Page 42 - Lauren Lolo Spencer Issue

than 13 inches had the functionality to provide closed captioning.
In 1996, Senator Markey passed his landmark Telecom- munications Act, sweeping legislation to usher in the next phase of the communications industry, which requires telecommunications services and equipment to be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.
In 2010, Senator Markey’s landmark accessibility legis- lation, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), was signed into law by Pres- ident Obama. The CVAA updated existing communica- tions laws to ensure greater access to modern communi- cations services for people with disabilities by strength- ening requirements for closed captioning for streamed video, expanding existing rules regarding described pro- gramming, and requiring the FCC to improve access to broadcasted emergency information beyond on-screen text alerts.
In 2022, Senator Markey introduced his Communica- tions, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) to build upon the success of the CVAA while addressing the pressing accessibility concerns of emerging and modern technologies, including livestreaming, virtual and augmented reality. The CVTA would also expand settings for closed captions and audio descriptions across all video programming devices, including televi-
sions, smart phones, laptops, and tablets.
Markey has been a leading voice in calling attention to the ongoing impact of Long COVID and its chronic symptoms.
In March of 2022, Senator Markey and his colleagues Senators Duckworth and Kaine re-introduced their CARE for Long COVID Act to boost research efforts and expand treatment.
Also in March 2022, Senators Markey, Duckworth and Kaine called on the Social Security Administration to improve, formalize, and communicate guidance on the consideration of disability applications for individuals with Long COVID. While SSA had issued some guid- ance, this required a positive COVID-19 test or diagno- sis with limited exceptions which may have inappropri- ately limited access to disability benefits for Long COVID patients. The Senators urged the SSA to revise these requirements to improve access to benefits and in recognition of testing unavailability at various points during the public health emergency.
In May 2022, Senators Markey, Duckworth, and Kaine urged the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to better prioritize the needs of those at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 – seniors, peo- ple with disabilities, and the immunocompromised – in
42 ABILITY