Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code AVI

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations, submitted comments in response to the notice of proposed guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) on investigatory and enforcement policies and procedures of the OACP, DOT-OST-2025-2514, RIN 2105-ZA20. The comments read in part, We write to emphasize that OACP must continue to conduct enforcement, including assessment of monetary penalties, as appropriate, against air carriers that fail to comply with federal regulations, especially the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Such enforcement is authorized by Congress and is necessary to safeguard the safety of people with disabilities in air travel and their right to be treated with dignity and respect.
https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2025-2514-0013/attachment_1.pdf

United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations, submitted comments in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Aviation Consumer Protection on reporting requirements for disability-related complaints. The comments read in part, We write to emphasize the importance of collecting information on air travel disability-related complaints. This information is necessary to ensure that people with disabilities are being treated in a safe manner that respects their dignity in air travel and carriers comply with the requirements of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA). When the ACAA was enacted, Congress directed the department to promulgate regulations to provide safe carriage for passengers with disabilities, consistent with that provided to passengers without disabilities, and prohibited disability discrimination in commercial air travel. Moreover, the Secretary of Transportation must regularly review all complaints received by carriers alleging discrimination on the basis of disability and report annually to Congress on the results of such review. For DOT to comply with these requirements, the department must continue to collect disability-related complaint data from the carriers. DOT may also rely on this information to inform policy changes and for enforcement matters. With the complaint data, we also urge DOT to conduct investigations and engage in ACAA enforcement efforts, as appropriate.
https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2010-0054-0015/attachment_1.pdf

United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations, participated in a periodic meeting to discuss airlines services with the Department of Transportations Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

Transportation - Dept of (DOT)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code MMM

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal continues to oppose the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule (CMS-1828-P) to expand and redesign the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program which will harm people who depend upon these supplies to live and will increase healthcare costs. It may conflict with the Presidents directives on deregulation, trade, and domestic industrial strength.

United Spinal continues advocating for Medicare coverage of power wheelchairs standing systems.

United Spinal and other members of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare
and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, sent a letter of support to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The letter read in part, we write to express our strong support for H.R. 5343, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-designated breakthrough devices and technologies are covered under Medicare during a four-year transitional period, while also establishing a pathway to make a permanent coverage determination. The ITEM Coalition believes this bill would be a positive step in the right direction towards ensuring timely access to breakthrough devices and technologies for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. We respectfully urge the House Energy & Commerce Committee to hold a markup on H.R. 5343 as soon as possible in the second session of the 119th Congress.
https://itemcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/item-letter-to-ec-re-h.r.5343-the-ensuring-patient-access-to-critical-breakthrough-products-act-final.pdf

United Spinal and other members of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR) and the Habilitation Benefits (HAB) Coalition submitted joint comments on the HHS Notice of Benefit Payment Parameters for the 2027 Plan Year proposed rule (proposed rule), which was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2026, CMS-98883-P. The joint comments focused on key proposals related to enrollees in need of the essential health benefit (EHB) category of rehabilitation and habilitation services and devices. They addressed historical identification of these benefits as EHBs and discussed our recommendations to eliminate caps in therapy benefits. Also addressed our concerns with the proposed expansion of catastrophic plans that do not require EHB coverage, followed by the proposed rules reversal of policy involving state defrayal of EHB benefits.
https://preserverehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/cpr-hab-coalition-comment-letter-in-response-to-hhs-nbpp-for-2027-proposed-rule-final-version.pdf

United Spinal, along with 106 other members of CCDs Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), Rights, Health, and Developmental Disabilities, Autism and Family Support Task Forces and the Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) and allies responded to the Request for Information (RFI) Related to Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare, CMS-6098-NC. The letter read part, The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recent actions. Individuals with disabilities and older adults rely on many of the Medicaid services that CMS is targeting in its actions in Minnesota, as well as many of the services that CMS has flagged for investigation in New York, Maine, California, and Florida. When funding for such services is wholesale suspended or frozen, as it has been in Minnesota, Medicaid enrollees are ultimately harmed, not protected.
https://downloads.regulations.gov/CMS-2026-0826-0249/attachment_1.pdf

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code TRA

16. Specific lobbying issues

Discussing a potential presentation to the Accessible Transportation Research Center on autonomous vehicles impact on the disability community and United Spinals SecureRide Coalitions wheelchair securement work.

