- AVIAviation/Airlines/Airports
United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations, submitted comments in response to the notice of proposed guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) on investigatory and enforcement policies and procedures of the OACP, DOT-OST-2025-2514, RIN 2105-ZA20. The comments read in part, We write to emphasize that OACP must continue to conduct enforcement, including assessment of monetary penalties, as appropriate, against air carriers that fail to comply with federal regulations, especially the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA
- MMMMedicare/Medicaid
United Spinal continues to oppose the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule (CMS-1828-P) to expand and redesign the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program which will harm people who depend upon these supplies to live and will increase healthcare costs. It may conflict with the Presidents directives on deregulation, trade, and domestic industrial strength. United Spinal continues advocating for Medicare coverage of power wheelchairs standing systems. United Spinal and other members of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare
- TRATransportation
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 dis
- VETVeterans
United Spinal and other members of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, sent a letter to express support for H.R. 6835, the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act of 2025, to the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and other House sponsors. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to offer annual preventative health evaluations to veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders and increase access to state-of-the-art assistive mobility technologies, such as Exoskeletal systems and ot
- HCRHealth Issues
United Spinal continued to advocate for H.R. 4206, the CONNECT for Health Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4206 United Spinal continues to advocate with members of Congress for increased federal funding for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems as well as the Burn Model Systems and the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Increased funding at all three Model Systems, including the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center is needed to translate data, research, and clinical knowledge into resources to benefit the SCI, TBI and burn injury communities. United spinal c
- HOMHomeland Security
United Spinal along with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and numerous other organizations wrote to the Senate Majority Leader requesting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding be separated from the minibus appropriations package that included funding for the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Transportation (DOT https://aahd.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AAPD-led-Letter-to-Senate-separate-HHS-and-DHS-funding-package-vote-01292026.pdf United Spinal contacted local advocates to advise them of the N
- EDUEducation
United Spinal expressed interest to a member of Congress in again supporting legislation entitled, Domenic and Eds Law. The bipartisan legislation would allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to be eligible for a student loan discharge. Under current law, a student who suffers an injury or illness resulting in a total and permanent disability (TPD) is eligible to have their federal student loans discharged. However, parents who have taken out student loans on their childs behalf do not have a similar recourse available. These parents are often left with the challe
- GOVGovernment Issues
United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies to respectfully request support for the inclusion of $10.5 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Senate Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies bill to fund the United States Access Board. This funding request represents a $500,000 increase from FY2026 and is critical to strengthening enforcemen