Reps. McGarvey and Rutherford Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Help Children with Hearing and Vision Disabilities

Reps. McGarvey and Rutherford Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Help Children with Hearing and Vision Disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 05, 2026) - Today, Congressmen Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) and John H. Rutherford (FL-05) introduced the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act (Cogswell-Macy Act), a bill to improve educational resources for children and youth who are blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, deafblind, or deafdisabled.

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), are leading companion legislation in the Senate.

"No disability should get in the way of a student's education, but right now too many students aren't getting the specialized support they need to get the same education as their peers," said Congressman McGarvey. "The Cogswell-Macy Act closes that gap for students who are deaf, blind, or deafblind so they don't miss out on critical information in the classroom and makes sure every child is set up for success."

"As the representative for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Deaf Caucus, I have advocated for Deaf and hard of hearing Americans throughout my career in Congress," said Representative Rutherford. "My experience with Deaf and hard of hearing students across my district has taught me how valuable equitable access to education can be for individuals with disabilities. I am proud to join Representative McGarvey and our colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, which would improve education and services for children and youth who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind. Every student deserves to learn in an environment that suits their needs."

The legislation has been endorsed by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals, Addis Ababa University, Department of Special Needs and Inclusive Education, American Council of the Blind, American Council of the Blind of New York, American Council of the Blind of Ohio, American Council of the Blind of Western New York, Inc., Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired South Carolina, Carroll Center for the Blind, CATT Program at AIDB, Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth, Center of Vision Enhancement, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD), Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, Cultivating Inclusion, DeafBlind Community of Texas, DeafBlind Community United, DGCKids, Golden Triangle Council of the Blind, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Haramaya University College of Education Behavioral Science, Department of Special Needs & Inclusive Education, Hawaii Association of the Blind, Hunter College CUNY, Programs in Blindness/Visual Impairment, Illinois Council of the Blind, Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc., Lighthouse Louisiana, Lighthouse of Central Florida, Louisiana Association for the Blind, National Intervener & Advocate Association, Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing, National Association of the Deaf, National Council on Independent Living, National DeafBlind Coalition, National Family Association for DeafBlind, New Mexico School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, New York Institute for Special Education, Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, Pennsylvania Partnership for the DeafBlind, St. Joseph's School for the Blind, Statewide Independent Living Center of Hawaii, Success Beyond Sight, Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind, Tempe Elementary School District 3, Texas School for the Deaf, The Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans (AVIT), The Gibney Family Foundation, Vermont Association to the Blind and Visually Impaired, VIA Visually Impaired Advancement, VisAbility, Vision Interventions and Parental Supports (VIPS), Wayfinder Family Services, Westchester Council of the Blind of New York, and Xavier Society for the Blind.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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Congressman Morgan McGarvey represents Kentucky's Third Congressional District, including Louisville and Jefferson County. He serves on the House Veterans' Affairs, Small Business, and Budget Committees.