled community of newly 
created assistive technology devices.
  Mr. Speaker, assistive technologies are being used to increase, 
maintain, and improve the functional capabilities of individuals with 
disabilities. By encouraging the development of assistive technologies, 
we are offering people with disabilities the abilities they all seek--
the ability to successfully compete in the modern workplace and the 
ability for independence in the home. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important bill and I will work towards enactment of this worthy 
legislation.

                          ____________________