United Spinal, as a Co-Lead in the SecureRide Coalition, met with Department of Transportation representatives to discuss and advocate for issues related to wheelchair securement during transit.

United Spinal is advocating for the research provision for wheelchair securement contained in H.R. 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026.

United Spinal staff, and numerous other disability organizations, met with the Department of Transportations Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and other officials to discuss disability and accessibility related issues.

United Spinal wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee respectfully requesting that the Senate include a National Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Framework in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill. The letter read in part, The AV moment is upon us. The time to enact a life-saving, life-changing technology national safety baseline and regulatory certainty for new market expansion is now. An AV framework is a critical opportunity for the United States to lead the world in advancing safe mobility technology with the promise to expand freedom and independence for millions of Americans in both rural and urban sectors, especially for the nations 5.5 million wheelchair users. Additionally, stressed the need for research on the modified universal docking integrated geometry (UDIG) RESNA standard to secure users wheelchairs in vehicles, both AVS and vehicles across various modes of transportation, including land, rail and air.

United Spinal sent a letter of support to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, advocating for the automated wheelchair securement research provision in the discussion draft of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act as the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trades Subcommittee developed the safety title of the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization measure. The letter read in part, As you know, safe automated wheelchair securement has been a significant challenge to the autonomous vehicle industry in developing a purpose-built fully accessible autonomous vehicle (AV).

The United Spinal Associations SecureRide Coalition, in a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the Energy and Commerce Committee, supported the automated wheelchair securement research provision included in the discussion draft of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act as the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trades Subcommittee developed the safety title of the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization measure. The letter read in part, Thank you for addressing a major challenge to fulfilling wheelchair users safe and independent transportation needs.

United Spinal, along with numerous other organizations, sent a letter of support to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the progress made on the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act discussion draft. The letter read in part, The SELF DRIVE Act would help ensure that millions of Americans are able to access the benefits of autonomous vehicles (A Vs), which provide safer roads, greater supply chain resilience, create new economic and enhanced accessibility opportunities.

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 10, 2026, markup of legislation to strengthen motor vehicle safety and advance U.S. automative leadership. To allow people with disabilities to benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs), the, vehicles must accommodate passengers to remain in their personal wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities, vehicles must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians, and disabled passengers and pedestrians rights and access to courts must be protected. We acknowledge additional research into automated securement is proposed in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act and that vulnerable road user detection, including pedestrians and wheelchair users, is proposed in the Magnus White Safe Streets for Everyone Act. We support the automated securement provision and the Magnus White bill.
https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/EC-AV-Markup-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-020926-Final.pdf

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted comments for the record for the January 13, 2026 hearing on strengthening motor vehicle safety and cementing U.S. automative leadership. The comments read in part, While the question was asked of witnesses how the draft legislation would ensure access for people with disabilities, no concrete answers were given. To ensure people with disabilities benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs) the vehicles must accommodate passengers who remain in their wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities and AVs must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians. We acknowledge additional research into automated securement is proposed in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act and vulnerable road user detection is proposed in the Safe Streets for Everyone Act. Access and safety for disabled passengers is not addressed in the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026. To ensure American leadership in AVs and automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicles, we urge you to consider and prioritize the safety and access needs of disabled passengers and pedestrians.

United Spinal and other organizations as members of the United for Autonomy coalition, which has come together in recognition of the significant benefits that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will bring the American public and to encourage policymakers to set in place a federal policy framework on Avs, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The letter read in part, It is imperative that the United States create a federal policy framework on A Vs. In recent years, U.S. states have set the pace on AV policy, and it is long past time for the federal government to establish federal policy that supports safe autonomous deployment. We believe that such a framework will help ensure that millions of Americans are able to access the benefits of autonomous vehicles, which provide safer roads, greater supply chain resilience, and create new economic and enhanced accessibility opportunities for people with disabilities.
https://www.acb.org/sites/default/files/United%20for%20Autonomy%20letter%20to%20Senate%20Commerce%20hearing%20(1).pdf

