United States. TRAVEL PROBLEMS OF THE HANDICAPPED C366 HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND TOURISM OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE NINETY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION DECEMBER 5, 1983 Serial No. 98-103 Printed for the use of the Committee on Energy and Commerce 35-248 O U.S: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1984 501 COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE JOHN D. DINGELL, Michigan, Chairman JAMES H. SCHEUER, New York EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts DOUG WALGREN, Pennsylvania AL SWIFT, Washington RICHARD C. SHELBY, Alabama MIKE SYNAR, Oklahoma W. J. "BILLY" TAUZIN, Louisiana RON WYDEN, Oregon RALPH M. HALL, Texas DENNIS E. ECKART, Ohio BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico GERRY SIKORSKI, Minnesota JOHN BRYANT, Texas JIM BATES, California JAMES T. BROYHILL, North Carolina WILLIAM E. DANNEMEYER, California THOMAS J. BLILEY, JR., Virginia MICHAEL G. OXLEY, Ohio EY 53 8-3 вод KF27 E552 CONTENTS Testimony of: Beckman, R. Bruce, president, National Tour Association. Dixon, Judith M., Head, Consumer Relations Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.. Gashel, James, director, governmental affairs, National Federation of the Host, W. James, executive vice president, National Tour Association. Kamisar, Hylda, Head, Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. Mansfield, Gordon H., national advocacy director, Paralyzed Veterans of Snider, Harold, president, Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Marriott Corp., and also American Hotel & Motel Association. 112 National Federation of the Blind, discussion draft (a bill)... 84 TRAVEL PROBLEMS OF THE HANDICAPPED MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1983 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND TOURISM, The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 2 p.m., in room 2123, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. James J. Florio (chairman) presiding. Mr. FLORIO. The subcommittee will come to order. We have been asked by the other members who plan to be here to start the procedures, and they will join us as soon as they are able to be with us. I would like to welcome you all to this afternoon's hearing on travel problems of the handicapped. At the outset, I would like to recognize-I saw in the audience our former colleague, former Congressman Santini, who was someone we all looked to for guidance on topics concerning tourism, and who has been very helpful to this committee before he was a member of the subcommittee, and since joining the private sector and is one of the supporters of the very concept of having these hearings, so I would like to welcome former Congressman Santini here as well as everyone else who is in attendance. National surveys indicate that over 60 percent of all people in the United States take at least one trip of 100 miles or more each year. Yet for various reasons, handicapped Americans travel far less than other people in our country. Some of the barriers inhibiting travel by the handicapped may be insurmountable. Others, with a little effort, may be easily over come. That is what these hearings are designed to look at, what they are designed to deal with. These hearings are intended to learn more about the nature of barriers to travel by the handicapped and to evaluate the effectiveness of Federal policy in overcoming these barriers. We have witnesses representing the administration, a number of handicapped groups and the travel industry itself. We look forward to hearing their testimony about this important issue. I would like to express my appreciation and recognize the gentleman from New York, Mr. Lent. Mr. LENT. Thank you very much. I would like to commend the chairman for his initiative in conducting the hearing today. This is an issue of great concern to a very large number of disabled Americans. (1) |