Transportation
Discussing a potential presentation to the Accessible Transportation Research Center on autonomous vehicles impact on the disability community and United Spinals SecureRide Coalitions wheelchair securement work. United Spinal, as a Co-Lead in the SecureRide Coalition, met with Department of Transportation representatives to discuss and advocate for issues related to wheelchair securement during transit. United Spinal is advocating for the research provision for wheelchair securement contained in H.R. 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026. United Spinal staff, and numerous other disability organizations, met with the Department of Transportations Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and other officials to discuss disability and accessibility related issues. United Spinal wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee respectfully requesting that the Senate include a National Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Framework in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill. The letter read in part, The AV moment is upon us. The time to enact a life-saving, life-changing technology national safety baseline and regulatory certainty for new market expansion is now. An AV framework is a critical opportunity for the United States to lead the world in advancing safe mobility technology with the promise to expand freedom and independence for millions of Americans in both rural and urban sectors, especially for the nations 5.5 million wheelchair users. Additionally, stressed the need for research on the modified universal docking integrated geometry (UDIG) RESNA standard to secure users wheelchairs in vehicles, both AVS and vehicles across various modes of transportation, including land, rail and air. United Spinal sent a letter of support to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, advocating for the automated wheelchair securement research provision in the discussion draft of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act as the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trades Subcommittee developed the safety title of the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization measure. The letter read in part, As you know, safe automated wheelchair securement has been a significant challenge to the autonomous vehicle industry in developing a purpose-built fully accessible autonomous vehicle (AV). The United Spinal Associations SecureRide Coalition, in a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the Energy and Commerce Committee, supported the automated wheelchair securement research provision included in the discussion draft of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act as the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trades Subcommittee developed the safety title of the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization measure. The letter read in part, Thank you for addressing a major challenge to fulfilling wheelchair users safe and independent transportation needs. United Spinal, along with numerous other organizations, sent a letter of support to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the progress made on the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act discussion draft. The letter read in part, The SELF DRIVE Act would help ensure that millions of Americans are able to access the benefits of autonomous vehicles (A Vs), which provide safer roads, greater supply chain resilience, create new economic and enhanced accessibility opportunities. United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 10, 2026, markup of legislation to strengthen motor vehicle safety and advance U.S. automative leadership. To allow people with disabilities to benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs), the, vehicles must accommodate passengers to remain in their personal wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities, vehicles must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians, and disabled passengers and pedestrians rights and access to courts must be protected. We acknowledge additional research into automated securement is proposed in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act and that vulnerable road user detection, including pedestrians and wheelchair users, is proposed in the Magnus White Safe Streets for Everyone Act. We support the automated securement provision and the Magnus White bill. https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/EC-AV-Markup-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-020926-Final.pdf United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted comments for the record for the January 13, 2026 hearing on strengthening motor vehicle safety and cementing U.S. automative leadership. The comments read in part, While the question was asked of witnesses how the draft legislation would ensure access for people with disabilities, no concrete answers were given. To ensure people with disabilities benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs) the vehicles must accommodate passengers who remain in their wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities and AVs must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians. We acknowledge additional research into automated securement is proposed in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act and vulnerable road user detection is proposed in the Safe Streets for Everyone Act. Access and safety for disabled passengers is not addressed in the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026. To ensure American leadership in AVs and automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicles, we urge you to consider and prioritize the safety and access needs of disabled passengers and pedestrians. United Spinal and other organizations as members of the United for Autonomy coalition, which has come together in recognition of the significant benefits that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will bring the American public and to encourage policymakers to set in place a federal policy framework on Avs, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The letter read in part, It is imperative that the United States create a federal policy framework on A Vs. In recent years, U.S. states have set the pace on AV policy, and it is long past time for the federal government to establish federal policy that supports safe autonomous deployment. We believe that such a framework will help ensure that millions of Americans are able to access the benefits of autonomous vehicles, which provide safer roads, greater supply chain resilience, and create new economic and enhanced accessibility opportunities for people with disabilities. https://www.acb.org/sites/default/files/United%20for%20Autonomy%20letter%20to%20Senate%20Commerce%20hearing%20(1).pdf United Spinal supported the testimony of Jeff Farrah, Chief Executive Officer, Autonomous Vehicle Association before the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 4, 2026, entitled hit the road, Mac: The Future of Self Driving Cars that dealt with wheelchair securement in vehicles. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67ee365c25e6530594bd40c2/6983967231abcd56d42a55f4_Jeff%20Farrah%20-%20AVIA%20-%20Written%20Testimony%20-%20Hit%20the%20Road%20Mac.pdf United Spinal, along with numerous other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 4, 2026, hearing titled Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars. The letter read in part, As noted in the hearing announcement, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to save lives and could also significantly expand mobility and independence for people with disabilities who are unable to drive, improving access to employment, healthcare, and the community. https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/Commerce-AV-Hearing-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-Final020426.pdf United Spinal, along with numerous other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 10, 2026, markup of legislation before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade to strengthen motor vehicle safety and advance U.S. automative leadership. The letter read in part, to allow people with disabilities to benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs), the vehicles must accommodate passengers to remain in their personal wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities, vehicles must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians, and disabled passengers and pedestrians rights and access to courts must be protected. https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/EC-AV-Markup-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-020926-Final.pdf United Spinal submitted comments in response to the Department of Transportations request for contributions to the Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan, DOT-OST-2025-2085. The comments read in part, For the nations 5.5 million wheelchair users, strategic research and development planning can ultimately help in meeting daily transportation needs. That includes fulfilling employment or education needs, healthcare and fitness needs, but also civic and recreational opportunities. It will enrich families and social activities. All this stimulates economic benefits to the general economy. https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2025-2085-0075/attachment_1.pdf United Spinal continues to advocate for H.R. 4116 Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA) Paratransit one stop and data collection pilot program. The bill would establish an extra stop per trip program for passengers using paratransit serves and enhance data collection for paratransit programs to increase accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4116/
LobbyistsTIMOTHY KENT KEYSER · STEPHEN MICHAEL LIEBERMAN
Covered position (TIMOTHY KENT KEYSER): Public Policy Fellow
Covered position (STEPHEN MICHAEL LIEBERMAN): Senior Director of Advocacy & Policy
TargetedSENATE · HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS) · Transportation, Dept of (DOT)
