,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #beaf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bf1 #bjbc,mr4   
,casey 7= himself & ,mr4 ,scott (       
,florida7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on 
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
e/abli% ! ,vet]ans ,advisory ,committee 
on ,equal ,access1 & = o!r purposes4    
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,vet]ans ,accessibility ,act ( #bjbc4 
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7
 ,m ?an "o-qu>t] ( vet]ans 9 ! ,unit$   
,/ates h a s]vice-connect$ disability4  
7#b7 ,common disabilities among vet]ans 
include traumatic bra9 injury1 he>+     
loss1 bl9dness or vision loss1 & sp9al  
cord injuries & disord]s4  7#c7 ,m ?an  
#fj1jjj1jjj adults 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates h a
 disability1 includ+ vet]ans1 employees 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & p  
:o might seek in=mation f ! ,dep>tm5t = 
a vet]an4  7#d7 ,!re 7 #abe1gfc vet]ans 
employ$ at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs1 includ+ #gj1bji vet]ans ) a   

disability1 9 fiscal ye> #bjbj1 accord+ 
to ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel ,managem5t4     
7#e7 ,!re are project$ to be at lea/    
#hj1jjj1jjj p age #fe or old] 9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates by #bjdj1 twice ! numb] ?an 9   
#bjjj4 ,old] adults exp]i5ce high] rates
 ( disability ?an y\ng] adults4  7#f7 ,m
 ?an #df p]c5t ( vet]ans 9 ! ,unit$     
,/ates are #fe ye>s old or old]4  7#g7  
,physical1 electronic1 in=mation1 &     
communications te*nology mu/ be         
accessible to ensure equal access to    
in=mation & s]vices at ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs4 ,su* accessibility w 
gr[ 9 importance z ! population ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates ages & develops           
disabilities & new te*nologies are      
deploy$4  7#h7 ,congress has requir$    
accessibility ( daily life by pass+ laws
 su* z ! ,am]icans ) ,disabilities ,act 
( #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 
sections #eja1 #ejd1 & #ejh ( !         
,rehabilitation ,act ( #aigc 7#bi       
,u4,s4,c4 #gia1 #gid1 & #gid;d71 ! ,pla9
 ,writ+ ,act ( #bjaj 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 #cja 

note71 ! ,ar*itectural ,b>ri]s ,act (   
#aifh 7,public ,law #ij-dhj71 & ! #ba/  
,c5tury ,integrat$ ,digital ,exp]i5ce   
,act 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja note74  7#i7  
,rec5t ov]sight conduct$ by ! ,special  
,committee on ,ag+ ( ! ,s5ate f\nd t !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs has n     
consi/5tly made its electronic in=mation
 te*nology accessible = p )             
disabilities1 despite a requirem5t to d 
s "u section #ejh ( ! ,rehabilitation   
,act ( #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74    
7#aj7 ,to ensure ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t is  
meet+ ! ne$s ( vet]ans & employees )    
disabilities1 z well z an ag+ public1   
,congress mu/ create me*anisms to assess
 & ga!r in=mation on ,f$]al compliance )
 provisions ( law relat+ to             
accessibility = p ) disabilities4  #c4  
,vet]ans ,advisory ,committee on ,equal 
,access  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al 
,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !   
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all e/abli% )9 !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs an        

advisory committee on matt]s relat+ to  
accessibility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs = individuals ) disabilities4  
7#b7 ,designation ,! advisory committee 
e/abli%$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all be kn[n z
 ! ,vet]ans ,advisory ,committee on     
,equal ,access 79 ?is section !         
,advisory ,committee74  7b7 ,memb]%ip   
7#a7 ,composition ,! ,advisory          
,committee %all be compos$ (-- 7,a7 #ae 
vot+ memb]s appo9t$ pursuant to p>agraph
 7#b72 &  7,b7 f\r nonvot+ ex-(ficio    
memb]s appo9t$ pursuant to p>agraph     
7#c74  7#b7 ,vot+ memb]s ,! ,advisory   
,committee %all be compos$ ( #ae vot+   
memb]s1 appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs4 ,9 appo9t+ su*       
memb]s1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure !       
foll[+3 7,a7 ,f\r are vet]ans )         
disabilities1 includ+ at lea/ "o vet]an 
:o is also employ$ 9 ! competitive      
s]vice 7z def9$ 9 section #bajb ( title 
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code7 or "u ,s*$ule  
,a ( ! except$ s]vice 7z def9$ 9 section
 #bajc ( su* title7 9 ! ,vet]ans ,heal? 

