Expressing the sense of the Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 235.

House Concurrent Resolution 235 expresses the sense of Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greater increased caution when driving in the proximity of visually impaired individuals.

More than 1 million individuals are blind in the United States. Even more are visually impaired. Many of these individuals are veterans. These individuals face many obstacles in their daily lives and travel. The white cane and the guide dogs have become means to gain greater independence and mobility. The white canes have become one of the symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on their own.

Unfortunately, many States do not require candidates for driver's licenses to associate the use of white canes or guide dogs with potentially visually impaired individuals. Many drivers are not aware of the white cane as a symbol of a visually impaired or blind individual. And, tragically, hundreds of visually impaired individuals have had their white canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles and have suffered serious personal injury and death as a result of being hit by cars.

If our Nation's visually impaired are to maintain their independence, it is important that drivers understand and respect State white cane laws. With a little education by States and some extra attention paid by drivers, we can greatly improve safety along our streets for those individuals who are visually impaired. H. Con. Res. 235 will make pedestrian travel a little safer for visually impaired individuals using mobility aids.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for introducing this legislation. Mr. Evans has been a friend and mentor to me during my 10 years of serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

I urge my colleagues to give this resolution their full support.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As you heard, this resolution has been fully supported by major associations for the blind, principally, the American Council for the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, and the Blinded Veterans Association.

It also has the support of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the House Transportation Committee for this resolution introduced by my good friend, Congressman Lane Evans. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 235) expressing the sense of the Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 235.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 235 expresses the sense of Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.

Each year too many visually impaired individuals have their white canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles or are struck by the side-view mirrors of motor vehicles. Others suffer serious personal injury and death as a result of being hit by cars.

Unfortunately, many States do not require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate the ability to associate the use of the white cane or guide dog with potentially visually impaired individuals. With a little education by the States and some extra attention paid by drivers, we can greatly improve the safety along our surface streets for those individuals who are visually impaired.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the sponsor of this resolution, our colleague Lane Evans, who will be leaving the Congress at the end of the year. Representative Evans has always been a champion of our Nation's veterans, and this resolution has the strong support of veterans groups and other organizations. Representative Evans has long had a record of distinguished public service, and our thoughts are with him at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 235.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our distinguished colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support House Concurrent Resolution 235, expressing the Sense of Congress that States adopt procedures for driver's lioense education or I certification that improve driver awareness of the white cane or guide dog used by vision- impaired pedestrians.

There are 1.5 million visually impaired Americans, who seek to gain and maintain their mobility independence.

Through the agile use of the white cane, or a guide dog, our visually impaired citizens move about independently in their sight-limited world.

Unfortunately, America's drivers do not always recognize the white cane or guide dog as a warning that the user is visually impaired or blind. Many States do not require driver license candidates to associate the use of the white cane or guide dog with visually impaired individuals.

The visually impaired report they have had their white canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles, have been struck by sideview mirrors, and have suffered serious personal injury as a result of being hit by cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reports that 4,827 pedestrians were killed in 2003, and approximately 70,000 were injured. People who are blind and visually impaired face an increased risk of serious personal injury and death while maneuvering America's streets and intersections.

A heightened awareness by our Nation's drivers of what a white cane or guide dog indicates will remove a potential obstacle from the safe mobility of the visually impaired.

H. Con. Res. 235 is supported by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the American Council for the Blind (ACB), and the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA).

H. Con. Res. 235 will help the blind find their way to the greater freedoms associated with safer mobility.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for introducing this Concurrent Resolution.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 235.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin, Chairman Petri, for yielding me this time.

I would like to thank Congressman Lane Evans for his leadership on this matter. Congressman Evans and I serve together on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and he is a tireless advocate for all veterans. I also want to thank Chairman Petri for his leadership and support of the legislation.

H. Con. Res. 235 proposes that all States require that candidates for driver's licenses demonstrate the knowledge to use increased caution when driving in the vicinity of what may be a visually impaired individual.

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I appreciate all the hard work the Blinded Veterans Association has done to support this legislation. The Blinded Veterans Association has received hundreds of letters and e-mails concerning individuals who have had their white canes hit or have been hit themselves in crosswalks by drivers who are unaware of what a white cane or guide dog indicated.

As an optometrist, I know firsthand that many people with visual impairments live normal, independent lives. They too should be able to travel without fear. Unfortunately, many States do not require people who are applying for driver's licenses to indicate awareness in regards to recognition of visually impaired pedestrians. Simple education can greatly increase the much-needed protection for visually impaired fellow citizens.

Again, I would like to thank Congressman Evans for his leadership on this matter, and I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 235.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation introduced by my good friend from Illinois, Lane Evans.

I have worked for years with the distinguished Ranking Member on the Veterans Committee and am sorry to see him leave this fine institution. I have been blessed to have known him and this Congress will be diminished without him.

However, I am here to speak on legislation to improve driver awareness when driving around visually impaired persons.

There are 1.5 million visually impaired Americans.

The bill requests that every State in the country include information in the driver education material and driver license application manuals. Such information would instruct drivers of motor vehicles to approach persons with white canes or guide dogs with recognition that such individuals are blind and that extra caution should be exercised.

It is common sense legislation that will help save a life.

This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives in the 108th Congress, but could not come to an agreement with the Senate before the end of the session. I hope we can agree to this legislation and pass it before the end of this Congress.