[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S847-S853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 BIENNIAL REPORT ON AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT PUBLIC SERVICES AND 
               ACCOMMODATIONS INSPECTIONS--116TH CONGRESS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Biennial

[[Page S848]]

Report on Americans with Disabilities Act Public Services and 
Accommodations Inspections--116th Congress, from the Office of 
Congressional Workplace Rights, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Office of the 
           General Counsel,
                                    Washington, DC, Mar. 21, 2023.
     Re: Biennial Report on Americans with Disabilities Act Public 
         Services and Accommodations Inspections--116th Congress

     Hon. Patty Murray,
     Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
     Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam President and Mr. Speaker: Enclosed is our 
     Report on the Americans with Disabilities Act Public Services 
     and Accommodations Inspections conducted during the 116th 
     Congress. As provided in section 210(f)(1) of the 
     Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), 2 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 133l(f)(l), at least once each Congress the General 
     Counsel of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights is 
     required to inspect the facilities of covered entities in the 
     legislative branch for compliance with the public services 
     and accommodations provisions of the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act of 1990. On the basis of each periodic 
     inspection, the General Counsel must prepare and submit a 
     report containing the results of the inspection. 2 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 1331(f)(2).
       While our inspections reveal a significant number of 
     barriers to access in facilities on and around Capitol Hill, 
     we have observed substantial progress being made towards 
     improved accessibility. I believe this progress is the result 
     of both our cooperative working relationship with the Office 
     of Architect of the Capitol and other employing offices, and 
     our focus on educating the legislative branch community 
     regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
       We look forward to continuing this work in the current and 
     future Congresses.
           Very truly yours,
                                                   John D. Uelmen,
                                                  General Counsel.

Biennial Report on Americans with Disabilities Act Public Services and 
    Accommodations Inspections--Accessibility Report 116th Congress

                   Statement From the General Counsel

       Under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), 
     as amended, during each Congress, the Office of the General 
     Counsel (OGC) of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights 
     (OCWR) is required to inspect the facilities covered entities 
     in the legislative branch for compliance with the public 
     services and accommodations provisions of the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
       The reports that we issue and make public at least once 
     each Congress summarize the detailed reports we provide to 
     legislative branch offices throughout the inspection period. 
     During our ADA inspections, we work with offices to identify 
     barriers to access by comparing existing conditions with the 
     2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (the most recent 
     standards). When we find a condition that is not in 
     compliance with the 2010 Standards, we make a finding 
     identifying the condition as a barrier to access and report 
     it as such. Not all barriers to access are necessarily 
     violations of the ADA. In some cases, the condition be in 
     compliance with the 1991 Standards, but not the 2010 
     Standards, making the condition ``safe harbored'' until the 
     area is renovated or altered. In other cases, there may be 
     technical feasibility or historicity issues that render 
     compliance with the standard extremely difficult or even 
     impossible. In those cases, we work with the Architecht of 
     the Capitol (AOC) and other employing offices to find other 
     ways to address the accessibility issues. While not all 
     barriers to access are necessarily violations of the ADA, we 
     believe it is important to identify all barriers to access so 
     that these issues can be addressed when planning future 
     projects.
       During the 116th Congress, we inspected House Member 
     Offices to ensure access for constituents and other visitors 
     with disabilities. We also focused on the Office of Attending 
     Physician's health units, located in numerous facilities 
     around the Hill. Access to the health units can be critical 
     for disabled visitors, and our inspections revealed 
     opportunities to make them more accessible.
       Another important area of focus during the 116th Congress 
     was the United States Capitol Police (USCP) Headquarters 
     detention center. It is especially critical to ensure access 
     here since disability rights groups engage in regular 
     protests on the Hill. We hope that our inspections here will 
     result in increased accessibility of the detention center.
       For the first time, during the 116th Congress, we looked at 
     the accessibility of exhibits and display areas. Popular with 
     visitors, these are located throughout the Capitol campus, 
     and are especially concentrated in the Library of Congress. 
     This review was unique for us: though these areas are covered 
     by the ADA, for many aspects of them, no enforceable 
     accessibility standards exist. We used guidelines developed 
     by the Smithsonian Institution to inform our review. We noted 
     many accessibility successes, including programming designed 
     for visitors with disabilities. We also observed 
     opportunities for these facilities to better help disabled 
     visitors enjoy their experiences.
       The 116th Congress saw the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
     Even with this challenge, we were able to carry out ADA 
     inspections and continue to make substantial progress in 
     improving accessibility on the Capitol Hill campus. The most 
     recent report from the AOC, which is attached to this report, 
     indicates that 64% of the findings from the 115th Congress 
     have been closed, planned engineering solutions are being 
     developed for 21% of the findings, and solutions are planned 
     but not yet completed for the remaining 15%. We once again 
     thank the AOC and the other employing offices for working 
     with us to develop and implement solutions to the barriers 
     that have been identified.

                                               John D. Uelmen,

                                                  General Counsel,
                         Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

                              Introduction


                     OCWR OGC ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM

       Under Section 210 of the CAA, the OGC enforces the public 
     services and accommodations provisions found in Titles II and 
     III of the ADA. These provisions mandate that public services 
     and accommodations, including the facilities where these 
     services are provided, be accessible to individuals with 
     disabilities.
       The OGC has found that educating the legislative branch 
     community about the accessibility requirements of the ADA is 
     one of the most effective ways to improve access. From live 
     training to video content to the office's Fast Facts 
     publications series, we provide a range of resources to help 
     employing offices learn about their obligations under the 
     ADA. Our goal is to empower employing offices with the 
     information they need to make their spaces accessible to 
     individuals with disabilities. We conduct our biennial 
     inspections of legislative branch facilities and grounds on 
     the Hill with that goal in mind.
       Our inspections help offices identify areas where 
     improvement is needed and consider suggestions to improve 
     accessibility. We also use the inspection results to develop 
     educational resources for use by the offices to improve 
     access. Since the inception of our inspection program, we 
     have seen tremendous progress in improved accessibility of 
     the Capitol complex facilities.
       This report highlights some of the most significant areas 
     of improvement on the Hill and summarizes the results of our 
     116th Congress ADA inspections.


