[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H5763-H5765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CANDIDATES FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 235) expressing the sense of the 
Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to 
demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when 
driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 235

       Whereas many people in the United States who are blind or 
     otherwise visually impaired have the ability to travel 
     throughout their communities without assistance;
       Whereas visually impaired individuals encounter hazards 
     that a pedestrian with average vision could easily avoid, 
     many of which involve crossing streets and roadways;
       Whereas the white cane and guide dog should be generally 
     recognized as aids to mobility for visually impaired 
     individuals;
       Whereas many States do not require candidates for driver's 
     licenses to associate the use of the white cane or guide dog 
     with potentially visually impaired individuals; and
       Whereas visually impaired individuals have had their white 
     canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles, have been 
     struck by the side-view mirrors of motor vehicles, and have 
     suffered serious personal injury and death as the result of 
     being hit by motor vehicles: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of the Congress that each 
     State should require any candidate for a driver's license in 
     such State to demonstrate, as a condition of obtaining a 
     driver's license, an ability to associate the use of the 
     white cane and guide dog with visually impaired individuals 
     and to exercise

[[Page H5764]]

     greatly increased caution when driving in proximity to a 
     potentially visually impaired individual.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 235.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 235 expresses the sense of Congress that 
States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate 
an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the 
proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.
  Each year too many visually impaired individuals have their white 
canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles or are struck by the 
side-view mirrors of motor vehicles. Others suffer serious personal 
injury and death as a result of being hit by cars.
  Unfortunately, many States do not require candidates for driver's 
licenses to demonstrate the ability to associate the use of the white 
cane or guide dog with potentially visually impaired individuals. With 
a little education by the States and some extra attention paid by 
drivers, we can greatly improve the safety along our surface streets 
for those individuals who are visually impaired.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the sponsor of this resolution, our 
colleague Lane Evans, who will be leaving the Congress at the end of 
the year. Representative Evans has always been a champion of our 
Nation's veterans, and this resolution has the strong support of 
veterans groups and other organizations. Representative Evans has long 
had a record of distinguished public service, and our thoughts are with 
him at this difficult time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 235.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
235.
  House Concurrent Resolution 235 expresses the sense of Congress that 
States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate 
an ability to exercise greater increased caution when driving in the 
proximity of visually impaired individuals.
  More than 1 million individuals are blind in the United States. Even 
more are visually impaired. Many of these individuals are veterans. 
These individuals face many obstacles in their daily lives and travel. 
The white cane and the guide dogs have become means to gain greater 
independence and mobility. The white canes have become one of the 
symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on their own.
  Unfortunately, many States do not require candidates for driver's 
licenses to associate the use of white canes or guide dogs with 
potentially visually impaired individuals. Many drivers are not aware 
of the white cane as a symbol of a visually impaired or blind 
individual. And, tragically, hundreds of visually impaired individuals 
have had their white canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles 
and have suffered serious personal injury and death as a result of 
being hit by cars.
  If our Nation's visually impaired are to maintain their independence, 
it is important that drivers understand and respect State white cane 
laws. With a little education by States and some extra attention paid 
by drivers, we can greatly improve safety along our streets for those 
individuals who are visually impaired. H. Con. Res. 235 will make 
pedestrian travel a little safer for visually impaired individuals 
using mobility aids.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) 
for introducing this legislation. Mr. Evans has been a friend and 
mentor to me during my 10 years of serving on the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee.
  I urge my colleagues to give this resolution their full support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our 
distinguished colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin, 
Chairman Petri, for yielding me this time.
  I would like to thank Congressman Lane Evans for his leadership on 
this matter. Congressman Evans and I serve together on the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee, and he is a tireless advocate for all veterans. I 
also want to thank Chairman Petri for his leadership and support of the 
legislation.
  H. Con. Res. 235 proposes that all States require that candidates for 
driver's licenses demonstrate the knowledge to use increased caution 
when driving in the vicinity of what may be a visually impaired 
individual.
  As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I appreciate all the 
hard work the Blinded Veterans Association has done to support this 
legislation. The Blinded Veterans Association has received hundreds of 
letters and e-mails concerning individuals who have had their white 
canes hit or have been hit themselves in crosswalks by drivers who are 
unaware of what a white cane or guide dog indicated.
  As an optometrist, I know firsthand that many people with visual 
impairments live normal, independent lives. They too should be able to 
travel without fear. Unfortunately, many States do not require people 
who are applying for driver's licenses to indicate awareness in regards 
to recognition of visually impaired pedestrians. Simple education can 
greatly increase the much-needed protection for visually impaired 
fellow citizens.
  Again, I would like to thank Congressman Evans for his leadership on 
this matter, and I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent 
Resolution 235.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As you heard, this resolution has been fully supported by major 
associations for the blind, principally, the American Council for the 
Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, and the Blinded Veterans 
Association.

