IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 131 
Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many federally funded 
facilities for all people of the United States, particularly people with 
disabilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2018 
Ms. ESTY of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. 
DELAURO, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. HIMES, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. PAYNE) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Com-
mittees on the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and 
Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many 
federally funded facilities for all people of the United 
States, particularly people with disabilities. 
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution prevents 
Congress from making any law respecting an establish-
ment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, 
or abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of the 
press, the right to peaceably assemble, or to petition for 
a governmental redress of grievances, and was adopted 
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•HCON 131 IH 
on December 15, 1791, as 1 of the 10 amendments that 
constitute the Bill of Rights; 
Whereas the Bill of Rights, specifically the First Amendment 
to the Constitution, calls for the right of all persons to 
peaceably assemble, and to this end, all persons, regard-
less of their physical ability, shall be offered equal oppor-
tunity to access all federally funded, in whole or part, 
amenities, with the exception of certain sites of historical 
importance approved by the United States Access Board 
or a nonpartisan commission convened by said United 
States Access Board; 
Whereas in the 28 years since the signing of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) 
(ADA), there have been unprecedented advances in all 
forms of technology, typified by automatic doors; 
Whereas in 2012, nearly 20 percent of the civilian population 
in the United States reported having a disability as de-
fined by the ADA; 
Whereas in the 2010 census, more than 38,000,000 people 
were reported as having a severe disability; 
Whereas disability is a universal concern, as an aging popu-
lation increases the incidence of frailty and disability; 
Whereas, as significant advances in medical treatment result 
in increased survival rates, the incidence of disability in-
creases; 
Whereas in 2012, 16 percent of veterans, amounting to more 
than 3,500,000 people, received service-related disability 
benefits; 
Whereas in 2011, the percentage of working-age people in the 
United States who reported having a work limitation due 
to a disability was 7 percent, which is a 20-year high; 
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•HCON 131 IH 
Whereas the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to insure that certain 
buildings financed with Federal funds are so designed 
and constructed as to be accessible to the physically 
handicapped’’, approved August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
4151 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Architectural 
Barriers Act of 1968’’), was enacted to ensure that cer-
tain federally funded facilities are designed and con-
structed to be accessible to people with disabilities; 
Whereas the United States Access Board (the Board) has de-
veloped new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will 
address various issues, including access for blind pedes-
trians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street 
parking, and various constraints posed by space limita-
tions, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain; 
Whereas the Board’s new guidelines will cover pedestrian ac-
cess to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb 
ramps, street furnishings, pedestrian signals, parking, 
and other components of public rights-of-way; 
Whereas the Board’s aim in developing these guidelines is to 
ensure that access for persons with disabilities is pro-
vided wherever a pedestrian way is newly built or altered, 
and that the same degree of convenience, connection, and 
safety afforded the public generally is available to pedes-
trians with disabilities; 
Whereas once these guidelines are adopted by the Depart-
ment of Justice, they will become enforceable standards 
under title II of the ADA; and 
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of 
equality and freedom, and these principles require that 
all people, including people with disabilities, are able to 
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•HCON 131 IH 
engage as equal members of society: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) recognizes the immense hardships that peo-
ple with disabilities in the United States must over-
come every day; 
(2) reaffirms its support of the Act entitled 
‘‘An Act to insure that certain buildings financed 
with Federal funds are so designed and constructed 
as to be accessible to the physically handicapped’’, 
approved August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), 
commonly known as the ‘‘Architectural Barriers Act 
of 1968’’, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and encourages full 
compliance with such Acts; and 
(3) pledges to make universal and inclusive de-
sign a guiding principle for all infrastructure bills 
and projects and will continue working to identify 
and remove the barriers that prevent all people of 
the United States from having equal access to the 
services provided by the Federal Government. 
Æ 
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