[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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