A bill to extend the authorizations of appropriations in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for 1 year, to transfer the Rehabilitation Services Administration to the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to make certain technical and clarifying amendments, and for other purposes; to amend the Randolph-Sheppard Act for the blind; to strengthen the program authorized thereunder; and to provide for the convening of a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals.
Public Law 93-516 · H.R. 17503 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Dec 7, 1974 · Labor and Employment
Sponsor: Rep. John Brademas (D-IN-3)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Albert Quie, Rep. Carl Perkins
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Title I: Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Rehabilitation Act Amendments - Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare a Rehabilitation Services Administration to carry out this Act.
Provides, under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, for the extension of authorization of approprication for: (1) vocational rehabilitation services; (2) research and training; (3) grants for construction of rehabilitation facilities; (4) vocational training services for handicapped individuals; (5) special projects and demonstrations; (6) the National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults; (7) program and project evaluation; (8) secretarial responsibilities; and (9) the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
Title II: Randolph-sheppard Act Amendments - Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments - Expresses the findings of Congress, including that after review of the blind vending stand program authorized under the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936, the program has not been developed in the manner and spirit in which Congress intended.
Authorizes the operation of such vending facilities on any Federal property, stating that priority shall be given to blind persons licensed by a State agency as provided in this Act. Enumerates new Federal and State responsibilities for carrying out the Randolph-Sheppard Act.
Provides that after January 1, 1975, no department of the United States shall undertake to acquire any building unless such building includes a site for the location of a vending facility by a blind person, with enumerated exceptions relating to a limited number of people using the property.
Makes provisions throughout the Randolph-Sheppard Act for changing the word "stand" to "facility".
States that any blind licensee dissatisfied with any action arising from the operation of the vending facility program may request a hearing from the State licensing agency. Provides for arbitration panels to hear such grievances, setting forth their composition and duties.
Provides that no limitation shall be imposed on income from vending machines which are maintained, serviced, and operated by a blind licensee.
Directs the Secretary to assign to the Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped of the Rehabilitation Services Administration ten additional personnel to administer the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Enumerates additional State responsibilities and required standards, studies and reports.
Title III: White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals - White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals Act - Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals to assess problems and suggest solutions to such problems facing individuals with handicaps.
Establishes a National Planning and Advisory Council to provide guidance for the Conference, detailing seventeen factors to which the Council shall give special consideration in leading up to the White House Conference.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to assist in meeting the costs of participation of the Conference.
Authorizes to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this title and such additional sums as necessary to carry out the provisions relating to the State grants.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 7 actions.
- Dec 7, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-516.
- Nov 27, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 26, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House (provisions identical to H.R. 14225 as passed).
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Nov 25, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.