Anna Eshoo: “I rise in support of H.R. 1385 and the en bloc amendment. In particular, I would like to thank the gentleman from…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1385 and the en bloc amendment. In particular, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], the gentleman from California [Mr. McKeon], the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay], and certainly the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee] for accepting the language I offered to strengthen section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Tierney] for his willingness to actively support this provision in full committee. There are approximately 145,000 Federal employees with disabilities, and they comprise 7 rac{1}{2} ext{ percent of the Federal work force. Most work in the Departments of Defense, Veterans' Affairs, and Agriculture. Information technology has played a large role in opening up jobs in the Federal Government and elsewhere to people with disabilities. An estimated 43 percent of employed people who are blind or visually impaired use computers to write. However, information technology can also shut the door to people with disabilities if it is not accessible to them. So it is imperative for Federal employees with disabilities to have Federal agencies purchase information technology that gives them a chance to do their jobs well. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act was designed to achieve this goal, but it was not working as it should have because it did not have teeth in it and terms of enforcement. It now does.”