Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
The Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 would create a new advisory body within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) called the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access. The panel would help the VA improve accessibility for people with disabilities across information, services, benefits, facilities, health care facilities, and the procurement of accessible information technology. The committee would include a mix of veterans with disabilities, disability-law and accessibility experts, VA staff who oversee accessibility programs, and representatives from national veterans service organizations. It would operate with regular meetings, provide expert advice to the VA Secretary, and issue periodic reports to the Secretary and to Congress. The act would also abolish inactive VA advisory committees and set a 10-year sunset for the new committee. In short, the bill aims to strengthen VA compliance with disability and accessibility laws and to give a structured, ongoing input mechanism to identify barriers and propose concrete improvements in VA programs, facilities, and technology.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose
- 2- Creates the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access within the VA to focus on accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- 3Composition and membership
- 4- 15 voting members: 4 veterans with disabilities, 4 accessibility/ disability-law experts, 2 VA employees (one from the Section 508 Office and one from the Architectural Accessibility Program), and 5 representatives from national veterans service organizations.
- 5- 4 ex officio members: Under Secretaries for Health, Benefits, and Memorial Affairs, plus the chair of the Access Board.
- 6Terms and structure
- 7- Members serve 2-year terms (renewable for additional terms); vacancies filled within 180 days.
- 8- The committee must meet at least twice a year and may form subcommittees.
- 9- A chair is selected from the committee members.
- 10Duties and authority
- 11- Regular consultation with the VA Secretary on improving accessibility of VA information, services, benefits, facilities, and procurement processes for accessible IT/ICT.
- 12- Ensure compliance with federal disability laws (ADA, Rehabilitation Act sections 504/508, Plain Writing Act, 21st Century Digital Experience Act, Architectural Barriers Act, and related laws).
- 13- Assess disability access needs and provide recommendations to remove barriers in communications, services, benefits, and facilities.
- 14- Produce biannual (every two years) reports detailing barriers, compliance, recommendations, and progress on prior recommendations; include possible actions or legislation.
- 15- Submit reports to Congress and the Access Board with copies and public posting on VA’s website.
- 16Resources and compensation
- 17- Non-federal members are not paid; travel expenses and necessary resources are provided by the VA as appropriate.
- 18Termination and oversight
- 19- The Advisory Committee would terminate 10 years after enactment.
- 20Abolition of inactive advisory committees
- 21- Within 180 days of enactment, VA must abolish or consolidate inactive advisory committees not established by statute, or propose abolishing an inactive statutorily-established committee.