                              {time}  1545

  It also has the support of the American Association of Motor Vehicle 
Administrators.
  I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the House 
Transportation Committee for this resolution introduced by my good 
friend, Congressman Lane Evans. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support House Concurrent 
Resolution 235, expressing the Sense of Congress that States adopt 
procedures for driver's lioense education or I certification that 
improve driver awareness of the white cane or guide dog used by vision-
impaired pedestrians.
  There are 1.5 million visually impaired Americans, who seek to gain 
and maintain their mobility independence.
  Through the agile use of the white cane, or a guide dog, our visually 
impaired citizens move about independently in their sight-limited 
world.
  Unfortunately, America's drivers do not always recognize the white 
cane or guide dog as a warning that the user is visually impaired or 
blind. Many States do not require driver license candidates to 
associate the use of the white cane or guide dog with visually impaired 
individuals.
  The visually impaired report they have had their white canes and 
guide dogs run over by motor vehicles, have been struck by sideview 
mirrors, and have suffered serious personal injury as a result of being 
hit by cars.
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reports 
that 4,827 pedestrians were killed in 2003, and approximately 70,000 
were injured. People who are blind and visually impaired face an 
increased risk of serious personal injury and death while maneuvering 
America's streets and intersections.
  A heightened awareness by our Nation's drivers of what a white cane 
or guide dog indicates will remove a potential obstacle from the safe 
mobility of the visually impaired.
  H. Con. Res. 235 is supported by the American Association of Motor 
Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the American Council for the Blind 
(ACB), and the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA).
  H. Con. Res. 235 will help the blind find their way to the greater 
freedoms associated with safer mobility.

[[Page H5765]]

  I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and Ranking Member of 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for introducing this Concurrent 
Resolution.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 235.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the legislation introduced by my good friend from Illinois, Lane Evans.
  I have worked for years with the distinguished Ranking Member on the 
Veterans Committee and am sorry to see him leave this fine institution. 
I have been blessed to have known him and this Congress will be 
diminished without him.
  However, I am here to speak on legislation to improve driver 
awareness when driving around visually impaired persons.
  There are 1.5 million visually impaired Americans.
  The bill requests that every State in the country include information 
in the driver education material and driver license application 
manuals. Such information would instruct drivers of motor vehicles to 
approach persons with white canes or guide dogs with recognition that 
such individuals are blind and that extra caution should be exercised.
  It is common sense legislation that will help save a life.
  This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives in the 
108th Congress, but could not come to an agreement with the Senate 
before the end of the session. I hope we can agree to this legislation 
and pass it before the end of this Congress.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 235, a resolution that would require candidates for driver's 
licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise heightened caution when 
driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired person. It 
would also require these candidates to be able to relate the use of the 
white cane and guide dog with visually impaired individuals.
  Each year, dozens of visually impaired persons are involved in car 
collisions. For example, a blind person may be crossing a street 
intersection and be hit by a reckless driver. There is simply no reason 
for a driver to strike a visually impaired pedestrian. H. Con. Res 235 
will help to reduce the likelihood of this happening in the future by 
educating drivers about visually impaired persons. This resolution will 
therefore help to safeguard visually impaired individuals and make our 
streets safer.
  I strongly support H. Con. Res 235, and I urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting it.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 235.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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