Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), a senior Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, introduced the Transportation Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (TAID Act). This bill directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement a program that provides funding for protection and advocacy programs to advocate for individuals with disabilities to have access to transportation and other purposes.

"Every individual, regardless of their abilities, deserves the right to explore our great nation and travel through our communities," said Congresswoman Wilson. "The disability community, like any other, should have unfettered access to these enriching experiences, whether embarking on a bus, train, or plane. The TAID Act will empower and provide the necessary financial resources for our communities to improve the accessibility of their transportation systems. It signifies a substantial step towards forging a world that is truly inclusive and accessible for everyone."

Congresswoman Wilson was also one of five original cosponsors of the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill that included many provisions to make the United States’ infrastructure more accessible to all Americans. 

“Every day our network receives complaints from people who were forced to miss work because paratransit could not accommodate their schedule, from patients who had to cancel doctor’s appointments because no wheelchair-accessible rideshares were available, or from family members who missed loved one’s celebrations because the lift on their bus did not work” said Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network, Marlene Sallo. “This bill will enable the Protection and Advocacy Network to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to have greater access to their communities. We thank Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Molinaro for leading the charge to address the transportation barriers people with disabilities face.”

The TAID Act will: 

• Establish a grant program for advocacy systems to support accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities.
• Provide grants of $110,000 annually for five years, with the Secretary of Transportation selecting 10 recipients.
  • Recipients have authority under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act, and selection considers demographics.
• Provide a $100,000 training grant and authorizes $1,200,000 in appropriations annually from 2023 to 2028.

This bill is also cosponsored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Congressman André Carson (IN-07), Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-01), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-30), Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

To read the bill text for the TAID Act, click here.

To read a one-page summary of the bill, click here.

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