Congress·In Committee·S. 4129

State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

State Department: International Disability Rights and Accessibility

A bill to provide for an international disability rights strategy, and for other purposes.

8 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for review. It is actively moving through the committee, but no further actions or hearings have been scheduled at this time.

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

The bill requires the State Department to create a formal plan to promote the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. This strategy would ensure that disability rights are a core part of U.S. diplomacy and that foreign aid reaches those who need it most.
It establishes a permanent Office of International Disability Rights led by a high-ranking official called an Ambassador-at-Large. This person would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to lead the government's efforts on these issues.
U.S. embassies, consulates, and their websites would be required to meet modern accessibility standards. The bill also pushes for fairer hiring practices for people with disabilities within the government, including for those injured while supporting U.S. military operations.
All State Department staff would receive mandatory training on disability policy. This includes learning how to remove barriers to aid and how to work with local disability organizations in different countries to ensure everyone is included in U.S. programs.
The bill creates the Judy Heumann Disability Fellowship to train government workers. This program would allow employees to work directly with disability rights groups for up to a year to gain expertise in advocating for accessibility and equality.