AAPD Pleased With Progress of H.R. 3101; Expects Senate to Act Soon

Justice For All (JFA) Announcement: AAPD Delighted that H.R. 3101, 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act of 2010 Passes the House on ADA 20th Anniversary With Bi-Partisan Majority

By AAPD Staff Jenifer Simpson, Zoe Levenson, and Ross Valore (7.28.2010):

Staff from AAPD were present in the U.S. House of Representatives when Ed Markey (D-MA), introduced H.R. 3101, "The Twenty-First Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act" on Monday July 26, 2010 about 2 p.m. By the end of the day, the House Members had passed the measure by a large majority with 220 Democrats and 128 Republicans voting for H.R. 3101.  Critical to passage was the bipartisan support the bill generated, lead by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet. Strongly supporting the bill’s passage was House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). On the House floor, before the voting, he said: “Today, as we mark the 20th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, the House is giving Americans with disabilities access to smart phones, other communications technology, and video programming.”  He added: “This bill ensures that millions of Americans with disabilities can participate in our 21st century digital society.

 Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs at the American Council of the Blind (ACB), calls his organization after the historic vote by the U.S. House of Representatives for H.R. 310

Read H.R. 3101 Summary here

Sitting in the House Visitors’ Gallery and present for the bill’s floor introduction and vote were leaders from the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), the disability coalition instrumental in securing this bill. These included representatives from AAPD, the American Foundation of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind and the National Association of the Deaf.  Tony Coehlo, AAPD Board Chairman, was also present on the House floor at the event.

 United States Capitol Building, Washington, DC

AAPD notes that 61 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives did not vote on H.R. 3101-- either they were out of town or not voting for another reason -- and that 23 Members voted against the measure. To see the list of those who voted for and against the bill check here.

Advocates would like the U.S. Senate to accept the House version of the bill rather than the Senate version, S. 3304, as H.R. 3101 has more provisions that safeguard consumers with disabilities and that were worked out collaboratively with industry representatives. Advocates expect the U.S. Senate to move soon.

See Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) Press Release here

See Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) Floor statement here

Check out the House and Energy Commerce Committee Passage Announcement here.

Click here to see the full text of the bill H.R. 3101.