Congress pledges to prioritize disability access in federal infrastructure
H.Con.Res. 45 — Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many federally funded facilities for all people of the United States, particularly people with disabilities. · Filed by Jahana Hayes (D-CT) · 16 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 23, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for improving physical access to federally funded facilities for people with disabilities. It affirms existing disability-access laws (the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), endorses new accessibility guidelines for pedestrian infrastructure issued by the U.S. Access Board in 2023, and pledges that Congress will make universal design a guiding principle in future infrastructure bills.
Why we flagged it
This is a concurrent resolution—a non-binding statement of congressional sentiment—that reaffirms support for existing disability-access laws and endorses new accessibility standards. It contains no appropriations, regulatory changes, or enforcement mechanisms; it is purely declarative.
What the text implies
- The resolution's pledge to 'make universal and inclusive design a guiding principle for all infrastructure bills' may signal future legislative intent to incorporate accessibility requirements into infrastructure spending, potentially increasing project costs if not already budgeted.
- Endorsement of the U.S. Access Board's August 2023 guidelines (now adopted by DOT in December 2024) may accelerate enforcement expectations for state and local governments managing federally funded transit and pedestrian infrastructure.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
construction and engineering firms specializing in accessibility retrofits; accessibility technology providers; universal design consultants