,adm9i/ration1 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits      
,adm9i/ration1 or ! ,national ,cemet]y  
,adm9i/ration1 :o r\t9ely receive       
b5efits f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs or use s]vices provid$ by !    
,dep>tm5t1 includ+-- 7i7 "o vet]an ) a  
mobility impairm5t2  7ii7 "o vet]an ) a 
he>+ disability2  7iii7 "o vet]an ) a   
visual disability2 &  7iv7 "o vet]an ) a
 m5tal or cognitive disability4  7,b7   
,f\r are recogniz$ au?orities 9         
disability access & ,f$]al disability   
discrim9ation law compliance relat+ to  
physical & electronic accessibility1    
includ+ ! provisions ( law set =? "u    
subsection 7f77#a77;,b74 ,^! memb]s %all
 be select$ f-- 7i7 academic            
in/itutions2  7ii7 law firms or legal   
practices t specialize 9 ,f$]al         
disability discrim9ation law2 or  7iii7 
organizations t advocate = individuals )
 physical1 s5sory1 m5tal1 or cognitive  
disabilities1 reg>dless ( vet]an /atus4 
7,c7 ,two are employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t1  
"o f ! ,section #ejh ,(fice & "o f !    

,ar*itectural ,accessibility ,program1  
:o ov]see ! compliance ( ! ,dep>tm5t )  
,f$]al accessibility laws4  7,d7 ,five  
are repres5tatives nom9at$ by national  
vet]ans s]vice organizations t advocate 
= vet]ans ) physical1 s5sory1 m5tal1 or 
cognitive disabilities4  7#c7 ,nonvot+  
memb]s ,! ,advisory ,committee %all also
 include f\r nonvot+ ex-(ficio memb]s1  
or _! repres5tatives1 :o directly "w on 
access b>ri]s = p ) disabilities1       
includ+-- 7,a7 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal?2
  7,b7 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits2  7,c7
 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,memorial ,affairs2 &
  7,d7 ! *airp]son ( ! ,ar*itectural &  
,transportation ,b>ri]s ,compliance     
,bo>d 7kn[n z ! ,access ,bo>d74  7#d7   
,date ,! appo9tm5ts ( ! memb]s ( !      
,advisory ,committee %all be made n lat]
 ?an #ij days aft] ! ,advisory          
,committee is e/abli%$4  7c7 ,t]ms2     
vacancies  7#a7 ,t]ms ,a memb] ( !      
,advisory ,committee %all be appo9t$ = a
 t]m ( two ye>s4 ,! ,secret>y may       
reappo9t memb]s to ! ,advisory          

,committee = su* additional two-ye> t]ms
 z ! ,secret>y consid]s appropriate4    
7#b7 ,vacancies ,n lat] ?an #cj days    
aft] receiv+ notice ( a vacancy 9 !     
,committee1 ! ,secret>y %all fill !     
vacancy 9 ! same mann] z ! orig9al      
appo9tm5t4  7d7 ,meet+s  7#a7 ,initial  
meet+ ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !       
,secret>y has appo9t$ all memb]s1 !     
,advisory ,committee %all hold ! fir/   
meet+ ( ! ,advisory ,committee4  7#b7   
,frequ5cy ,! ,advisory ,committee %all  
meet at ! call ( ! ,*airp]son1 & %all   
meet at lea/ once e #f mon?s4  7#c7     
,subcommittees ,! ,advisory ,committee  
may =m subcommittees1 :i* %all meet z   
(t5 z requir$4  7#d7 ,quorum ,a majority
 ( ! memb]s ( ! ,advisory ,committee    
%all con/itute a quorum4  7e7 ,*airp]son
 ,memb]s ( ! ,advisory ,committee %all  
select a ,*airp]son f among ! memb]s ( !
 ,advisory ,committee4 ,if ! position ( 
,*airp]son becomes vacant1 ! memb]s ( ! 
,advisory ,committee %all select a new  
,*airp]son n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !   

