[NFBMI-Talk] Websites And Software Applications Accessibility Act Reintroduced In U.S. House

[Kane Brolin]

Greetings to my fellow Federation members who are north of the border.

Today [May 15, 2025] is Global Accessibility Awareness Day
<https://accessibility.day/>!  And we had a little legislative progress to
show for it here in the United States.  While it is not in an
official capacity, I have been asked to help out with
legislative initiatives in the National Federation of the Blind of Indiana
along with fulfilling my formal duties as treasurer.  So I want to share
some news with y'all in Michigan, since it is not yet highly publicized in
our part of the movement:

The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act was reintroduced
into the U.S. House of Representatives under the bill number H.R. 3417.  We
are now in the 119th Congress.

The bill aims to make websites and applications used by covered entities
(employers, public entities, etc.) accessible to people with disabilities. It
would establish a clear, enforceable accessibility standard and
provide resources for compliance.

Leading the charge this time is none other than Pete Sessions, a
representative from Texas who is also championing the Blind Americans
Return To Work Act in the current session of Congress under bill number
H.R. 1175.  Mr. Sessions is a Republican with nearly 30 years of service
in, and he says his father was a blind man who served in the Business
Enterprise Program.  This clearly means it is OK for Republicans to support
these bills, along with the Democrats who lately have made up the majority
of Congressional reps who come out in open support of bills put forward by
the organized blind movement.

No official information is out yet as to what committee(s) the Websites and
Software Applications Accessibility Act will be assigned to this time,
because this is newly introduced into the 119th Congress and the House.gov
Website has not caught up to this yet.  But last time it was introduced,
this bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and to the
House Committee On Education and the Workforce.  In case H.R. 3417 is
referred again to the Committee On Education and the Workforce, please note
that Rep Lisa C McClain of Michigan District 9 and Rep Haley M Stevens of
Michigan District 11 sit on that committee.  I have not found that any
Michigan representatives in the U.S. House sit on the Judiciary Committee.

This latest news did not come from a Federation source.  But I am convinced
that it is largely the result of hard work put in by many Federation
members who braved the elements to get to Washington in early February of
2025 to make sure our reps and Senators understand that blind citizens are
a numerous, increasingly informed,  and increasingly active part of their
constituencies.

I'm sure a lot more info will come out later, thanks to the fine
legislative committee you have there in Michigan and thanks to the great
staff we have working in Baltimore, the District of Columbia, and
elsewhere.  I just wanted to get the news out tonight.  Thanks for all you
do.

Cordially,

Kane Brolin
Treasurer, Indiana State Affiliate
National Federation of the Blind
(574)386-8868 (mobile)