Accessible Ukraine Act

More accessibility rules for Ukraine projects

If enacted, the bill would require that construction and renovation contracts in Ukraine using U.S. funds meet accessibility standards equivalent to 48 CFR 752.236-70 as in effect on January 23, 2024. It would apply to contracts by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund. Routine maintenance (re-roofing, painting, wallpapering, and mechanical or electrical changes) would be exempt unless the work affects accessibility. Emergency temporary construction would generally be exempt, but within 3 months of declaring an emergency the Secretary of State would have to create an accessibility plan and allocate needed funds so people with disabilities have the same access to services. The Secretary of State would be able to waive the standards if doing so served the national interest. The bill would bar federal funds for projects that facilitate segregation or institutionalization of people with disabilities. The Secretary of State would have to form an accessibility working group within 180 days to review emergency exceptions, evaluate compliance, coordinate verification with local groups, and publish findings on a publicly available website that follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 or later.