The Washington Connection is brought to you by ACB Department of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs. This edition includes contributions from Jason Perry, ACB's Summer Intern.
* Vocational Rehabilitation Act
* Telecommunications Bill
* Pedestrian Safety Legislation Update
* Louis Braille commemorative coin legislation
* Access to Newspapers for the Blind
Vocational Rehabilitation
Yesterday (June 29, 2006) the Senate finally passed the bill which will reauthorize the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, bill S1021 - the Workforce Investment Act.
This bill was introduced in the Senate over a year ago and has been held up due to conflicts related to provisions that involve faith-based initiatives. This bill is preferable to the companion house-passed bill, HR 27.
HR 27 passed the house floor back in March of 2005. This bill contains a provision which downgrades the position of RSA commissioner (that currently is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed in U.S. Senate) to that of a directorship. ACB strongly opposes this provision. In contrast, the Senate bill does not contain this language and retains the position of commissioner of RSA.
Overall the Senate bill is stronger than the House bill. A conference committee will be appointed that will determine the outcome of the final bill which will be signed into law. Our message to the conference committee will be to adopt the Senate language with regard to vocational rehabilitation.
Please stay tuned to the Washington Connection to find who the conferees will be. ** Pedestrian Safety
In April, House Concurrent Resolution 235 (HCONRES 235) made it out of committee. This bill expresses the sense of Congress that successful candidates for driver's licenses be required to demonstrate an ability to exercise increased caution when driving in the proximity of a pedestrian who uses a white cane or guide dog.
We still have work to do on the Senate side. The bill (Senate Concurrent Resolution 71) currently has only eight co-sponsors. Although this an improvement over the five it had in April, we need at least ten Senators to sign on in order for the bill to make it out of committee.
Please contact your Senator to request his or her support right away! We especially need the support of Senator Ted Stevens (R Alaska), Senator Bill Nelson (D Florida), Senator John McCain (R Arizona), and Senator Trent Lott (R Mississippi).
The Senators can be contacted through the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Legislation S2321 passed the senate floor under unanimous consent yesterday (June 29, 2006). This is a bill to authorize the issuance of a commemorative coin to honor the life and legacy of Louis Braille. The House version was passed on February 28 of this year.
Access to Newspapers for the Blind (S. 2918)
S. 2918, authorizes the Library of Congress to pay for telecommunications costs for blind and persons with other disabilities to have interstate free access to electronic editions of periodicals and newspapers through a multi-state nonprofit source. The bill was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration and Senator Durbin (D-IL) became the latest co-sponsor (June 28th, 2006).
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Day Al-Mohamed
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th St. NW
Washington DC 20005
Tel. 202-467-5081
dalmohamed@acb.org