                   ADA BARRIER-REMOVAL SURVEY PROCESS

       Since the 111th Congress, the OGC has utilized a barrier 
     removal survey approach to document accessibility barriers 
     during inspections. This involves: 1) identifying barriers to 
     access, as measured against the 2010 ADA Standards for 
     Accessible Design (Standards); 2) assessing the severity of 
     each barrier to quantify the need for removal; and 3) 
     evaluating potential solutions to the barriers based upon 
     cost and need.
       To maximize resources, each biennial inspection focuses on 
     specific facilities or grounds. Within each facility, we 
     focus on the areas that are open to visiting members of the 
     public, such as entrances/exits, restrooms, elevators, and 
     interior routes.
        During the ll6th Congress, the OGC continued its 
     contractual relationship with Evan Terry Associates, P.C. to 
     utilize its ADA survey software to implement the barrier-
     removal survey approach on the Capitol Hill campus. 
     Individual barriers are assigned a severity code of either A, 
     B, C, or D. These codes signify how much the barrier deviates 
     from the 2010 Standards and the relative impact of this 
     deviation on individuals with disabilities.
       ADA Barrier Severity Codes:
       A. Safety Consideration.
       B. Blocks Access.
       C. Major Inconvenience.
       D. Minor Inconvenience.
       Consistent with how ADA surveys are usually conducted for 
     private corporations and government entities, the OGC does 
     not record D-coded severities in its surveys because the 
     deviation at issue in these barriers has little impact upon 
     accessibility. Consequently, the cost to correct the 
     deviation usually far exceeds any benefit that would result 
     from correcting the deviation.
       In addition to the standard severity codes A-D, barriers 
     may be assigned a severity code of G, which means that the 
     element in question did not meet the requirements of the 2010 
     Standards but did meet the requirements of the 1991 
     Standards, which, in some cases, are less strict. Under the 
     ADA, G-coded barriers do not need to be corrected unless the 
     element in question has been altered or replaced since the 
     2010 Standards became enforceable. If the element has not 
     been altered or replaced, it qualifies for the ``safe 
     harbor'' exception, and the responsible party does not need 
     to take further action until it alters or replaces the 
     element. The OGC still notifies employing offices of G-coded 
     barriers identified in their facilities so that these offices 
     can better plan for alterations and replacements.

                                Results


                   116th CONGRESS INSPECTION RESULTS

       During the 116th Congress, the OGC inspected more than 10 
     facilities on Capitol Hill, with a focus on health units in 
     the House and Senate Office Buildings, the Library of 
     Congress, and the U.S. Capitol

[[Page S849]]

     Building; Member offices in the House Office Buildings; the 
     USCP Headquarters' detention center; and exhibit and display 
     areas in the buildings of the Library of Congress, the U.S. 
     Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center, the Botanic Garden, and 
     the House and Senate Office Buildings.
       Within these facilities, we identified 163 barriers to 
     access, plus the barriers identified in the exhibit and 
     display areas. During this inspection, the Rayburn House 
     Office Building had the highest number of barriers (41), 
     followed by the USCP Headquarters (24), and the Library of 
     Congress Madison Building (22).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of     Percentage of
                Facility                     Barriers          Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rayburn House Office Building...........             41*           25.15
United States Capitol Police                          24           14.72
 Headquarters...........................
Library of Congress Madison Building....              22           13.50
Longworth House Office Building.........             19*           11.66
Hart Senate Office Building**...........              17           10.43
Ford House Office Building..............              13            7.98
Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. House Office                    9            5.52
 Building...............................
United States Capitol Building..........               8            4.91
Cannon House Office Building............              7*            4.29
Russell Senate Office Building**........               3            1.84
                                         -------------------------------
    Grand Total.........................             163          100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers
** Senate Member office and Senate Committee Room inspections were
  postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore did not occur
  during the 116th Congress.

                           BARRIER CATEGORIES

       For identification purposes, we categorize the barriers 
     into barrier types, which generally reflect the particular 
     type of object found to be inaccessible or the area in the 
     facility where we identified the barrier, such as in a 
     restroom or an elevator lobby. In the 116th Congress, the 
     most commonly identified barrier category was Single-User 
     Restrooms. Over one-third of the total barriers (58 out of 
     163) were identified in this category. We identified 14 
     barriers, 9% of the total, in the Multi-User Restrooms 
     category, meaning barriers found in restrooms accounted for 
     nearly half of all the barriers found during the 116th 
     Congress.
       Restrooms have historically been an area in which our 
     inspections identify a significant percentage of barriers. 
     During the 115th Congress, 47% of the barriers we identified 
     were in restrooms (45% in multi-user restrooms, and 2% in 
     single-user restrooms). The 114th Congress inspections found 
     41% of barriers in multi-user restrooms and 0.05% in single-
     user restrooms. It is therefore not surprising that restrooms 
     were again by far the most common location of findings. The 
     prevalence of barriers found in single-use over multi-user 
     restrooms during the 116th Congress inspections reflects the 
     type of facilities on which these inspections focused: the 
     health units all had single-user restrooms.
       After single-user restrooms, the category with the next 
     highest number of barriers was Interior Route, with 43 
     barriers identified (27% of the total). The Interior Route 
     category includes barriers related to the path of travel 
     being too narrow for a wheelchair user or insufficient knee 
     and toe clearance at a table.


                        WHOLE FACILITY BARRIERS

       The Doors and Storage categories each include three ``whole 
     facility'' barriers. The ``whole facility'' designation is 
     used when an issue is repeatedly identified across a 
     substantial number of offices or locations in a single 
     facility. Whole facility barriers are generally architectural 
     in nature, such as doors into Member offices that do not meet 
     ADA standards, and are issues that will need to be addressed 
     as a whole by AOC or the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
       During the 116th Congress, we designated a non-
     architectural barrier as a whole facility barrier. Portions 
     of literature racks in House Member offices were outside of 
     accessible reach ranges. The literature racks, like other 
     furniture, are supplied to the offices by the CAO. Since the 
     issue is not within the control of the offices and must be 
     addressed by the CAO, we used the whole facility barrier 
     designation.
       In contrast, a barrier that is within the control of the 
     office itself--like a candy dish out of reach range--would be 
     reported individually, even if present across a large number 
     of offices.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of     Percentage of
            Barrier Category                 Barriers          Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single-User Restrooms...................              58           35.58
Interior Route..........................              47           28.83
Doors...................................             *21           12.88
Multi-User Restrooms....................              14            8.59
Storage.................................              *8            4.91
Exam Rooms..............................               4            2.45
Sinks...................................               3            1.84
Telephone...............................               2            1.23
Ramps...................................               2            1.23
Alarms..................................               1            0.61
Business & Mercantile...................               1            0.61
Judicial/Correctional Facilities........               1            0.61
Signage.................................               1            0.61
                                         -------------------------------
    Grand Total.........................             163          100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers

                               Locations


                 HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS: MEMBER OFFICES

       During the 116th Congress, we surveyed Member offices in 
     the House Office Buildings. (We also surveyed these 
     buildings' health units, detailed in the ``Health Units'' 
     section beginning on page 15.) We identified a total of 50 
     barriers in Member offices in the House Office Buildings: 28 
     were identified in Rayburn, 17 in Longworth, and 5 in Cannon.
       For the Member offices, many of the barriers stem from 
     furniture, furniture layout, and self-service items and are 
     typically not structural in nature. This means that many 
     Member office barriers can be resolved easily, quickly, and 
     sometimes, at no cost. For example, some Member offices have 
     chairs or tables in the waiting area that obstruct the path 
     of travel for a person using a wheelchair. These types of 
     issues can be fixed by moving the furniture as needed. Other 
     offices have brochures and other self-service items that are 
     positioned too high or too low for someone in a wheelchair to 
     access. These issues can be fixed by moving the items to an 
     appropriate height. Staff in the Member offices can implement 
     these solutions.
       The OCWR has easy-to-understand ADA resources, including a 
     short ADA inspection tutorial video and a tip sheet on 
     improving office accessibility, to help Member offices 
     configure their office spaces in accordance with the ADA 
     Standards and address common, easy-to-fix issues. Offices may 
     access these resources on our website at ocwr.gov.
       In addition to the less-complicated barriers that are 
     typical for Member offices, there are some structural issues 
     in the Member offices in Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon. 
     These include doors that are too narrow for someone in a 
     wheelchair to pass through or doors that close too quickly or 
     require too much force to open. These barriers generally 
     affect entire facilities and potentially implicate the 
     historic fabric of the buildings, which will have to be 
     considered when developing a solution acceptable to both the 
     AOC and the OGC.
     Rayburn
       In Rayburn, we found 28 barriers in Member offices. 
     Barriers were identified in the categories Interior Route, 
     Doors, and Storage. Interior Route barriers include barriers 
     that inhibit maneuvering from one place in an office to the 
     next, such as having a narrow or obstructed pathway from the 
     office reception area into the designated meeting space. If a 
     pathway is too narrow or obstructed by office furniture, a 
     person in a wheelchair may not be able to proceed into the 
     meeting area.
       Three of the barriers identified in Rayburn are actually 
     whole facility barriers, present in many offices throughout 
     Rayburn. Two of Rayburn's whole facility barriers concerned 
     doors. These were assigned because double doors did not have 
     at least one leaf that provides enough clear width, and 
     because many doors required too much force to open and closed 
     too quickly.
       The second whole facility barrier in Rayburn is in the 
     Storage category. The barrier concerned office literature and 
     magazine racks that were positioned outside of the required 
     reach range, such that someone in a wheelchair or other 
     mobility device may not be able to reach them.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Member offices in Rayburn 
     and describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       We found 13 barriers in Rayburn's health unit (see the 
     Rayburn chart on page 17), bringing the total number of 
     barriers we identified in Rayburn to 41.
       Interior Route (25):
       Not enough knee and/or toe clearance at conference/meeting 
     tables: 17.
       Carpet is not securely attached and/or exposed edges of 
     carpet are not fastened to the floor: 6.
       Candy jar requires two hands or tight grasping/pinching/
     twisting to operate: 1.
       Path for wheelchairs through reception area is too narrow: 
     1.
       Doors (2*):
       Office doors close too quickly: Whole facility.
       Doors are too narrow: Whole facility.
       Storage (1*): Literature in magazine rack is outside of 
     reach range: Whole facility.
       Grand Total (28*):
       *Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers.
     Longworth
       In Longworth, we found 17 barriers in Member offices. 
     Barriers were identified in the categories Interior Route, 
     Doors, and Storage.
       One of the interior route barriers identified most in 
     Longworth concerns meeting tables and carpets. Six meeting 
     tables in Longworth lacked adequate knee and/or toe 
     clearance.
       Two of the barriers identified in Longworth are whole 
     facility barriers. The first is in the Doors category. Many 
     office reception areas had desks or other nonpermanent 
     obstructions blocking a doorway's required maneuvering 
     clearance, making those doors difficult to open from a 
     wheelchair. This issue could be addressed by rearranging 
     furniture in these offices.
       The second whole facility barrier in Longworth is in the 
     Storage category. The barrier concerned office literature and 
     magazine racks that were positioned outside of the required 
     reach range, such that someone in a wheelchair or other 
     mobility device may not be able to reach them.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Member offices in Longworth 
     and describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       We found 2 barriers in Longworth's health unit (see the 
     Longworth chart on page 18) for a total of 19 barriers 
     identified in Longworth.
       Interior Route (15):
       Not enough knee and/or toe clearance at conference/meeting 
     tables: 6.
       Carpet is not securely attached and/or exposed edges of 
     carpet are not fastened to the floor: 5.

[[Page S850]]

       Clear floor space at literature rack is obstructed by 
     furniture: 3.
       Path for wheelchairs through reception area is too narrow: 
     1.
       Doors (1*): Maneuvering clearance at door is obstructed by 
     furniture: Whole facility.
       Storage (1*): Literature in magazine rack is outside of 
     reach range: Whole facility.
       Grand Total (17*)
       *Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers.
     Cannon
       In Cannon, we found 5 barriers in Member offices. Barriers 
     were identified in the categories Interior Route and Storage.
       The Storage category barrier was a whole facility barrier, 
     present in many offices throughout Cannon. The barrier 
     concerned office literature and magazine racks that were 
     positioned outside of the required reach range, such that 
     someone in a wheelchair or other mobility device may not be 
     able to reach them.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Member offices in Cannon 
     and describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       We found 2 barriers in Cannon's health unit (see the Cannon 
     chart on page 18) for a total of 7 barriers in Cannon.
       Interior Route (4):
       Clear floor space at literature rack is obstructed by 
     furniture: 2
       Not enough knee and/or toe clearance at conference/meeting 
     tables: 1
       Carpet is not securely attached and/or exposed edges of 
     carpet are not fastened to the floor: 1
       Storage: (1*): Literature in magazine rack is outside of 
     reach range: Whole facility
       Grand Total: (5*).
       * Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers(:).
       Grand total: (5*).
       * Includes one or more ``whole facility'' barriers.