date on :i* ! position became vacant4   
7f7 ,duties  7#a7 ,requirem5t to consult
 & seek advice ,on a regul> basis1 !    
,secret>y %all consult ) & seek ! advice
 ( ! ,advisory ,committee-- 7,a7 on     
improv+ ! accessibility ( ! ,dep>tm5t = 
individuals ) disabilities1 includ+     
improv+-- 7i7 ! accessibility (         
in=mation ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+        
electronic in=mation2  7ii7 !           
accessibility ( ! s]vices & b5efits     
furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t2  7iii7 !        
accessibility ( ! build+s1 facilities1 &
 /ructures ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7iv7 !       
accessibility ( facilities ( heal? c>e  
provid]s furni%+ c>e or s]vices "u !    
,vet]ans ,community ,c>e ,program "u    
section #agjc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code2 &  7v7 ! acquisition process ( !
 ,dep>tm5t to ensure t products &       
s]vices1 includ+ in=mation te*nology &  
in=mation & communication te*nology 7z  
def9$ 9 ! /&>ds issu$ by ! ,ar*itectural
 & ,transportation ,b>ri]s ,compliance  
,bo>d pursuant to section #ejh ( !      

,rehabilitation ,act ( #aigc 7#bi       
,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d771 are accessible :5   
pur*as$2 &  7,b7 = ensur+ ! compliance (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ) provisions ( law relat+  
to disability & accessibility1 includ+--
 7i7 ! ,am]icans ) ,disabilities ,act ( 
#aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq472   
7ii7 sections #eja1 #ejd1 & #ejh ( !    
,rehabilitation ,act ( #aigc 7#bi       
,u4,s4,c4 #gia1 #gid1 & #gid;d72  7iii7 
! ,pla9 ,writ+ ,act ( #bjaj 7#e         
,u4,s4,c4 #cja note72  7iv7 ! #ba/      
,c5tury ,integrat$ ,digital ,exp]i5ce   
,act 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja note72  7v7 ! 
,ar*itectural ,b>ri]s ,act ( #aifh      
7,public ,law #ij-dhj72 &  7vi7 su* o!r 
provisions ( ,f$]al law z may be t      
ensure equal access to ,f$]al build+s1  
b5efits1 or s]vices = individuals )     
disabilities4  7#b7 ,provision ( advice 
,9 provid+ advice to ! ,secret>y1 !     
,advisory ,committee %all1 focus+ on !  
areas ( greate/ ne$ = ! ,dep>tm5t-- 7,a7
 assess ! disability access ne$s (      
vet]ans1 ! public1 & ,dep>tm5t employees

 = full access to ! ,dep>tm5t's         
in=mation1 s]vices1 & b5efits by review+
 relevant in=mation1 su* z fil$         
compla9ts by p ) disabilities & physical
 assessm5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t's build+s1    
facilities1 & /ructures2  7,b7 provide  
an ongo+ assessm5t ( accessibility at ! 
,dep>tm5t & ! compliance ( ! ,dep>tm5t )
 applicable provisions ( law relat+ to  
disability & accessibility2 &  7,c7     
provide on-go+ advice on improv+        
accessibility at ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+ ! 
accessibility ( all-- 7i7               
communications1 int]nal & public fac+2  
7ii7 s]vices2 &  7iii7 build+s1         
facilities1 & /ructures4  7#c7 ,reports 
7,a7 ,reports to ! ,secret>y ,n lat] ?an
 #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( ! fir/ meet+ ( 
! ,advisory ,committee1 & n less        
frequ5tly ?an once e #ah mon?s !reaft]1 
! ,advisory ,committee %all submit to ! 
,secret>y a report t1 focus+ on areas ( 
greate/ ne$ = ! ,dep>tm5t-- 7i7         
id5tifies & assesses access b>ri]s      
affect+ vet]ans1 ! public1 & ,f$]al     

