Description:
H.R. 3373 would require the Department of State to establish the Office of International Disability Rights to coordinate the efforts of the U.S. government to advance human rights for persons with disabilities internationally. Under the bill, the office would be headed by a Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. The bill also would require the department to establish a policy to accommodate people with disabilities in its operations, programs, and facilities. Finally, it would require the department to train its personnel on methods to achieve that accommodation. The State Department’s International Disability Rights team currently performs the duties that would be required by H.R. 3373; however, the lead position of Special Advisor has been vacant since 2017. The bill would require the Administration to fill that position at an annual salary of $190,000, CBO estimates. Developing the policy and training required by the bill would cost an insignificant amount. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3373 would cost less than $500,000 each year and $1 million over the 2020-2024 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
