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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1 align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:28.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984)</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#133258'><o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><strong><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Issue—Websites are essential for everyday living, but most people with disabilities experience unnecessary accessibility barriers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:23.4pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red'>Websites and mobile applications are an essential part of modern living.</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>More than 311 million Americans use the internet,<a style='mso-endnote-id:edn1' href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><sup>[i]</sup></a> and 85 percent of Americans say that they access the internet at least once each day.<a style='mso-endnote-id:edn2' href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class=MsoEndnoteReference>[ii]</span></a> That means that nearly the entire country is accessing websites and mobile applications every day. The need to access websites and mobile applications doesn’t stop when it reaches Americans with disabilities. According to the American Community Survey, conducted by the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately forty-two million Americans who currently have a disability.<a style='mso-endnote-id:edn3' href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class=MsoEndnoteReference>[iii]</span></a> This means that millions of disabled Americans are using websites and mobile applications. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red'>Uncertainty about how to accomplish website accessibility is plaguing many small businesses.</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Many businesses are required by law to make their websites accessible but claim to have no clear-cut definition of what “accessible” actually means. Meanwhile, people with disabilities must cope with inaccessible websites. Businesses yearn for a clear definition of website accessibility to protect themselves from legal action taken by blind and disabled consumers unable to access their websites. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:16.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red'>Current law leaves small businesses responsible for inaccessible websites designed by third-party developers.</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>There is no protection in the law for a small business that paid a third-party developer to design and build its website. This leaves small businesses open to litigation that could hinder economic growth and have a chilling effect on others who may want to start their own small business. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red'>Accessibility is achievable, and the United States is failing to keep up with international accessibility standards.</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ED1C24'> </span></b><a name="_Hlk61020997"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Canada and the European Union have statutes defining accessibility. The United States has historically been a world leader </span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>on disability issues and technological innovation. Being a leader in website accessibility is no different, as the success of tomorrow’s economy will be based on inclusivity in competitive markets. The United States is losing out on economic gains as other nations take advantage of this opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:always'></span><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Solution—Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act will:<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Safeguard small businesses and establish a comprehensive statutory definition for “accessibility.”</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066CC'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Protects small businesses by holding third-party website developers accountable and by maintaining the current defenses of undue burden and fundamental alteration. A comprehensive and clear-cut definition of “accessibility” will end any confusion regarding the requirements that covered entities and commercial providers need to meet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Establish a technical assistance center to provide technical assistance to covered entities, commercial providers, and individuals with disabilities.</span></b></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <a name="_Hlk61021113">The technical assistance centers will aid in the construction, development, design, alteration, and modification of websites in accordance with the rules. The Attorney General, the Commission, and the Secretary of Education will award a grant program to a qualified technical assistance provider to support the development, establishment, and procurement of accessible websites and applications. </a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span class=Heading2Char><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to promulgate accessibility regulations.</span></b></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> The DOJ and EEOC will have twelve months following the enactment of the legislation to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding website and mobile application accessibility, then an additional twelve months to issue the final rule. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:1.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#44546A'>GOAL—END WEBSITE AND SOFTWARE APPLICATION INACCESSIBILITY FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES.</span></strong><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:1.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:1.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984).</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>To cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the Senate, contact:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:6.5pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:8.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Stephanie DeLuca, Legislative Assistant for Senator Duckworth (D-IL)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Phone: 202-224-2854/ Email: </span><a href="mailto:stephanie_deluca@duckworth.senate.gov"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>stephanie_deluca@duckworth.senate.gov</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>To cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the House, contact:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:6.5pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:8.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Katie Teleky, Legislative Director for Representative Sarbanes (D-MD)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Phone: 202-225-4016/ Email: </span><a href="mailto:kathleen.teleky@mail.house.gov"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>kathleen.teleky@mail.house.gov</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:6.5pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:8.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>For more information, contact:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.5pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:8.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Jeff Kaloc, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.5pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:8.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2206 - Email: </span><a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org"><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>jkaloc@nfb.org</span></a><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><hr size=1 width="33%" align=left></span></div></div></div><div style='mso-element:endnote-list'><br clear=all><hr align=left size=1 width="33%"><div style='mso-element:endnote' id=edn1><p class=MsoEndnoteText><a style='mso-endnote-id:edn1' href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class=MsoEndnoteReference><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>[i]</span></span></a><span style='font-size:8.0pt'> Statista. “Countries with the highest number of internet users as of January 2023.” August 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/262966/number-of-internet-users-in-selected-countries/#:~:text=Countries%20with%20the%20highest%20number%20of%20internet%20users%202023&text=As%20of%20January%202023%2C%20China,around%20311%20million%20internet%20users<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='mso-element:endnote' id=edn2><p class=MsoEndnoteText><a style='mso-endnote-id:edn2' href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class=MsoEndnoteReference><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>[ii]</span></span></a><span style='font-size:8.0pt'> Andrew Perrin & Madhu Kumar. “About three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online.” March 26, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/03/26/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-say-they-are-almost-constantly-online/<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='mso-element:endnote' id=edn3><p class=MsoEndnoteText><a style='mso-endnote-id:edn3' href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class=MsoEndnoteReference><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>[iii]</span></span></a><span style='font-size:8.0pt'> United States Census Bureau. “Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26, 2023.” https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2023/disabilities-act.html<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>