work]s2  7ii7 det]m9es ! ext5t to :i* ! 
programs & activities ( ! dep>tm5t      
address ! b>ri]s id5tifi$ 9 clause 7i71 
includ+ compliance ( ! ,dep>tm5t )      
provisions ( law relat+ to accessibility
 law & report+2  7iii7 provides         
recomm5dations & access priorities to   
improve ! accessibility ( ! ,dep>tm5t's 
s]vices1 in=mation1 te*nology1 &        
build+s1 facilities1 & /ructures2  7iv7 
provides a description ( access         
improvem5ts & assesses ! ,dep>tm5t's    
foll[-?r\gh ) recomm5dations f previ\s  
reports ( ! ,advisory ,committee1       
includ+ any unmet recomm5dations t rema9
 necess>y = improv+ accessibility = !   
,dep>tm5t2  7v7 provides any            
recomm5dations = legislation1           
adm9i/rative action1 or o!r actions t ! 
,advisory ,committee consid]s           
appropriate2 &  7vi7 c>ries out su* o!r 
activities t are necess>y to make !     
assessm5ts & recomm5dations ref]r$ to 9 
subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,reports to       
,congress & ,f$]al ag5cies  7i7 ,9 g5]al

 ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] receiv+ a    
report "u subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,secret>y 
%all submit to ! appropriate committees 
( ,congress1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al1 !      
,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &     
,budget1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,g5]al      
,s]vices ,adm9i/ration1 & ! ,inspector  
,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 a copy ( ! report1 along ) su* comm5ts 
or recomm5dations conc]n+ ! report z !  
,secret>y consid]s appropriate4  7ii7   
,availability to ! public ,n lat] ?an "o
 day aft] submitt+ a report pursuant to 
clause 7i71 ! ,secret>y %all make       
available to ! public on an accessible  
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t su* report & su*  
comm5ts & recomm5dations z may h be5    
submitt$ along ) su* report4  7iii7     
,def9ition ( appropriate committees (   
,congress ,9 ?is subp>agraph1 ! t]m     
appropriate committees ( ,congress      
means-- 7,i7 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'  
,affairs1 ! ,special ,committee on ,ag+1
 & ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( !  
,s5ate2 &  7,,ii7 ! ,committee on       

,vet]ans' ,affairs & ! ,committee on    
,appropriations ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives4  7g7 ,advisory         
,committee p]sonnel & res\rce matt]s    
7#a7 ,comp5sation ( memb]s ,a memb] ( ! 
,commission :o is n an (fic] or employee
 ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t %all n be         
comp5sat$ = ! p]=mance ( ! duties ( !   
,advisory ,committee4  7#b7 ,travel     
exp5ses ,a memb] ( ! ,advisory          
,committee %all be all[$ travel exp5ses1
 includ+ p] diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 at 
rates au?oriz$ = employees ( ag5cies "u 
sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :ile away f _!     
homes or regul> places ( bus9ess 9 !    
p]=mance ( s]vices = ! ,commission4     
7#c7 ,res\rces ,! ,secret>y %all ensure 
t su* p]sonnel1 fund+1 & o!r res\rces   
are made available to ! ,advisory       
,committee z ! ,secret>y consid]s       
appropriate to c>ry out ! duties ( !    
,advisory ,committee4  7#d7 ,in=mation  
,! ,secret>y %all furni% to ! ,advisory 
,committee su* in=mation z ! ,advisory  

,committee may reque/ f ! ,secret>y1    
subject to applicable provisions ( law4 
7h7 ,t]m9ation ( ,advisory ,committee ,!
 ,advisory ,committee %all t]m9ate on ! 
date t is #aj ye>s aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4