                              HEALTH UNITS

       Established by congressional resolution in 1928 to meet the 
     medical needs of Members of Congress, the Office of Attending 
     Physician (OAP) has expanded its services over the years and 
     now provides emergency care to staff and visitors at health 
     units throughout the Capitol campus.
       In addition to providing medical clinic services, many of 
     the OAP's health units contain private areas with cots and 
     sinks that can be used for lactation, resting, or meeting 
     other personal health needs. These spaces thus make it 
     easier--or, sometimes, possible--for people with disabilities 
     or health concerns to visit the Capitol campus.
       The chart that follows lists the to a-1 umber of barriers 
     we identified in each health unit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of     Percentage of
                Facility                     Barriers          Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library of Congress Madison Building....              22           24.72
Hart Senate Office Building.............              17           19.10
Rayburn House Office Building...........              13           14.61
Ford House Office Building..............              13           14.61
Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. House Office                    9           10.11
 Building...............................
United States Capitol...................               8            8.99
Russell Senate Office Building..........               3            3.37
Cannon House Office Building............               2            2.25
Longworth House Office Building.........               2           2.251
                                         -------------------------------
    Grand Total.........................              89          100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified across all health units.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of     Percentage of
            Barrier Category                 Barriers          Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single-User Restrooms...................              52           58.43
Doors...................................              18           20.22
Storage.................................               5            5.62
Exam Roooms.............................               4            4.49
Sinks...................................               3            3.37
Interior Route..........................               3            3.37
Telephone...............................               2            2.25
Alarms..................................               1            1.12
    Signage.............................               1            1.12
                                         -------------------------------
    Grand Total.........................              89          100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  HEALTH UNITS: HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS

     Rayburn
       We found 13 barriers in Rayburn's health unit. Most (10) 
     were found in the restroom, which presents a number of 
     barriers for people with physical disabilities, including a 
     mirror that is mounted too high for many users to see 
     themselves and a coat hook and light switch mounted above 
     acceptable reach ranges. These barriers can make it difficult 
     for wheelchair users, people of short stature, or those with 
     difficulty reaching to use this restroom. Additionally, this 
     restroom lacks a visual alarm signal. Deaf or hard of hearing 
     people using this restroom may not be alerted if the 
     building's fire alarm goes off.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Rayburn's health unit and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Single-user restrooms (10):
       Mirror is mounted too high: 1.
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Light switch is outside of reach range: 1.
       No visual fire alarm in restroom: 1.
       Not enough knee and/or toe clearance at sink: 1.
       Maneuvering clearance at doorway is less than required: 1.
       No directional signage to nearest accessible restroom: 1.
       No International Symbol of Accessibility at accessible 
     restroom: 1.
       Raised character and braille room sign is not provided at 
     restroom: 1.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       DOORS (2): Door hardware requires tight grasping, pinching, 
     or twisting to operate: 2.
       Storage (1): Literature in magazine rack is outside of 
     reach range: 1.
       Grand total (13).
     Longworth
       We found 2 barriers in Longworth's health unit. One barrier 
     concerned the unit's front door, which has a power-assisted 
     door that can be opened by pressing an actuator button, but 
     the door opener is not connected to a standby power source. 
     The other barrier was a door handle that requires tight 
     grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate, 
     which could prevent anyone with impaired manual dexterity or 
     strength from opening it.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in i Longworth's health unit 
     and describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Doors (2):
       Automatic or power-assisted door does not have standby 
     power: 1.
       Door hardware requires tight grasping, pinching, or 
     twisting to operate: 1.
       Grand Total (2).
     Cannon
       We found 2 barriers in Cannon's health unit. Both barriers 
     concerned the restroom.
       The restroom lacked a sign with raised lettering and 
     braille designating it. Blind or visually impaired people may 
     have difficulty identifying this restroom as a result.
       The restroom lacked adequate clear floor space at the 
     toilet, which is needed by wheelchair users to transfer to 
     the toilet. The restroom itself does have room to provide 
     sufficient clear floor space, but the space was obstructed by 
     a coat rack and a laundry bin.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Cannon's health unit and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Single-user restrooms (2):
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Clear floor space at toilet is obstructed by furniture: 1.
       Grand total (2).
     Ford
       We found 13 barriers in Ford's health unit. Seven were 
     identified in the single-user restroom, including grab bars 
     located in incorrect positions. Throughout this health unit, 
     door hardware requires tight grasping and twisting to 
     operate.
       The barrier concerning improper positioning of a toilet 
     paper dispenser is ``safe harbored'' because the condition 
     complies with the 1991 Standards, but not the 2010 Standards, 
     and the element in question has not been altered or replaced 
     since the 2010 Standards became enforceable.
       Ford is the only House Office Building that does not 
     contain Member offices. Its health unit was the only part of 
     the facility we inspected during the 116th Congress. We 
     inspected other public spaces in Ford during the 115th 
     Congress.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Ford and describes the 
     specific types of barriers within each category.
       Single-User Restrooms (7):
       Door hardware requires tight grasping, pinching, or 
     twisting to operate: 1.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       Side wall grab bar is in incorrect location: 1.
       No visual fire alarm in restroom: 1.
       Clear floor space at toilet is obstructed by furniture: 1.
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Rear grab bar is in incorrect location: 1.
       Doors (5):
       Door hardware requires tight grasping, pinching, or 
     twisting to operate: 3.
       Door maneuvering clearance is obstructed by furniture: 2.
       Interior Route (1): Not enough knee and/or toe clearance at 
     meeting table: 1.
       Grand Total (13).


