Bill Summary
The "Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019" requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the accessibility of all websites within the Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals with disabilities. The study must be completed within 180 days of the enactment of this Act and a report must be submitted to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs within 90 days of completion. The report must include a list of websites that are not in compliance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which sets accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities), a plan to bring these websites into compliance, and a description of any barriers to compliance. The term "website" includes files attached to a website, web-based applications, and kiosks at medical facilities used for checking in for appointments.
Possible Impacts
1. Individuals with disabilities may face barriers when trying to access websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs, potentially limiting their ability to obtain important information or services. This could lead to frustration and difficulty in navigating the system.
2. The study mandated by this Act could reveal a lack of compliance with accessibility requirements, resulting in the need for significant changes and updates to the websites. This could be costly and time-consuming for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
3. The report required by this Act could bring attention to the issue of vacant positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs and how they may be contributing to the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing websites. This could potentially lead to increased hiring efforts and a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3587 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.3587
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty
An Act
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the
accessibility of websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs
Website Accessibility Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study of
all websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine whether
such websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities in
accordance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794d).
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completing the study
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives a report on such study.
(c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (b) shall include
the following:
(1) A list of each website described in subsection (a) that is
not accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with
section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d).
(2) For each website identified in the list under paragraph
(1)--
(A) the plan of the Secretary to bring the website into
compliance with the requirements of section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d); and
(B) a description of the barriers to bringing the website
into compliance with the requirements of such section,
including any barriers relating to vacant positions at the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(d) Website Defined.--In this section, the term ``website''
includes the following:
(1) A file attached to a website.
(2) A web-based application.
(3) A kiosk at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, the use of which is required to check in for scheduled
appointments.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.