[IL-Talk] Federal Legislation Update and Call to Action

[Dustin Cather]

Greetings everyone!

Please find below an update on our efforts on Federal Legislation that has
been introduced thus far in the 118th session of Congress.

But first, A CALL TO ACTION!

Please help our efforts by calling/writing your federal
congressional representatives and ask them to support the pieces of
legislation that have been introduced so far. We made tremendous efforts in
the 117th session of congress, and we want to continue that momentum in the
current session. Please let either Denise Avant or I know if you have any
questions regarding federal legislation.

Here is an update on the bills that have been introduced on both the house
and senate side of congress.

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023 (H.R 3702)
Summary:
Introduced in House (05/25/2023)
Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023

This bill allows a refundable tax credit equal to the amounts paid for
qualified access technology for use by a blind individual who is the
taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer. Qualified
access technology is hardware, software, or other information technology
with the primary function of converting or adapting information that is
visually represented into forms or formats usable by blind individuals.

The credit is limited to (1) costs that are not compensated by insurance or
otherwise, and (2) an aggregate amount of $2,000 per blind individual in
any period of three consecutive taxable years. The credit must be adjusted
for inflation after 2024 and terminates after 2028.

# of Cosponsors:16
# od IL CoSponsors: 1
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Related Bills: S.1467 Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023
# of Cosponsors 7
# of IL Cosponsors: 0

H.R.1328 - Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2023
Bill was introduced by  Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (Introduced
03/01/2023)
Summary:To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish
nonvisual accessibility standards for certain devices with digital
interfaces, and for other purposes.

# of Cosponsors: 48
# of IL Cosponsors: 5
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]*
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]*
Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]*
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]*
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

H.R.1263 - Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
Summary:
Introduced in House (02/28/2023)
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

This bill addresses employment standards for individuals with disabilities.

The bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants to states and
certain eligible entities to assist them in transforming their business and
program models to support individuals with disabilities by

providing competitive integrated employment,
assisting disabled individuals in finding and retaining work in such
employment,
providing integrated employment and integrated community participation and
wraparound services for such individuals, and
ensuring that such services comply with federal regulations for individuals
receiving home and community-based services.
The bill also prohibits the issuance of new special certificates that allow
payment of subminimum wages to disabled individuals and phases out existing
certificates over a four-year period.

The bill directs Labor's Office of Disability Employment to award grants to
provide technical assistance and other strategic support to employers
transitioning from special certificates to competitive integrated
employment for disabled individuals.

Labor must contract with a nonprofit entity to conduct an evaluation of the
impact of these transitions.

# of Cosponsors: 19
# of IL Cosponsors: 1
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

Related Bill: S.533 - Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment
Act
# of Cosponsors: 1
# of IL Cosponsors: 0

Again, please join our efforts in generating co sponsorship for the
legislation listed above. If you have any questions, please let either
Denise Avant or I know and we will get back to you promptly.

Yours in the movement,
Dustin Cather
Federal Legislation Co-Chair