                 HEALTH UNITS: SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS

       During the 116th Congress, we inspected the health units 
     located in the Hart and Russell Senate Office Buildings. 
     There is no health unit located in the Dirksen Senate Office 
     Building. We have inspected other public spaces of these 
     buildings during previous Congresses and did not reinspect 
     those areas during the 116th Congress. Senate Member office 
     inspections were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
     therefore did not occur during the 116th Congress.
     Hart
       We found 17 barriers in the health unit in the Hart Office 
     Building, 14 of which were located in the restroom. Most 
     barriers in this restroom present challenges to physically 
     disabled users, including a doorway without the required 
     clearance for a wheelchair user to readily open the door, a 
     door lock too high for many to reach, and a grab bar 
     obstructed by a wall-mounted sharps box. People with 
     disabilities affecting their hearing or vision could 
     encounter barriers in this restroom as well: the room's alarm 
     lacks a visual component, and the room is not identified with 
     tactile signage (raised lettering and braille).

[[Page S851]]

       The other barriers are in the categories of Exam Rooms and 
     Doors. The barriers in the Exam Rooms category were located 
     in a room designated as a resting room. They pertain to a 
     coat hook located too high for most wheelchair users to reach 
     and a light switch that requires twisting with a tight grasp, 
     which can be inaccessible for someone whose disability 
     impairs the use of their hands.
       Two of the barriers we found in Hart are ``safe harbored'' 
     because the condition complies with the 1991 Standards, but 
     not the 2010 Standards, and the element in question has not 
     been altered or replaced since the 2010 Standards became 
     enforceable. These are the barriers concerning inadequate 
     clear floor space at a toilet and a coat hook outside of 
     reach range.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Hart's health unit and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Single-User Restrooms (14):
       Grab bar obstructed by wall-mounted accessory: 1.
       Seat cover dispenser clear floor space obstructed by 
     toilet: 1.
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Trash can requires foot operation: 1.
       Door lock is outside of reach range: 1.
       No visual fire alarm in restroom: 1.
       Maneuvering clearance at doorway is less than required: 1.
       Flush control is not on open side of toilet: 1.
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Rear grab bar is not long enough: 1.
       Soap dispenser is outside of reach range: 1.
       Toilet seat is too high: 1.
       Not enough clear floor space at toilet: 1.
       Pipes are not insulated: 1.
       Exam Rooms (2):
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Trash can requires foot operation: 1.
       Doors (1): Door is too heavy and closes too quickly: 1.
       Grand Total (17).
     Russell
       Three barriers were found in the health unit in the Russell 
     Office Building: two related to doors, and one related to the 
     restroom.
       Both barriers in the Doors category pertain to the main 
     door into the health unit. The door is recessed into an 
     alcove in a way that makes it challenging for a wheelchair 
     user to open. The door's hardware requires tight grasping and 
     twisting to operate. Both of these barriers could be removed 
     by installing an automatic door opening device.
       Our barrier survey format lists one barrier in the 
     restroom. In fact, the barrier notes clarify that this 
     restroom does not provide any accessibility features, 
     including clear floor space for someone using a mobility 
     device, grab bars, and dispensers within required reach 
     ranges.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Russell's health unit and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Doors (2):
       Door hardware requires tight grasping, pinching, or 
     twisting to operate: 1.
       Maneuvering clearance at doorway is less than required: 1.
       Single-User Restrooms (1): Restroom is too small to comply 
     with the requirements for an accessible single-user restroom 
     (for example, clear floor space): 1.
       Grand Total (3).


       HEALTH UNITS: THOMAS P. O'NEILL, JR. HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

       Our inspection of the health unit located in the O'Neill 
     House Office Building documented nine barriers, four of which 
     were found in the restroom. During the 116th Congress, our 
     inspections in O'Neill were limited to the health unit. We 
     completed a comprehensive survey of other spaces in O'Neill 
     during our 117th Congress inspection cycle, and the results 
     of those inspections will be published in the 117th Congress 
     biennial ADA inspection report.
       The highest barrier total was found in the single-user 
     restroom. People with disabilities affecting mobility, sight, 
     and hearing could encounter barriers throughout the health 
     unit, including its restroom.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in O'Neill's health unit and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Single-User Restrooms (4):
       Mirror is mounted too high: 1.
       Door is too heavy and closes too quickly: 1.
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       Exam Rooms (2): Coat hook is outside of reach range: 2.
       Telephone (1): Existing volume control is noncompliant: 1.
       Doors (1): Maneuvering clearance at door is obstructed by 
     furniture: 1.
       Storage (1): Portions of literature rack are outside of 
     reach range: 1.
       Grand Total (9).


                   HEALTH UNITS: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

     Madison
       Our inspections for the 116th Congress identified 22 
     barriers in the Madison Building, where the health unit for 
     the Library of Congress is located. We have inspected other 
     spaces in Madison, as well as the other Library of Congress 
     buildings, Adams and Jefferson, during previous Congresses 
     and did not reinspect there during the 116th Congress.
       The most common barrier type was Single-User Restrooms, 
     with seven barriers identified in this category. Most of 
     these are barriers to people using mobility devices or with 
     other physical disabilities, such as a lack of adequate space 
     to maneuver a mobility device.
       Another common barrier type found in Madison was door 
     barriers. These each make a door difficult or impossible to 
     open from a mobility device.
       Madison's health unit contains a resting room with a sink, 
     which is used as a lactation room for visitors. This space 
     facilitates the use of the Library by a disabled person who 
     may need a resting room for any number of reasons. However, 
     barriers we identified in this room--seven in total, 
     including three pertaining to the sink--could make it 
     difficult to use.
       Some of these barriers are ``safe harbored'' because the 
     condition complies with the 1991 Standards, but not the 2010 
     Standards, and the element in question has not been altered 
     or replaced since the 2010 Standards became enforceable.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in Madison and describes the 
     specific types of barriers within each category.
       Single-user restrooms (7):
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Trash can requires foot operation: 1.
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       Not enough clear floor space at toilet: 1.
       Clear floor space at toilet is obstructed by trash can: 1.
       Pipes are not insulated: 1.
       Doors (4):
       Maneuvering clearance at door is obstructed by furniture: 
     1.
       Maneuvering clearance at doorway is less than required: 2.
       Door stop interrupts smooth surface or panel on bottom of 
     push side of door: 1.
       Sinks (3):
       Not enough clear floor space at sink: 1.
       Pipes are not insulated: 1.
       Sink rim is too high: 1.
       Storage (3):
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Portions of literature rack are outside of reach range: 2.
       Interior route (2):
       Light switch is outside of reach range: 1.
       Counter protrudes into pathway: 1.
       Telephone (1): Existing volume control is noncompliant: 1.
       Alarms (1): No visual fire alarm in resting/lactation room: 
     1.
       Signage (1): Raised letter and braille sign is not provided 
     at rooms identified visually: 1.
       Grand total (22).


