Center Disability Rights

To meet the needs of the disability community, more lawmakers need to listen to Americans with disabilities and their families instead of merely paying lip service to the issue. While the law is clear that people with disabilities can’t be discriminated against, unfair treatment still occurs regularly in a variety of industries. That’s why I’ve fought for inclusive policies to combat the discrimination of jurors with disabilities, ensure that people receive the health care they need free from discrimination, and fight to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Californians with disabilities still face obstacle after obstacle just for trying to be productive members of our society and economy. That’s why I worked with Senator Markey to introduce the Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act, which would make it illegal at the federal level to prevent folks from serving their communities based on their disability. No one should be refused public service simply because of who they are, especially folks with disabilities.

It should also be a no-brainer that health insurance companies can’t deny care to folks with disabilities. Yet, that’s precisely what is happening and why I’ve written directly to the Biden Administration about cracking down on insurers that exploit loopholes in the law to deny coverage.

Time and again, we’ve seen insurers arbitrarily restrict care – particularly prostheses, wheelchairs, and other assistive devices – by claiming it’s not “medically necessary.” Insurers get away with this because there’s little oversight, so I’ve urged the Biden Administration to hold these companies accountable. That’s why I also introduced legislation to ensure people with disabilities receive full and equal consideration on the organ transplant list and aren’t passed over simply because of who they are. No one’s life should hang in the balance because of circumstances outside their control.