What does Preamble of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This bill is formally titled 'A bill to provide for an international disability rights strategy, and for other purposes.'

What does SHORT TITLE. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This bill is formally titled the State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act.

What does DISABILITY RIGHTS IN FOREIGN POLICY. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section emphasizes the importance of international disability rights in U.S. diplomacy and development efforts. A formal policy for advancing disability rights must be developed and adopted by the Secretary of State within 180 days. The policy development process involves consultation with various groups, including individuals with disabilities and foreign affairs agencies.

What does OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section amends Section 5104 of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2021 to establish the Office of International Disability Rights. The Office's purpose is to coordinate and elevate United States global engagement on disability rights policy, promoting accessibility, equality of opportunity, and protection of rights for persons with disabilities. The Office shall coordinate international disability policy and assistance, collect disaggregated data on related spending, and establish interagency details. The Office will be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for International Disability Rights, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary of State must submit a strategy to achieve the Office’s purposes, identify target countries, and develop country action plans, within one year of enactment. The Secretary of State must provide annual reports to Congress on the strategy's progress, including data disaggregated by country, gender, and funding account. This section authorizes $6,000,000 annually for the Department of State from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support the Office’s activities.

What does DEPARTMENTAL HIRING AND FACILITIES ACCESSIBILITY. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section directs the Under Secretary of State for Management to ensure equal access to hiring and overseas assignments for State Department employees (Civil Service, Foreign Service, and locally employed staff) with disabilities and their family members with chronic medical conditions or disabilities. It mandates compliance of U.S. embassies, consulates, and leased facilities abroad with U.S. Access Board accessibility standards. The Under Secretary must ensure accessibility through website modifications, contractor requirements (section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act), and consultation with the Department of Labor. Policies for Foreign Service officer recruitment and placement must encourage hiring people with disabilities. The Department must consult with the Department of Justice to ensure hiring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. Policies are required to offer, provide, and fund reasonable accommodations for locally employed staff, particularly those with service-related disabilities. Embassies and consulates must ensure accessibility of facilities, websites, communication methods, and diplomatic residences (meeting Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations standards).

What does TRAINING. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section mandates disability policy training for Department of State civil service, Foreign Service personnel, and chiefs of mission. The training must cover topics including developing disability-inclusive policies, ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and engaging with disability-led organizations. Training should also address removing barriers to foreign assistance for organizations serving people with disabilities and incorporating the needs of people with disabilities into humanitarian responses. Foreign Service officer training must include country-specific and cultural considerations. Section 708(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended to include instruction on recognizing risks and vulnerabilities of individuals with disabilities in specific country contexts.

What does REPORT AND BRIEFING REQUIREMENTS. of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section establishes reporting and briefing requirements for the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State must provide a report and briefing to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs within 180 days of the Act's enactment, and annually thereafter. The report and briefing must include an explanation of policies and programs related to the Office of International Disability Rights (section 4) and training requirements (section 6). The report must describe efforts to mainstream disability policy in U.S. diplomatic outreach and programming. It also requires a description of disability-specific programming across the Department, the status of accessible facilities in foreign missions (section 5(c)), and any gaps in policy or programming. The report must detail progress on realizing the rights of people with disabilities due to Department policies. The Secretary must explain the status of evidence gathering and data collection related to disability, including disaggregated data. Finally, the report should include recommendations for legislative actions to fully implement the described matters.

What does JUDY HEUMANN FOREIGN AND CIVIL SERVICE DISABILITY FELLOWSHIP of State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act do?

This section establishes the Judy Heumann Foreign Service Disability Fellowship program within the Department of State. The program aims to expand Department expertise on disability rights policy formulation, execution, negotiation, and advocacy. The Secretary of State will select at least two fellows annually from entry-, mid-, and senior-level Foreign Service and civil service personnel. Fellowships will last between six months and one year and involve placement with an organization of persons with disabilities. Fellows will study the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and may attend the Conference of States Parties. The Secretary of State is required to submit an annual report to Congress on the Fellowship's implementation, including details on fellows, placements, and diversity trends. The Act authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years to carry out the program.

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State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

Last updated: 3/18/2026 · Introduced: 3/18/2026

Author: Timothy Kaine (D-VA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes the Office of International Disability Rights within the Department of State to coordinate U.S. global engagement on disability rights policy and promote accessibility.
It mandates that the State Department ensure equal access to hiring and overseas assignments for employees with disabilities, and that U.S. embassies and consulates abroad comply with accessibility standards.
The bill requires disability policy training for Department of State personnel, covering topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and inclusive foreign assistance.
The Secretary of State must submit annual reports to Congress detailing progress on disability rights initiatives, including data disaggregated by country, gender, and funding account.
This legislation creates the Judy Heumann Foreign Service Disability Fellowship program to expand Department expertise on disability rights policy through placements with disability organizations.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 7990(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 6 more.

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