[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the 
introduction of the Inclusive Home Design Act. This critical 
legislation will make more new homes accessible, or inclusive, for 
people with disabilities. I want to thank my colleagues Sam Farr, 
Madeleine Bordallo, and Jim McGovern for joining me today as original 
cosponsors of this legislation. I would also like to thank Eleanor 
Smith of Concrete Change and Beto Barrera and the staff of Access 
Living for their tireless efforts to move this legislation forward. 
This legislation is supported by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and 
many other national and local disabilities rights organizations.
  Currently, only five percent of new single-family homes and 
townhouses built with federal assistance require any design features 
that make it possible for people with mobility impairments to live in 
or even visit the homes. The remaining 95 percent are built with 
unnecessary architectural barriers.
  The Inclusive Home Design Act is based on the concept of integrating 
basic accessibility features into newly-built homes and builds on the 
movement of establishing ``visitability'' standards. Visitability is an 
affordable, sustainable, and inclusive design approach that will 
improve the availability of accessible housing for individuals with 
mobility impairments, including disabled veterans and seniors.
  Specifically, the legislation would require all newly-built single-
family homes and townhouses receiving federal funds to meet four 
accessibility standards:
  First, there must be at least one accessible, or ``zero step,'' 
entrance into the home.
  Second, the doorways on the main level of the home must be wide 
enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
  Three, at least one bathroom on the main floor must be wheelchair 
accessible.
  And finally, light switches and thermostats must be at a reachable 
height from a wheelchair.
  Adopting these standards for a single family home is not 
prohibitively expensive. The average added cost for homes built with 
accessibility features is between $100 and $600. Retrofitting a home, 
on the other hand, can cost several thousand dollars.
  Architects and builders would also have latitude in how they comply 
with the act. For example, the zero step entrance can be placed at the 
front, side, or back of the home. The accessible route can even go 
through an attached garage. In addition, the zero step entrance 
requirements can be waived if the terrain makes compliance impractical.
  When homes are accessible, it benefits not only today's disability 
community but also all of us who have friends and family members with 
disabilities. Accessible homes also benefit many people who are not 
currently disabled but may experience a temporary injury or permanent 
disability during their lifetimes. In fact, 3 out of 10 people will 
face a disability before age 67.
  In addition, by making more new homes accessible, we also make it 
possible for more seniors to age at home--an issue that is increasingly 
important as the population grows older. In 2000, there were 30.5 
million people between 65-84 years old; that number will grow to 47 
million by 2020. 58 percent of people over the age of 80 suffer from 
some kind of physical impairment. Often, the prohibitive cost of making 
existing homes accessible deprives seniors of their independence and 
pushes them into nursing homes. Allowing more people to age at home 
will both save taxpayers money and help improve the quality of life for 
our seniors.
  Many towns and states have already incorporated visitability 
standards. This list includes Chicago, Naperville, Bolingbrook, and 
Urbana, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Iowa City, Iowa; St. Petersburg, 
Florida; Pima County, Arizona; Vermont; Texas; Kansas; Minnesota; and 
others. The United Kingdom also passed a law in March 1998 mandating 
that every new home become accessible. A federal law in the United 
States will build on the momentum that has already been created.
  Passage of the Inclusive Home Design Act would mean that all homes 
built with federal dollars would be accessible, and the number of homes 
available for people with disabilities would be greatly increased. I am 
looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation, 
the Inclusive Home Design Act, into law.

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