State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 7990International Affairs

State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

INTRO MAR 18· LAST ACTION MAR 18

READING

14MIN

COSPONSORS

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NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it elevates international disability rights from a discretionary focus to a mandated and coordinated effort within U.S. foreign policy. If it becomes law, it means the U.S. government will formally commit to using its diplomatic influence and foreign aid to improve the lives of people with disabilities globally, encouraging other nations to adopt similar protections and services.

Without this bill, U.S. efforts on international disability rights might remain less structured, inconsistent, or dependent on the priorities of individual administrations. Its passage would ensure a more systematic and accountable approach, potentially leading to increased accessibility, better legal protections, and greater inclusion for people with disabilities in countries receiving U.S. assistance, addressing challenges like discrimination, lack of access to education, employment, and healthcare that many face worldwide.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

The State Department must create a formal policy within 180 days to advance disability rights through U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid, which will be publicly available.

This ensures a consistent and transparent approach to integrating disability rights into U.S. foreign policy.

PROVISION 02

The bill makes the Office of International Disability Rights a mandatory, permanent entity within the State Department, with a clear purpose to coordinate global engagement on disability rights.

This elevates the issue to a sustained, institutional priority rather than an optional initiative.

PROVISION 03

The Office will be headed by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large for International Disability Rights, a high-level official dedicated to advising the Secretary of State on disability rights.

This provides a senior, dedicated voice for disability rights within the State Department's leadership.

PROVISION 04

The State Department must develop a comprehensive strategy within one year for advancing disability rights globally, including country action plans, and report annually to Congress on progress.

This creates a structured plan with accountability for achieving specific goals.

PROVISION 05

The Office will coordinate the collection of detailed data on U.S. foreign assistance and diplomatic activities related to disability rights, including spending.

This ensures transparency and helps measure the effectiveness of U.S. efforts in this area.

SPONSORSHIP

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COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%

DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

MAR 18

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 18

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

HOUSE · INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 7990

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedMar 18, 2026

Last actionMar 18, 2026

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 18, 2026

House BillHR 7990International Affairs

State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

INTRODUCED MAR 18, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 18, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

14 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

The State Department must create a formal policy within 180 days to advance disability rights through U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid, which will be publicly available.

This ensures a consistent and transparent approach to integrating disability rights into U.S. foreign policy.

high

The bill makes the Office of International Disability Rights a mandatory, permanent entity within the State Department, with a clear purpose to coordinate global engagement on disability rights.

This elevates the issue to a sustained, institutional priority rather than an optional initiative.

high

The Office will be headed by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large for International Disability Rights, a high-level official dedicated to advising the Secretary of State on disability rights.

This provides a senior, dedicated voice for disability rights within the State Department's leadership.

high

The State Department must develop a comprehensive strategy within one year for advancing disability rights globally, including country action plans, and report annually to Congress on progress.

This creates a structured plan with accountability for achieving specific goals.

med

The Office will coordinate the collection of detailed data on U.S. foreign assistance and diplomatic activities related to disability rights, including spending.

This ensures transparency and helps measure the effectiveness of U.S. efforts in this area.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act

Develop and adopt formal policy for advancing disability rights through United States diplomacy and foreign assistance

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act

Submit International Disability Rights Strategy to appropriate congressional committees

Annually, starting one year after submission of the strategy

Provide annual report on strategy results to appropriate congressional committees

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Sense of Congress: A formal statement by Congress expressing its opinion or position on an issue, but which does not have the full force of law.
Ambassador-at-Large: A high-ranking diplomat who represents the U.S. government on a specific issue or within a certain region, rather than being assigned to a particular country.
Foreign Assistance: Aid provided by one country to another, which can include economic, military, or humanitarian support.
Diplomacy: The activity or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad, to achieve national interests.
Foreign Affairs Manual: A comprehensive set of rules and guidelines that govern the operations and conduct of U.S. diplomatic missions and personnel around the world.
Disaggregated data: Data that has been broken down into smaller, more specific categories or groups, allowing for a more detailed and nuanced analysis rather than just overall totals.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

MAR 18

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 18

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

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State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

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State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

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