,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #beaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bf1 #bjbc,mr4 ,casey 7for himself and ,mr4 ,scott of ,florida7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,veterans ,advisory ,committee on ,equal ,access1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans ,accessibility ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,more than one-quarter of veterans in the ,united ,states have a service-connected disability4 7#b7 ,common disabilities among veterans include traumatic brain injury1 hearing loss1 blindness or vision loss1 and spinal cord injuries and disorders4 7#c7 ,more than #fj1jjj1jjj adults in the ,united ,states have a disability1 including veterans1 employees of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and people who might seek information from the ,department for a veteran4 7#d7 ,there were #abe1gfc veterans employed at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 including #gj1bji veterans with a disability1 in fiscal year #bjbj1 according to the ,office of ,personnel ,management4 7#e7 ,there are projected to be at least #hj1jjj1jjj people age #fe or older in the ,united ,states by #bjdj1 twice the number than in #bjjj4 ,older adults experience higher rates of disability than younger adults4 7#f7 ,more than #df percent of veterans in the ,united ,states are #fe years old or older4 7#g7 ,physical1 electronic1 information1 and communications technology must be accessible to ensure equal access to information and services at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,such accessibility will grow in importance as the population of the ,united ,states ages and develops disabilities and new technologies are deployed4 7#h7 ,congress has required accessibility of daily life by passing laws such as the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 sections #eja1 #ejd1 and #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gia1 #gid1 and #gid;d71 the ,plain ,writing ,act of #bjaj 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 #cja note71 the ,architectural ,barriers ,act of #aifh 7,public ,law #ij-dhj71 and the #bast ,century ,integrated ,digital ,experience ,act 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja note74 7#i7 ,recent oversight conducted by the ,special ,committee on ,aging of the ,senate found that the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs has not consistently made its electronic information technology accessible for people with disabilities1 despite a requirement to do so under section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74 7#aj7 ,to ensure the ,federal ,government is meeting the needs of veterans and employees with disabilities1 as well as an aging public1 ,congress must create mechanisms to assess and gather information on ,federal compliance with provisions of law relating to accessibility for people with disabilities4 #c4 ,veterans ,advisory ,committee on ,equal ,access 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall establish within the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs an advisory committee on matters relating to accessibility of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs for individuals with disabilities4 7#b7 ,designation ,the advisory committee established by paragraph 7#a7 shall be known as the ,veterans ,advisory ,committee on ,equal ,access 7in this section the ,advisory ,committee74 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,composition ,the ,advisory ,committee shall be composed of-- 7,a7 #ae voting members appointed pursuant to paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 four nonvoting ex-officio members appointed pursuant to paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,voting members ,the ,advisory ,committee shall be composed of #ae voting members1 appointed by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,in appointing such members1 the ,secretary shall ensure the following3 7,a7 ,four are veterans with disabilities1 including at least one veteran who is also employed in the competitive service 7as defined in section #bajb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code7 or under ,schedule ,a of the excepted service 7as defined in section #bajc of such title7 in the ,veterans ,health ,administration1 the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration1 or the ,national ,cemetery ,administration1 who routinely receive benefits from the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs or use services provided by the ,department1 including-- 7i7 one veteran with a mobility impairment2 7ii7 one veteran with a hearing disability2 7iii7 one veteran with a visual disability2 and 7iv7 one veteran with a mental or cognitive disability4 7,b7 ,four are recognized authorities in disability access and ,federal disability discrimination law compliance relating to physical and electronic accessibility1 including the provisions of law set forth under subsection 7f77#a77;,b74 ,these members shall be selected from-- 7i7 academic institutions2 7ii7 law firms or legal practices that specialize in ,federal disability discrimination law2 or 7iii7 organizations that advocate for individuals with physical1 sensory1 mental1 or cognitive disabilities1 regardless of veteran status4 7,c7 ,two are employees of the ,department1 one from the ,section #ejh ,office and one from the ,architectural ,accessibility ,program1 who oversee the compliance of the ,department with ,federal accessibility laws4 7,d7 ,five are representatives nominated by national veterans service organizations that advocate for veterans with physical1 sensory1 mental1 or cognitive disabilities4 7#c7 ,nonvoting members ,the ,advisory ,committee shall also include four nonvoting ex-officio members1 or their representatives1 who directly work on access barriers for people with disabilities1 including-- 7,a7 the ,under ,secretary for ,health2 7,b7 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits2 7,c7 the ,under ,secretary for ,memorial ,affairs2 and 7,d7 the chairperson of the ,architectural and ,transportation ,barriers ,compliance ,board 7known as the ,access ,board74 7#d7 ,date ,the appointments of the members of the ,advisory ,committee shall be made not later than #ij days after the ,advisory ,committee is established4 7c7 ,terms2 vacancies 7#a7 ,terms ,a member of the ,advisory ,committee shall be appointed for a term of two years4 ,the ,secretary may reappoint members to the ,advisory ,committee for such additional two-year terms as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7#b7 ,vacancies ,not later than #cj days after receiving notice of a vacancy in the ,committee1 the ,secretary shall fill the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment4 7d7 ,meetings 7#a7 ,initial meeting ,not later than #cj days after the ,secretary has appointed all members1 the ,advisory ,committee shall hold the first meeting of the ,advisory ,committee4 7#b7 ,frequency ,the ,advisory ,committee shall meet at the call of the ,chairperson1 and shall meet at least once every #f months4 7#c7 ,subcommittees ,the ,advisory ,committee may form subcommittees1 which shall meet as often as required4 7#d7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of the ,advisory ,committee shall constitute a quorum4 7e7 ,chairperson ,members of the ,advisory ,committee shall select a ,chairperson from among the members of the ,advisory ,committee4 ,if the position of ,chairperson becomes vacant1 the members of the ,advisory ,committee shall select a new ,chairperson not later than #cj days after the date on which the position became vacant4 7f7 ,duties 7#a7 ,requirement to consult and seek advice ,on a regular basis1 the ,secretary shall consult with and seek the advice of the ,advisory ,committee-- 7,a7 on improving the accessibility of the ,department for individuals with disabilities1 including improving-- 7i7 the accessibility of information of the ,department1 including electronic information2 7ii7 the accessibility of the services and benefits furnished by the ,department2 7iii7 the accessibility of the buildings1 facilities1 and structures of the ,department2 7iv7 the accessibility of facilities of health care providers furnishing care or services under the ,veterans ,community ,care ,program under section #agjc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7v7 the acquisition process of the ,department to ensure that products and services1 including information technology and information and communication technology 7as defined in the standards issued by the ,architectural and ,transportation ,barriers ,compliance ,board pursuant to section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d771 are accessible when purchased2 and 7,b7 for ensuring the compliance of the ,department with provisions of law relating to disability and accessibility1 including-- 7i7 the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq472 7ii7 sections #eja1 #ejd1 and #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gia1 #gid1 and #gid;d72 7iii7 the ,plain ,writing ,act of #bjaj 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 #cja note72 7iv7 the #bast ,century ,integrated ,digital ,experience ,act 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja note72 7v7 the ,architectural ,barriers ,act of #aifh 7,public ,law #ij-dhj72 and 7vi7 such other provisions of ,federal law as may be that ensure equal access to ,federal buildings1 benefits1 or services for individuals with disabilities4 7#b7 ,provision of advice ,in providing advice to the ,secretary1 the ,advisory ,committee shall1 focusing on the areas of greatest need for the ,department-- 7,a7 assess the disability access needs of veterans1 the public1 and ,department employees for full access to the ,department's information1 services1 and benefits by reviewing relevant information1 such as filed complaints by people with disabilities and physical assessments of the ,department's buildings1 facilities1 and structures2 7,b7 provide an ongoing assessment of accessibility at the ,department and the compliance of the ,department with applicable provisions of law relating to disability and accessibility2 and 7,c7 provide on-going advice on improving accessibility at the ,department1 including the accessibility of all-- 7i7 communications1 internal and public facing2 7ii7 services2 and 7iii7 buildings1 facilities1 and structures4 7#c7 ,reports 7,a7 ,reports to the ,secretary ,not later than #ah months after the date of the first meeting of the ,advisory ,committee1 and not less frequently than once every #ah months thereafter1 the ,advisory ,committee shall submit to the ,secretary a report that1 focusing on areas of greatest need for the ,department-- 7i7 identifies and assesses access barriers affecting veterans1 the public1 and ,federal workers2 7ii7 determines the extent to which the programs and activities of the department address the barriers identified in clause 7i71 including compliance of the ,department with provisions of law relating to accessibility law and reporting2 7iii7 provides recommendations and access priorities to improve the accessibility of the ,department's services1 information1 technology1 and buildings1 facilities1 and structures2 7iv7 provides a description of access improvements and assesses the ,department's follow-through with recommendations from previous reports of the ,advisory ,committee1 including any unmet recommendations that remain necessary for improving accessibility for the ,department2 7v7 provides any recommendations for legislation1 administrative action1 or other actions that the ,advisory ,committee considers appropriate2 and 7vi7 carries out such other activities that are necessary to make the assessments and recommendations referred to in subsection 7a74 7,b7 ,reports to ,congress and ,federal agencies 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after receiving a report under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress1 the ,attorney ,general1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 the ,administrator of the ,general ,services ,administration1 and the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs a copy of the report1 along with such comments or recommendations concerning the report as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7ii7 ,availability to the public ,not later than one day after submitting a report pursuant to clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall make available to the public on an accessible website of the ,department such report and such comments and recommendations as may have been submitted along with such report4 7iii7 ,definition of appropriate committees of ,congress ,in this subparagraph1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,i7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 the ,special ,committee on ,aging1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,,ii7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7g7 ,advisory ,committee personnel and resource matters 7#a7 ,compensation of members ,a member of the ,commission who is not an officer or employee of the ,federal ,government shall not be compensated for the performance of the duties of the ,advisory ,committee4 7#b7 ,travel expenses ,a member of the ,advisory ,committee shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the ,commission4 7#c7 ,resources ,the ,secretary shall ensure that such personnel1 funding1 and other resources are made available to the ,advisory ,committee as the ,secretary considers appropriate to carry out the duties of the ,advisory ,committee4 7#d7 ,information ,the ,secretary shall furnish to the ,advisory ,committee such information as the ,advisory ,committee may request from the ,secretary1 subject to applicable provisions of law4 7h7 ,termination of ,advisory ,committee ,the ,advisory ,committee shall terminate on the date that is #aj years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4