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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 763. Interagency Committee
(a) Establishment; membership; meetings
(1) In order to promote coordination and cooperation among
Federal departments and agencies conducting rehabilitation research
programs, including programs relating to assistive technology
research and research that incorporates the principles of universal
design, there is established within the Federal Government an
Interagency Committee on Disability Research (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the "Committee"), chaired by the Director
and comprised of such members as the President may designate,
including the following (or their designees): the Director, the
Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
the Secretary of Transportation, the Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Indian Affairs, the Director of the Indian Health
Service, and the Director of the National Science Foundation.
(2) The Committee shall meet not less than four times each year.
(b) Duties
(1) After receiving input from targeted individuals, the
Committee shall identify, assess, and seek to coordinate all
Federal programs, activities, and projects, and plans for such
programs, activities, and projects with respect to the conduct of
research (including assistive technology research and research that
incorporates the principles of universal design) related to
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.
(2) In carrying out its duties with respect to the conduct of
Federal research (including assistive technology research and
research that incorporates the principles of universal design)
related to rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, the
Committee shall -
(A) share information regarding the range of assistive
technology research, and research that incorporates the
principles of universal design, that is being carried out by
members of the Committee and other Federal departments and
organizations;
(B) identify, and make efforts to address, gaps in assistive
technology research and research that incorporates the principles
of universal design that are not being adequately addressed;
(C) identify, and establish, clear research priorities related
to assistive technology research and research that incorporates
the principles of universal design for the Federal Government;
(D) promote interagency collaboration and joint research
activities relating to assistive technology research and research
that incorporates the principles of universal design at the
Federal level, and reduce unnecessary duplication of effort
regarding these types of research within the Federal Government;
and
(E) optimize the productivity of Committee members through
resource sharing and other cost-saving activities, related to
assistive technology research and research that incorporates the
principles of universal design.
(c) Annual report
Not later than December 31 of each year, the Committee shall
prepare and submit, to the President and to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, a report that
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(1) describes the progress of the Committee in fulfilling the
duties described in subsection (b) of this section;
(2) makes such recommendations as the Committee determines to
be appropriate with respect to coordination of policy and
development of objectives and priorities for all Federal programs
relating to the conduct of research (including assistive
technology research and research that incorporates the principles
of universal design) related to rehabilitation of individuals
with disabilities; and
(3) describes the activities that the Committee recommended to
be funded through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and
other mechanisms, for assistive technology research and
development and research and development that incorporates the
principles of universal design.
(d) Recommendations
(1) In order to promote coordination and cooperation among
Federal departments and agencies conducting assistive technology
research programs, to reduce duplication of effort among the
programs, and to increase the availability of assistive technology
for individuals with disabilities, the Committee may recommend
activities to be funded through grants, contracts or cooperative
agreements, or other mechanisms -
(A) in joint research projects for assistive technology
research and research that incorporates the principles of
universal design; and
(B) in other programs designed to promote a cohesive, strategic
Federal program of research described in subparagraph (A).
(2) The projects and programs described in paragraph (1) shall be
jointly administered by at least 2 agencies or departments with
representatives on the Committee.
(3) In recommending activities to be funded in the projects and
programs, the Committee shall obtain input from targeted
individuals, and other organizations and individuals the Committee
determines to be appropriate, concerning the availability and
potential of technology for individuals with disabilities.
(e) Definitions
In this section, the terms "assistive technology", "targeted
individuals", and "universal design" have the meanings given the
terms in section 3002 of this title.
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