[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.
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