[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8130-H8132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  VA WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY ACT OF 2019

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1199) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
a study regarding the accessibility of websites of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to individuals with disabilities.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page H8131]]

  


                               H.R. 1199

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``VA Website Accessibility Act 
     of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY REGARDING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS 
                   WITH DISABILITIES.

       (a) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall examine all websites (including attached files and web-
     based applications) of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     determine whether such websites are accessible to individuals 
     with disabilities in accordance with section 508 of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d).
       (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completing the 
     study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a 
     report to Congress regarding such study. The report shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A list of each website, file, or web-based application 
     described in subsection (a) that is not accessible to 
     individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 508 
     of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d).
       (2) For each website, file, or web-based application 
     identified under paragraph (1), a description of the barriers 
     to bringing such website, file, or web-based application into 
     compliance with the requirements of such section, including 
     barriers relating to staffing.
       (3) The plan of the Secretary to bring each website, file, 
     or web-based application identified in the list under 
     paragraph (1) into compliance with the requirements of 
     section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
     794d).
       (c) Definition of Website.--In this section, the term 
     ``website'' includes a kiosk at a Department of Veterans 
     Affairs medical facility, the use of which is required to 
     check in for scheduled appointments.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. 
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 1199.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1199, the VA Website 
Accountability Act of 2019, introduced by Representative Elaine Luria, 
chair of our Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial 
Affairs. This bill directs VA to conduct a study regarding the 
accessibility of VA websites to individuals with disabilities.
  Since 1998, Federal law has required VA to make electronic and 
information technology accessible to people with disabilities. 
Unimpeded access to VA resources, including websites and mobile apps, 
is crucial because it serves as a gateway to VA services and benefits.
  However, VA has a long history of stating that it is ``working toward 
compliance,'' while failing to ensure that all of its websites are 
accessible to the blind via use of electronic readers. In fact, VA has 
had more than 20 years to comply with the law.
  Mr. Speaker, this was especially concerning last year when the 
Veteran Crisis Line was updated, and because the chat feature was no 
longer accessible for the visually impaired, it left blind veterans 
unable to access this lifesaving resource.
  Other barriers visually impaired veterans face when accessing VA 
websites include forms that are incompatible with the screen reader 
software or magnification programs; small buttons that are hidden among 
other items, making them very difficult to find; elements like checked 
boxes and buttons that are not properly labeled; and tables that cannot 
be navigated cell by cell so screen reader software and magnification 
programs cannot read them.
  Now, H.R. 1199 does not propose any changes to existing Federal law; 
instead, it requires VA to examine all of its websites to determine 
whether or not they are accessible to individuals with disabilities so 
it can comply with the law.
  H.R. 1199 also requires VA to compile a complete list of noncompliant 
websites and kiosks and submit a plan to Congress detailing how it 
plans to bring those websites into legal compliance.
  Mr. Speaker, the Blinded Veterans Association estimates there are 
currently over 130,000 legally blind veterans living in this country 
and another 1.5 million veterans with low vision. But last year, over 
42,000 of these veterans had cases open with a visual impairment 
services team coordinator at VA because they could not access websites 
and mobile apps.
  The number of visually impaired veterans is expected to grow as the 
U.S. population ages in the next 20 years. We cannot wait another 20 
years for VA to comply with the law.
  This growing population will need to access VA's websites, apps, 
medical center information kiosks, telehealth tools, disability 
benefits, and other programs and services administered by VA both now 
and for the foreseeable future.
  Since many veterans are comfortable accessing information, scheduling 
appointments, and communicating using information technology, visually 
impaired veterans want the same access to these tools that VA offers to 
other veterans.
  When concerns about the accessibility of websites, documents, and 
other equipment and media used to communicate with veterans are 
minimized or ignored, some of our Nation's most vulnerable veterans--
those with catastrophic disabilities--are left behind.
  So Mr. Speaker, when these veterans are denied access to information 
and services, they are at risk for further aggravation of their 
disabilities and, in some cases, even suicide.
  The longer we wait, the greater the risk.
  I urge all Members to support H.R. 1199, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1199, the VA Website 
Accessibility Act of 2019. This bill would require the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to examine all websites, apps, attachments, and 
electronic forms, determine which are inaccessible to veterans with 
disabilities, and develop a plan to make each of them accessible.

