[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 194 (Monday, November 16, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5744-H5745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY ACT OF 2019
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 3587) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct
a study on the accessibility of websites of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3587
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 ``Department of Veterans
Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON 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 conduct a study of all websites 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 to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on such study.
[[Page H5745]]
(c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (b) shall
include the following:
(1) A list of each website 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 identified in the list under paragraph
(1)--
(A) the plan of the Secretary to bring the website into
compliance with the requirements of section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d); and
(B) a description of the barriers to bringing the website
into compliance with the requirements of such section,
including any barriers relating to vacant positions at the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(d) Website Defined.--In this section, the term ``website''
includes the following:
(1) A file attached to a website.
(2) A web-based application.
(3) A kiosk at a medical facility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the use of which is required to check in
for scheduled appointments.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Luria) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous materials to S. 3587.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 3587 will require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to conduct a study on the accessibility of VA websites to our veterans
and VA employees with disabilities and to ensure that these websites
comply with the accessibility standards established by section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Section 508 ensures that disabled Americans have equal access to
electronic and information technology. As it stands today, the VA has
not brought all of its online services into compliance with this
existing law. This bill forces the VA to take a closer look at all of
its websites and electronic services, identify the ones that are not
legally compliant, and develop a correctional plan to make those
services functional for the disabled. This will be particularly helpful
to our blind veterans.
According to a 2018 study conducted by the Veterans Health
Administration, our country has an estimated 131,500 legally blind
veterans, though that number is projected to grow in the coming
decades. Because these individuals depend on screen readers and
magnification software when using websites, apps, kiosks, and
telehealth tools, it is imperative that all VA programs be compatible
with accessible communications technologies. That way, every veteran
has equal access to the essential information and services that the
Department provides.
{time} 1700
Mr. Speaker, not only will this legislation better assist veterans
seeking care and benefits from the VA, it will also assist the
Department's own disabled employees. Far too often, the VA utilizes
inaccessible PDF formats when conducting internal operations, hindering
its own employees who rely on screen readers in their work and in their
service to our veterans. This legislation will identify and improve
these barriers for services to the public.
Last year, I met with a group of blinded veterans, and they explained
the structure of the VA websites and how it makes it difficult for them
to learn about treatments and schedule doctor appointments. To remedy
this problem, I introduced the House companion to this bill, H.R. 1199,
the VA Website Accessibility Act.
Blinded veterans deserve equal access to all VA services, and I am
honored to champion their cause. Our heroes should not have to wait a
day longer. Today, we can help thousands of veterans receive better
access to healthcare resources. I urge support of the VA Website
Accessibility Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3587, the Department of
Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019. This bill will
require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study of all VA
websites, apps, and electronic forms; determine which are inaccessible
to veterans with disabilities; and develop a plan to make each of them
accessible and compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973.
Although the VA has taken steps to improve the accessibility of its
website, the committee has heard concerns from Blinded Veterans of
America that ``a web page that was easily accessed one day cannot be
read or even located during the next visit to the site.'' Of course
that is unacceptable as far as I am concerned.
Moreover, 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.
Given that over 4.9 million veterans have at least one service-
connected disability, it is unacceptable that the VA's delivery of
information falls short of disabled veterans' needs. This bill will
require the VA to take systematic action to address these issues.
I applaud Senator Bob Casey and Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who does
an outstanding job on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for their
leadership on this particular bill and their efforts to ensure that all
veterans are able to access the information they need from the VA.
I will be supporting this bill today, and I urge my colleagues to
join me.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 3587.
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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