Va Website Accessibility Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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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: 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.

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Mr. TAKANO. 1199.

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 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.

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Mr. TAKANO. 1199 and a veteran herself.

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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.

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