I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7096 
To establish the Office of Disability Congressional Research at the National 
Council on Disability. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 26, 2018 
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish the Office of Disability Congressional Research 
at the National Council on Disability. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Office of Disability 
Congressional Research Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY 
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title IV of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 780 et seq.) is amended by insert-
ing after section 400 the following: 
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‘‘ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY 
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH 
‘‘SEC. 400A. There is established in the National 
Council on Disability the Office of Disability Congres-
sional Research.’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—Section 400(a)(2) of the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 780(a)(2)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A) The purpose of the National Council on 
Disability is to provide Congress, the executive 
branch, the States, and the public with data, anal-
ysis, and policy recommendations that encourage 
policies, programs, practices, and procedures that 
promote the national policy goals of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act (equality of all individuals with 
disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of 
the disability; economic self-sufficiency; independent 
living; and inclusion and integration into all aspects 
of society). This data and analysis will take the form 
of— 
‘‘(i) reports offered on a regular basis 
regarding the effect of existing legislation, 
regulations, and guidance on individuals 
with disabilities, their families, and the ex-
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isting systems of services and supports for 
them; 
‘‘(ii) reports completed in legislative 
time regarding the effect that proposed 
Federal legislation, proposed regulations, 
and proposed guidance would have on indi-
viduals with disabilities, their families, and 
the existing systems of services and sup-
ports for them; 
‘‘(iii) reports regarding how proposed 
Federal legislation, proposed regulations, 
and proposed guidance will align with ex-
isting disability policy. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of conducting any analysis 
or preparing any report under this paragraph, upon 
request by National Council, the head of any agency, 
department, establishment, or commission shall, to 
the extent practicable, make available any data asset 
and material maintained which the National Council 
determines to be necessary in the performance of its 
duties and functions (other than material or data, 
the disclosure of which would be subject to a statute 
that prohibits the sharing or intended use of such 
asset in a manner as to leave no discretion on the 
issue).’’. 
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(c) CHAIRPERSON; SCOPE OF WORK; MEETINGS.— 
Title IV of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 780 
et seq.) is further amended by inserting after section 400A 
(as added by subsection (a)) the following: 
‘‘CHAIRPERSON; SCOPE OF WORK; MEETINGS 
‘‘SEC. 780B. The President shall designate the Chair-
person from among the members appointed to the Na-
tional Council. The Chairperson may analyze and report 
any legislation, regulation, or guidance the Chairperson 
determines appropriate to meet the purposes described in 
section 780(a)(2). The National Council shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson, but not less often than four times 
each year.’’. 
(d) DUTIES.—Section 401(a) of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 781(a)) is amended by adding at 
the end of the following: 
‘‘(11) respond to requests by a member of the 
Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Fi-
nance, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor 
and Pensions, or the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the Senate or the Committee on the Budget, the 
Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, or the Committee on the Ju-
diciary of the House of Representatives regarding 
the effect on individuals with disabilities, their fami-
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lies, and the existing systems of services and sup-
ports for them by providing information to assist the 
committee related to— 
‘‘(A) bills amending or affecting the sup-
plemental security income program under title 
XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 
et seq.), the Medicaid program under title XIX 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
seq.), the Medicare program under title XVIII 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Edu-
cation Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Fed-
eral old-age, survivors, and disability insurance 
benefits program under title II of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12101 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), or any other law af-
fecting individuals with disabilities or disability 
policy; 
‘‘(B) bills related to entitlements and 
taxes; 
‘‘(C) regulations proposed by the executive 
branch; and 
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‘‘(D) existing legislation, regulations, or 
guidance from Congress, the executive branch, 
or decisions made by the Federal courts, includ-
ing the Supreme Court of the United States; 
‘‘(12) respond to other requests by any Senator 
or Member of the House of Representatives, the Na-
tional Council shall provide information regarding 
the effect on individuals with disabilities, their fami-
lies, and the existing systems of services and sup-
ports for them by providing information to assist the 
Member of Congress related to— 
‘‘(A) bills amending or affecting the Med-
icaid program under title XIX of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), the Medi-
care program under title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), the Indi-
viduals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Federal old-age, sur-
vivors, and disability insurance benefits pro-
gram under title II of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), or any other law af-
fecting individuals with disabilities or disability 
policy; 
‘‘(B) bills related to entitlements and 
taxes; 
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‘‘(C) regulations proposed by the executive 
branch; and 
‘‘(D) existing legislation, regulations, or 
guidance from Congress, the executive branch, 
or decisions made by the Federal courts, includ-
ing the Supreme Court of the United States; 
‘‘(13) ensure timely response to requests de-
scribed in paragraphs (11) and (12) by providing an 
analysis and report relating to the legislation or reg-
ulation prior to a vote or the closing of public com-
ment on regulations, respectively; 
‘‘(14) prioritize requests described in para-
graphs (11) and (12) in the following way— 
‘‘(A) give priority to responding to a re-
quest from the Chairman or Ranking Minority 
Member of a committee described in paragraph 
(11); 
‘‘(B) give priority in analyzing legislation 
based on the likelihood that a committee de-
scribed in paragraph (11) will consider the leg-
islation; 
‘‘(C) provide an initial report and analysis 
not later than 3 business days after the date of 
a request; 
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‘‘(D) provide the full report and analysis of 
the Office not later than 10 business days after 
the date of a request; 
‘‘(E) to the extent practicable, provide a 
full report and analysis of legislation before a 
committee of the Senate or the House of Rep-
resentatives votes on the legislation; and 
‘‘(F) otherwise prioritize analyses and re-
porting on all other legislation, regulations, and 
guidance in accordance with such criteria as the 
National Council Chairperson shall establish; 
‘‘(15) prepare reports for requests described in 
paragraphs (11) and (12) in the following way— 
‘‘(A) when possible and appropriate, use 
geospatial standards, as defined by the Federal 
Geographic Data Committee; 
‘‘(B) be prepared using plain language; 
‘‘(C) address issues at the national level 
and, to the extent possible, at the State level; 
and 
‘‘(D) be made publicly available, along with 
the information and data used to prepare the 
analysis or report, except to the extent that the 
information or data is specifically exempted 
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from public disclosure by law or privacy regula-
tions; and 
‘‘(16) when appropriate, collaborate with the 
Government Accountability Office and the Congres-
sional Research Service when conducting analyses 
and preparing reports described in paragraphs (11) 
and (12).’’. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Subsection (b) of section 401 
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 781(b)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of the Office of Disability Congressional Research 
Act of 2018 and annually thereafter, the National Council 
shall submit to the Committee on the Budget, the Com-
mittee on Finance, the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the Senate and the Committee on the Budget, the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce, the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
of Representatives an annual report on the bills enacted 
into law, bills introduced, and regulation and guidance 
promulgated or proposed by the executive branch that will 
affect individuals with disabilities, their families, and the 
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existing systems of services and supports for them. The 
report shall include recommendations for policy change.’’. 
(f) TECHNICAL AND SUPPORTIVE STAFF.—Section 
403(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
783(a)) is amended by adding at the end of the following: 
‘‘(3) The Executive Director shall hire such 
technical and professional staff as necessary, but no 
fewer than six full-time employees to respond timely 
to duties and timeframes set forth in paragraphs 
(11) through (16) of section 401(a).’’. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
405 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 785) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
‘‘SEC. 785. There are authorized to be appropriated 
for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to 
carry out this title.’’. 
Æ 
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