Kings County Times

The House of Representatives has unanimously passed H.R. 7342, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act. Introduced by Congressman Valadao earlier this year, the bill aims to enhance accessibility within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disabled veterans by establishing a permanent advisory committee.

“Central Valley veterans deserve a VA that’s responsive to their needs, but sadly many of our disabled veterans are getting left behind,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill ensures disabled veterans have a seat at the table in providing feedback directly to the Secretary of the VA so they can easily access the benefits, services, and facilities they’ve earned. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line.”

During House debate, Congressman Valadao spoke in support of his bill. He emphasized that many disabled veterans face barriers such as narrow doorways, malfunctioning elevators, and inadequate exam rooms when trying to receive care at VA facilities.

"Serving disabled veterans is a critical part of the VA’s mission," he stated. "But they need to do more to ensure the unique needs of disabled veterans are being heard."

The Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act mandates that the VA Secretary create an advisory committee focused on accessibility issues for veterans and employees with various disabilities. The committee will include 15 members comprising disabled veterans, experts, employees, and representatives from veteran service organizations.

The legislation builds upon previous efforts like the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2019 but seeks further improvements in accessibility under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and others requiring equal access for individuals with disabilities.