  Visually impaired veterans, in particular, often face barriers to 
accessing information from VA because they are directed to forms or 
pages that are incompatible with screen readers. This bill would 
require VA to take systematic action to address these issues, ensuring 
that all veterans are able to access needed VA information.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1199, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Luria), my good friend and chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, also the sponsor of H.R. 
1199 and a veteran herself.
  Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this commonsense 
and bipartisan bill to make VA websites accessible and understandable 
for all veterans.
  Our servicemembers put themselves in harm's way to protect American 
freedom. It is only right that Congress uphold our end of the promise 
by giving them the care that they earned.
  One of my top priorities in Congress is eliminating barriers 
preventing our bravest men and women from receiving quality medical 
care, as well as disability, vocational, and educational benefits.
  I met with a group of blinded veterans, and they explained that the 
structure of the VA websites makes it difficult for them to learn about 
treatments and schedule their doctor appointments. I knew I had to act.
  To remedy this problem, I introduced the VA Website Accessibility 
Act, which will require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
study of the accessibility of VA websites for veterans with 
disabilities. Upon completion of the study, the Secretary will be 
required to report to Congress on the study's results and provide a 
plan to improve these websites.
  This bill will ensure that the ailments and trauma our servicemembers 
endured during battle will not prevent them from using the resources 
that VA websites have to offer. Veterans affected by blindness or 
hearing loss have

[[Page H8132]]

sacrificed for our Nation. They deserve equal access to all VA 
services, and I am honored to champion their cause.
  Our heroes should not have to wait one day longer. Today, we can help 
thousands of veterans receive better access to healthcare resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the VA Website Accessibility Act, H.R. 
1199.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
speakers and am prepared to close. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would challenge that people who are sight impaired in 
this country have a 75 percent unemployment rate, if you look at that.
  The challenge that I do each year and what I do to myself when my 
sight-impaired constituents come to my office is I go back to my small 
apartment that I have and I put a blindfold on, and I try to get around 
and just do simple tasks of the day. And you find out how very 
difficult that is.
  I could not be more supportive of this legislation, and I thank the 
gentlewoman for bringing it up because, try on your computer when you 
can't see to get information you need to get services. You have to have 
someone there to help you.
  We have the technology available today, if it is used at the VA, so 
that these men and women who have served this country can also have the 
access that every other veteran has.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill, H.R. 1199, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared 
to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I, again, want to urge all of my colleagues to join me 
in passing H.R. 1199, Mrs. Luria's legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1199, 
the ``Directing of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study 
regarding the accessibility of websites of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to individuals with disabilities.''
  H.R. 1199 permits the Secretary of VA to use grants rather than 
federal contracts to fund cemetery research programs and produce 
educational materials as part of the Veterans Legacy Program.
  This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report 
to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including 
attatched files and web based applications) to individuals with 
disabilities.
  According to the United States Census Bureau 31,390 residents in 
Harris County, Texas are disabled veterans and this study would greatly 
benefit them.
  The report shall indentify websites, files, and applications that are 
not accessible to such individuals and include the VA's plan to make 
each of them accessible.
  There are 21.8 million veterans of the U.S. armed forces as of 2014, 
according the Census Bureau, approximately 10 percent of whom are 
women.
  The states with the highest number of veteran residents are 
California with 2 million, Texas with 1.6 million and Florida also with 
1.6 million.
  Each of these states have major military bases including Fort Hood in 
Texas, Fort Irwin in California and Naval Air Station Pensacola.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs offers health and welfare services 
to veterans but has fallen short in its task of serving the mental and 
physical needs of generations of former troops.
  The study required by this bill must be enacted no later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this bill.
  Once this study has been conducted we will be better able to assist 
veterans with disabilities in accessing the website for resources.
  It is critical for the United States Congress to ensure that veterans 
have access to the resources they need.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1199 
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study 
regarding the accessibility of websites of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to individuals with disabilities.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1199.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________