{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/legislation-authored-chair-desaulnier-support-people-disabilities", "Legislation Authored by Chair DeSaulnier to Support People with Disabilities Signed into Law", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mark DeSaulnier", "D000623", "desaulnier.house.gov", "desaulnier", "https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that legislation he authored to help people with disabilities live and work more independently was signed into law by President Biden as part of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA) (H.R. 7776). The bipartisan legislation, the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (H.R. 9028), will expand access to assistive technology (AT).\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in public service, breaking down the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities has been a top priority and access to technology is another critical step in this process,\u201d said Congressman DeSaulnier. \u201cI am proud to have introduced this legislation with Congressman Sempolinski to help uplift individuals with disabilities and ensure they can more easily connect, work, and thrive in their communities, and I am grateful President Biden has signed it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s a high-tech device or something as simple as a magnifying glass, assistive technology is critical to helping people with disabilities live, work, and participate in their communities independently. As more Americans look to exercise their right to live at home, instead of institutions, the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act will take a key step to increase the quality of life, and expand work and educational opportunities, for people across the country,\u201d said Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d (VA-03). \u201cI am grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier\u2019s and Congressman Sempolinski\u2019s leadership on this bill.\u201d\n\nThe provisions in the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act will increase the quality of life, and expand work opportunities, for people with disabilities through increased access to technology, equipment, and services. Specifically, the legislation:\n\nFacilitates access to AT by streamlining funding to focus on the four state-level activities, including state financing activities, device reutiization programs, device loan programs, and device demonstrations.\n\nEnhances capacity building and services for Protection & Advocacy agencies and increases the grants for states with minimum allotments once the program reaches $8 million in funding.\n\nEstablishes technical assistance support for state-level activities and Protection & Advocacy systems.\n\nEncourages Innovation and Collaboration: If the amount appropriated exceeds $49 million, the legislation provides funding for \u201cProjects of National Significance\u201d that may focus on the needs of specific populations, such as youth in transition, or on collaboration among state agencies that provide AT and other services to people with disabilities.\n\nCongressman DeSaulnier is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/legislation-authored-chair-desaulnier-support-people-disabilities"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.836207928135991, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}