              HEALTH UNITS: UNITED STATES CAPITOL BUILDING

       During the 116th Congress, we inspected the health unit 
     located in the Capitol Building. While we have performed 
     biennial ADA inspections on the exterior grounds of the 
     Capitol Building and in the Capitol Visitor Center, this was 
     the first OGC ADA inspection performed in the Capitol 
     Building.
       We identified eight barriers in the Capitol Building's 
     health unit. Seven were in the restroom. The one barrier not 
     located within the restroom was assigned to the doorway into 
     the restroom, where a sink blocked the doorway's maneuvering 
     clearance. This prevents wheelchair users from easily opening 
     a door.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in the Capitol Building and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Single-user restrooms (7):
       Sharps box is mounted outside reach range: 1.
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 1.
       Raised letter and braille sign is not provided at restroom: 
     1.
       Rear grab bar is not long enough: 1.
       Shelf is too high: 1.
       Side wall grab bar is in incorrect location: 1.
       Pipes are not insulate: 1.
       Doors (1): Maneuvering clearance at doorway is less than 
     required: 1.
       Grand total (8).


                           USCP HEADQUARTERS

       During the 116th Congress, we inspected the USCP's 
     detention center, located inside USCP Headquarters. Members 
     of the public may enter USCP Headquarters for various 
     reasons, whether they are applying for a demonstration permit 
     or have been detained by the USCP. We inspected other areas 
     in the USCP Headquarters during the 115th Congress, when we 
     inspected the first floor customer service area, and during 
     the 114th Congress, when we looked at exterior routes 
     adjacent to the building.
       Most barriers were found in the two multi-user restrooms. 
     In addition to other barriers, neither contained a toilet 
     stall wide enough for a wheelchair user to access.
       The second highest barrier total was found in the single-
     user restroom. These barriers in fact related to the toilet 
     fixture inside a detention cell. Accessibility is of unique 
     importance due to the nature of the setting: someone who is 
     detained does not have the option to try to find an 
     accessible restroom elsewhere. Among other barriers, the 
     toilet was too low to the ground and no grab bars

[[Page S852]]

     were provided, so a wheelchair user could find transferring 
     to the toilet quite difficult or, likely, impossible.
       An additional in-cell barrier was found at the bench, where 
     clear floor space for a wheelchair user was not provided.
       Some of these barriers are ``safe harbored'' because the 
     condition complies with the 1991 Standards, but not the 2010 
     Standards, and the element in question has not been altered 
     or replaced since the 2010 Standards became enforceable.
       The chart that follows lists the total number of barriers 
     in each category we identified in USCP Headquarters and 
     describes the specific types of barriers within each 
     category.
       Multi-user restrooms (14):
       Coat hook is outside of reach range: 2.
       Door threshold into restroom is too high: 2.
       Rear grab bar is in incorrect location: 1.
       Rear grab bar is missing: 1.
       Side wall grab bar is in incorrect location: 1.
       Stall door pull is provided on pull side only: 2.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       Stall door lock requires tight grasping, pinching, or 
     twisting of the wrist to operate: 2.
       Accessible stall is not deep enough: 1.
       Accessible stall is not wide enough: 1.
       Single-user restrooms (6):
       Mirror is mounted too high: 1.
       No knee/toe clearance or clear floor space at sink: 1.
       Flush control is not on open side of toilet: 1.
       No grab bars at toilet: 1.
       Toilet paper dispenser is not positioned properly: 1.
       Toilet seat is too low: 1.
       Ramps (2):
       Edge protection is not provided at ramp and ramp landing: 
     1.
       Handrail does not extend far enough beyond bottom of ramp 
     run: 1.
       Judicial/correctional facilities (1): Clear floor space at 
     detention cell bench is not wide enough: 1.
       Business and mercantile (1): Processing counter is too 
     high: 1.
       Grand total (24).

                         Spotlight on Exhibits

       While we have historically focused on physical 
     accessibility in campus facilities during our ADA biennial 
     inspections, equal access to services, programs, and 
     activities, including exhibits, offered by legislative branch 
     entities is also required by the ADA as applied by the CAA. 
     To examine this aspect of accessibility, during the 116th 
     Congress, we conducted a review of exhibits in the buildings 
     of the Library of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Building and the 
     Capitol Visitor Center, the Botanic Garden, and the House and 
     Senate Office Buildings.
       During other OCWR biennial ADA inspections, we measure 
     accessibility based on compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards 
     for Accessible Design. For many aspects of exhibits, no 
     enforceable accessibility standards exist. Though not covered 
     directly by any set of standards, exhibits are still covered 
     by ADA regulations, such as those concerning general 
     nondiscrimination; modification of policies, practices, and 
     procedures; program access; maintenance of accessible 
     features; and effective communication. Thus, because the 
     Standards do not cover many aspects of exhibits and displays 
     directly, we conducted our review based on how various 
     features might implicate ADA regulations.
       The Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Design are a 
     useful resource for determining how to provide accessible 
     exhibits and displays and informed our review of CAA-covered 
     exhibits. The guidelines were developed by the Smithsonian 
     Accessibility Program in the 1990s in response to a lack of 
     guidelines for exhibit accessibility. They are based on 
     construction standards of the Architectural Barriers Act of 
     1968, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the ADA, and were 
     developed in consultation with exhibit designers.
       We reviewed exhibits and displays in the Library of 
     Congress Jefferson, Madison, and Adams buildings; the U.S. 
     Capitol Building and the Capitol Visitor Center; the Botanic 
     Garden and Bartholdi Park; the Hart, Dirksen, and Russell 
     Senate Office Buildings; and the Cannon House Office 
     Building.
        At these facilities, visitors with disabilities will find 
     many accessibility practices already in place. For instance, 
     at the Library of Congress, visitors can enjoy twice-weekly 
     ``Touch History'' tours, a program for visitors with visual 
     impairments that utilizes a specially trained docent to 
     describe the building using vivid language. At the Capitol 
     Visitor Center, listening devices with audio description are 
     used for the orientation film and tours and are available at 
     the information desks, and an audio descriptive tour is also 
     available for download onto a personal device. The Botanic 
     Garden provides a variety of programs and features designed 
     for visitors with disabilities, including sensory programs 
     for neurodivergent visitors and raised garden beds that allow 
     visitors of varying heights and abilities to enjoy, interact 
     with, and touch the plants in Bartholdi Park.
       Our review revealed many opportunities for these facilities 
     to better help disabled visitors enjoy their experiences. 
     Models, other interactive displays, and braille should be 
     positioned within accessible reach ranges. To provide 
     accessibility for visitors with visual impairments, labels 
     and signage should use easily readable type size, avoid using 
     italics, provide adequate contrast between text and 
     background colors, and be adequately lit. In addition, labels 
     and signage are most accessible for visitors in wheelchairs 
     and those of short stature when positioned so that they can 
     be approached closely for reading, including being mounted at 
     a low height and not obstructed by seating or other objects. 
     Consistent staff training will help to ensure that disabled 
     visitors are accommodated and receive accurate information 
     about programs available to them.
       The ``Mountains and Clouds'' piece in the atrium of the 
     Hart Office Building presents an excellent opportunity for 
     enhancing accessible visitor experiences on Capitol Hill. 
     Designed by American sculptor Alexander Calder, ``Mountains 
     and Clouds'' is a monumental-scale work comprising a 51-foot 
     high, 38-ton steel mountain range; suspended aluminum clouds 
     were removed in 2014 for structural safety reasons. A small 
     tactile model could be provided so that visitors who are 
     blind or have low vision could get a sense of the proportion 
     and shape of the pieces.

