A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill creates and funds national resource centers to help people who have significant expressive communication disabilities. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award three grants totaling up to $9 million per year for five years. These grants support training, technical assistance, and resources to improve access to augmentative and alternative communication tools. The centers are managed by eligible nonprofit partnerships and guided by advisory councils made up entirely of individuals with these disabilities. Ultimately, the legislation aims to reduce discrimination, improve data collection, and help individuals participate fully in all aspects of life.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +9
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The entire legislation is dedicated to empowering individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities through dedicated resource centers, leadership opportunities, and expanded communication access.
- Scored +8
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The legislation establishes national resource centers and advisory councils led by individuals with disabilities to eliminate discrimination and expand communication access.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The legislation supports early intervention and educational resources that benefit children with significant expressive communication disabilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 5 and Section 6: The creation of national resource centers and their priority activities could help increase access to augmentative and alternative communication tools for individuals who cannot reliably meet their daily communication needs using natural speech. This is positive because it aims to support self-determination, education, employment, and community living.
-
Section 4: Establishing an 11-person advisory council comprised exclusively of individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities ensures that those directly affected provide guidance, recommendations, and oversight to the grant recipients. This is a positive outcome because it puts the people we voted to represent and those with lived experience directly in charge of shaping these programs.
-
Section 9: Grant funds are directed to link the work of the centers with federal programs relating to community living, competitive integrated employment, and personal safety. This could benefit individuals by improving their economic security, civic engagement, and health outcomes.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no specific provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The entire legislation is dedicated to empowering individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities through dedicated resource centers, leadership opportunities, and expanded communication access. Would children be better off under this? — The legislation supports early intervention and educational resources that benefit children with significant expressive communication disabilities. Would students be better off under this? — Students with expressive communication disabilities benefit from specialized training provided to educators and schools to ensure effective communication access. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults benefit from training and technical assistance aimed at improving employment, higher education, and community living opportunities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The legislation addresses the high risk of poverty among individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities by supporting economic security and employment initiatives. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged individuals with expressive communication disabilities benefit from expanded access to communication tools and support services. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill incorporates aging networks and older adult service providers to ensure seniors with acquired communication disabilities receive necessary support. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill's priority activities explicitly ensure that language and immigration status are accounted for in expanding access to communication tools and technical assistance. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans who acquire expressive communication disabilities can benefit from the resource centers and technical assistance supported by the bill.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The legislation establishes national resource centers and advisory councils led by individuals with disabilities to eliminate discrimination and expand communication access. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By linking center activities to competitive integrated employment and economic security programs, the bill aims to improve financial outcomes for individuals with communication disabilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides grant funding for national resource centers to improve access to augmentative and alternative communication tools and health-related support services.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill supports training and technical assistance for educational agencies and institutions to improve inclusive education programs for individuals with expressive communication disabilities.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California