Washington, DC (March 15, 2023): Recently, two pieces of legislation supported by the National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans,  were introduced in Congress, only a month after the organization held its annual Washington Seminar, where members from across the nation visit the nation’s capital to advocate for the organization’s legislative priorities. 

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328) was introduced by Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois on March 1 and had an impressive thirty-two originating co-sponsors at the time of introduction. It now has an additional eight co-sponsors for a total of forty. The legislation will require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish and enforce a minimum accessibility standard for Class II and Class III medical devices, including insulin pumps and CPAP devices. 

In the same week, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act was introduced in both houses of Congress. The House bill, H.R. 1263, was introduced by Representatives Bobby Scott of Virginia and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington. The Senate bill, S. 533, was introduced by Senators Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Steve Danes of Montana. The legislation will eliminate the payment of subminimum wages to workers with disabilities by gradually phasing out the antiquated provision that permits it, known as section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The legislation is a long-time priority of the National Federation of the Blind, which has opposed the practice since 1940, when the organization was founded. 

“We are pleased that these two critical initiatives are receiving immediate action and bipartisan support from members of the 118th United States Congress,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We urge the Congress to swiftly pass both of these items and to give the same urgent consideration to the additional priorities of blind Americans.”