                                Updates


                     PROGRESS UPDATES FROM THE AOC

       At the beginning of each year, the AOC updates the OGC on 
     its progress with removing identified barriers and improving 
     accessibility in Capitol complex facilities and grounds. The 
     AOC uses a third-party consultant to verify that 
     accessibility barriers have been remediated. Based on the 
     status of this verification process as of the AOC's January 
     2023 update (which includes updates through December 31, 
     2022), the AOC reports that barriers identified in the 111th, 
     112th, 113th, 114th, ll5th, 116th, and ll7th Congresses have 
     been verified as closed as follows:
       111th Congress: 90% closed.
       112th Congress: 97% closed.
       113th Congress: 30% closed.
       114th Congress: 64% closed.
       115th Congress: 61% closed.
       116th Congress: 6% closed.
       117th Congress: 2% closed.
       The AOC also highlights some of its recent key 
     accessibility improvements made during the 116th Congress, 
     including:
       Installation of accessible lifts to provide access to the 
     Senate Chamber dais;
       Installation of automatic door operators to increase 
     accessibility at doorways;
       Installation of additional ADA-compliant water bottle 
     filling stations, beyond ADA requirements;
       Continued improvement to Capitol campus physical 
     accessibility, such as installation and/or renovation of 
     ramps, sidewalks, and curb cuts;
       Installation of a significant number of accessibility 
     improvements during the extensive overhaul of the U.S. 
     Capitol Visitor Center's Exhibition Hall; and
       Continued improvement of internal processes to ensure 
     accessibility standards are implemented on design and 
     construction projects.
       This update from the AOC is included with this report in 
     the Appendix.


                         BARRIER REMOVAL COSTS

       While the OGC has not received cost estimates from the AOC 
     for this report, the software used for conducting the 
     inspections and developing solutions generates rough 
     estimates of the costs associated with the solutions, 
     adjusting for construction costs in the D.C. area and the 
     higher costs associated with government construction work.
       Based on these software estimates, the total cost for 
     correcting all the barriers found during the 116th Congress 
     totals approximately $4.3 million. The actual construction 
     costs for removing these barriers have not been confirmed or 
     validated by the AOC.


      LIMITED RESOURCES AND COVID-19 REDUCED SCOPE OF INSPECTIONS

       Our ADA inspection during the 116th Congress was limited by 
     several factors. Given that there are 17.4 million square 
     feet of interior space on the Capitol Hill campus and over 
     580 acres of grounds, OGC simply does not have the resources 
     to inspect more than a very small portion of the campus each 
     Congress. To maximize resources, each biennial inspection 
     focuses on specific facilities or grounds.
       In 2020, many on-site inspections were postponed due to the 
     COVID-19 pandemic, including Senate Member office 
     inspections, originally scheduled for the summer of 2020.
       Additionally, resources were diverted to produce the 
     ``House Resolution 756 Joint Report on Accessibility.'' On 
     March 10, 2020, the House of Representatives passed HR 756--
     ``Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards 
     Modernization.'' This resolution required OCWR, AOC, and the 
     Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to prepare a 
     joint report regarding the state of accessibility of the 
     Capitol buildings and grounds and a timetable, plan, costs, 
     and challenges to achieving full accessibility. To draft this 
     report, the working group reviewed data from the OCWR's 
     biennial ADA inspections and assessed the functional 
     accessibility of the House Office Buildings.


                            TRANSITION PLANS

       Although Congress has not approved the ADA regulations 
     proposed by the OCWR Board of Directors, the proposed 
     regulations follow those promulgated by the Department of 
     Justice by requiring consultation with members of the 
     disability community and the development of transition plans 
     that will determine how and when barriers will be removed and 
     facilities will otherwise be made

[[Page S853]]

     readily accessible for people with disabilities. See 28 
     C.F.R. Sec. 35.150(d).
       Our approach to ADA inspections encourages consultation 
     with the disability community and the development of thorough 
     and effective transition plans. The information we provide to 
     employing offices regarding barrier severity and estimated 
     solution costs aids the transition planning process, as 
     employing offices can utilize this information to prioritize 
     abatement projects.


 INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES OF DISCRIMINATION AND REQUESTS FOR INSPECTION

       During the 116th Congress, the OGC received four ADA 
     requests for inspection and charges of discrimination.
       Two cases concerned restroom accessibility in the Library 
     of Congress Madison Building and the Cannon House Office 
     Building. The responsible employing offices cooperated with 
     our office in the investigation and removed the barriers to 
     access.
       One case concerned a request for disability accommodation 
     made to a House Committee. The responsible employing office 
     cooperated with our office in the investigation, which did 
     not result in any findings of violations of the ADA or the 
     CAA.
       One case concerned physical accessibility in a Committee 
     hearing room in the Rayburn House Office Building. Ramps to a 
     dais were excessively sloped and posed other barriers to 
     access. The responsible employing offices fully cooperated 
     with our office and have developed a plan to remove the 
     barriers to access as part of an upcoming renovation of the 
     room. We are continuing to monitor this case.

                            Acknowledgments

       The OGC ADA inspection team during the 116th Congress was 
     comprised of Shonda Perkins, Occupational Safety and Health 
     Inspection Coordinator; Crystal Barber, Occupational Health 
     and Safety Specialist; Christopher Robinson, Senior 
     Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Mark Nester, 
     Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; James Peterson, 
     Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; and Kaylan Dunlap, 
     Accessibility Specialist with Evan Terry Associates (ETA).
       The OGC appreciates the cooperation of all legislative 
     branch offices during the inspection process. We particularly 
     appreciate the assistance and time given by the employees of 
     the AOC, the Library of Congress, the USCP, the Office of 
     House Employment Counsel, and the Office of Senate Chief 
     Counsel for Employment.
       Thanks to Beth Ziebarth, Smithsonian Institution's Deputy 
     Head Diversity Officer and Director, Access Smithsonian, for 
     providing context and history regarding the Smithsonian 
     Accessibility Program and Smithsonian Guidelines for 
     Accessible Design.
       Dynah Haubert, OGC Associate General Counsel, is the 
     primary author of this report.
       The OGC also acknowledges the invaluable assistance 
     provided by ETA. The OGC would not have been able to 
     implement the barrier removal survey approach to ADA 
     inspections without ETA's assistance and software.
                                                   John D. Ueiman,
                                                  General Counsel.

                                Appendix


                                     Architect of the Capitol,

                                 Washington, DC, January 26, 2023.
     Mr. John D. Uelmen,
     General Counsel, Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
       Dear Mr. Uelmen: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is 
     pleased to provide this annual Americans with Disabilities 
     Act (ADA) progress report for 2022 on removing the 
     accessibility barriers identified in the Office of 
     Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) biennial reports for 
     the 111th, 112th, 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th and 117th 
     Congress. This report includes data for the calendar year 
     December 31, 2022.
       The list below provides AOC's progress in correcting the 
     accessibility barriers noted:
       90 percent (189 of 209) of the 111th Congress barriers have 
     been remediated.
       97 percent (386 of 398) of the 112th Congress barriers have 
     been remediated.
       30 percent (51 of 168) of the 113th Congress barriers have 
     been remediated.
       64 percent (1,589 of 2,477) of the 114th Congress barriers 
     have been remediated.
       61 percent (676 of 1,113) of the 115th Congress barriers 
     have been remediated.
       6 percent (10 of 163) of the 116th Congress barriers have 
     been remediated.
       2 percent (6 of 259) of the 117th Congress barriers have 
     been remediated.
       The unabated barriers identified for each biennial 
     congressional report are identified following categories:
       111th Congress:
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 10 
     percent (20 of 209 barriers).
       112th Congress:
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 3 
     percent (12 of 398 barriers).
       113th Congress:
       Planned but not yet completed: 1 percent (2 of 168 
     barriers).
       Planned, engineered solutions have been developed: 68 
     percent (115 of 168 barriers).
       114th Congress:
       Planned but not yet completed: 20 percent (492 of 2,477 
     barriers).
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 16 
     percent (396 of 2,477).
       115th Congress:
       Planned but not yet completed: 15 percent (165 of 1,113 
     barriers).
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 24 
     percent (272 of 1,113 barriers).
       116th Congress:
       Planned but not yet completed: 66 percent (108 of 163 
     barriers).
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 28 
     percent (45 of 163 barriers).
       117th Congress:
       Planned but not yet completed: 78 percent (203 of 259 
     barriers).
       Planned, engineered solutions are being developed: 19 
     percent (50 of 259 barriers).
       Enclosure 1 is a detailed spreadsheet listing each 
     accessibility barrier identified by the OCWR for the 111th, 
     112th, 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th and 117th Congress and the 
     AOC's progress remediating them. This enclosure also contains 
     the verification data from our third-party consultant for 
     2022. We will continue to obtain abatement verification 
     reports and photos from our third-party consultant throughout 
     2023.
       Enclosure 2 contains a complete list of ADA accomplishments 
     completed by the AOC. Some highlights include:


                            Physical Access

       Continued improvement to the physical accessibility of the 
     Capitol campus such as installation and/or renovation of 
     handrails, ramps, thresholds, pathways, stairs, lifts, 
     signage, sidewalks and curb cuts.
       Installed accessible lifts to provide access to the Senate 
     Chamber dais.
       Installed additional ADA-compliant water bottle filling 
     stations, beyond ADA requirements.
       Installed automatic door operators to increase 
     accessibility at doorways.
       Installed ADA-complaint worksurfaces and food service 
     countertops in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.


                             Program Access

       The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center completed an extensive 
     overhaul of Exhibition Hall, which included a significant 
     number of accessibility improvements such as the 
     incorporation of braille, tactile models, touch-screen 
     interactives, captioned video content, audio guides and 
     large-print materials.
       The U.S. Botanic Garden updated and expanded accessibility 
     information on its website to enable a successful visit by 
     all individuals and added speech-to-text transcription 
     services for online educational programs.


                           Program Management

       Held accessibility coordination meetings with attendance 
     from the AOC's jurisdiction and major divisions.
       Continued to evaluate and improve internal processes to 
     ensure accessibility standards are met on design and 
     construction projects.
       Continued to work with an independent quality assurance/
     quality control inspector who confirms completed work is ADA 
     compliant.


Collaboration with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Office 
                           of General Counsel

       Continued to work cooperatively with you and OCWR staff on 
     OCWR ADA inspections, as well the existing open ADA case.
       Please contact Danezza Quintero at 202.674.0260 or me at 
     202.226.4701 if you have questions or require further 
     information.
           Sincerely,
                                           Patricia Williams, CSP,
                             Director, Safety and Code Compliance.
       Enclosures.

                          ____________________