On Tuesday, U.S. Reps. John H. Rutherford (R-FL-05) and Mark Takano (D-CA-39) relaunched the Congressional Deaf Caucus for the 119th Congress. Rutherford and Takano will serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan caucus dedicated to advocating for accessibility policies and bolstering the relationship between members of Congress and their Deaf and hard-of-hearing constituents.
“For more than a decade, the Congressional Deaf Caucus has focused on bringing awareness to the challenges faced by Deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans,” said Rutherford. “Deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans face unique obstacles in their daily lives, from health care to education to employment. My district is home to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) in St. Augustine, which has provided me a firsthand look at the positive impact increased accessibility options have on Deaf and hard of hearing Americans. I look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Takano to address opportunities in Congress to promote equity for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities nationwide.”
“I am proud to relaunch the Congressional Deaf Caucus with Rep. Rutherford for the 119th Congress to continue working toward meaningful progress for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals,” said Takano. “The Congressional Deaf Caucus has done incredible work over the past 10 years, from expanding the Congressional Deaf Internship Program to ensuring Schools for the Deaf — like the California School for the Deaf Riverside in my district — have the resources they need. The Deaf and hard-of-hearing community faces pressing challenges that must be addressed, and the need for connection between members of Congress and their Deaf and hard-of-hearing constituents is greater than ever. I am excited to continue the incredible work of the Deaf Caucus this Congress and for years to come.”
In recognition of the relaunch of the Congressional Deaf Caucus, Rutherford and Takano will host a roundtable discussion with experts, community leaders and members of the Deaf community to foster collaboration between stakeholders and Congress and to identify areas of focus that promote accessibility and opportunity for individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.