United Spinal supported the testimony of Jeff Farrah, Chief Executive Officer, Autonomous Vehicle Association before the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 4, 2026, entitled hit the road, Mac: The Future of Self Driving Cars that dealt with wheelchair securement in vehicles.
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67ee365c25e6530594bd40c2/6983967231abcd56d42a55f4_Jeff%20Farrah%20-%20AVIA%20-%20Written%20Testimony%20-%20Hit%20the%20Road%20Mac.pdf

United Spinal, along with numerous other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 4, 2026, hearing titled Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars. The letter read in part, As noted in the hearing announcement, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to save lives and could also significantly expand mobility and independence for people with disabilities who are unable to drive, improving access to employment, healthcare, and the community.
https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/Commerce-AV-Hearing-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-Final020426.pdf

United Spinal, along with numerous other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force and friends submitted a letter for the record for the February 10, 2026, markup of legislation before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade to strengthen motor vehicle safety and advance U.S. automative leadership. The letter read in part, to allow people with disabilities to benefit from autonomous vehicles (AVs), the vehicles must accommodate passengers to remain in their personal wheelchairs, the human machine interface (HMI) must be accessible for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities, vehicles must be able to detect all types of disabled pedestrians, and disabled passengers and pedestrians rights and access to courts must be protected.
https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/EC-AV-Markup-Disability-Letter-for-the-Record-020926-Final.pdf

United Spinal submitted comments in response to the Department of Transportations request for contributions to the Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan, DOT-OST-2025-2085. The comments read in part, For the nations 5.5 million wheelchair users, strategic research and development planning can ultimately help in meeting daily transportation needs. That includes fulfilling employment or education needs, healthcare and fitness needs, but also civic and recreational opportunities. It will enrich families and social activities. All this stimulates economic benefits to the general economy.
https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2025-2085-0075/attachment_1.pdf

United Spinal continues to advocate for H.R. 4116 Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA) Paratransit one stop and data collection pilot program. The bill would establish an extra stop per trip program for passengers using paratransit serves and enhance data collection for paratransit programs to increase accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4116/

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

Transportation - Dept of (DOT), U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code VET

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal and other members of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, sent a letter to express support for H.R. 6835, the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act of 2025, to the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and other House sponsors. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to offer annual preventative health evaluations to veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders and increase access to state-of-the-art assistive mobility technologies, such as Exoskeletal systems and other neuromodulation technologies, which allow paralyzed veterans the ability to improve their function and even walk again.
https://itemcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/item-coalition-support-letter-for-h.r.-6835-the-veterans-stand-act-final.pdf

United Spinal and other members of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and
Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition sent a letter to sponsors of S. 3138, the Veterans Supporting
Prosthetics Opportunities and Recreational Therapy (SPORT) Act, which would provide
coverage under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit for prosthetic limbs that
veterans with limb loss use to participate in physical activities in order to remain fit, healthy, and
as functional as possible to express support. Specifically, this bill would recognize coverage of activity-specific prosthetic limbs as medically necessary under the VA benefit which the ITEM Coalition fully supports. As its title suggests, access to activity-specific prostheses would entail access to the recreational therapy veterans may need to learn how to safely perform these physical activities. https://itemcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/item-letter-of-support-for-s.-3138-the-veterans-sport-act-final.pdf

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code HCR

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal continued to advocate for H.R. 4206, the CONNECT for Health Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4206

United Spinal continues to advocate with members of Congress for increased federal funding for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems as well as the Burn Model Systems and the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Increased funding at all three Model Systems, including the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center is needed to translate data, research, and clinical knowledge into resources to benefit the SCI, TBI and burn injury communities.

United spinal continues to advocate about the concerns we have about proposals for major restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services programs. We want to make sure that critical programs, services, and funding for the disability and aging communities, such as the Centers for Independent Living, Home and Community-Based Services and the National Institute for Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) are not negatively impacted.

United Spinal continues to support timely wheelchair repairs legislation that is currently being drafted in the Senate.

United Spinal continues to support S.247 and H.R.1703, Improving access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs, which will allow individuals with mobility challenges to choose the wheelchair that is best suited for their medical, functional, and lifestyle needs and preferences, without increasing costs to the Medicare program. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1703/all-info

United Spinal continues advocating for restoring federal appropriations for the Department of Defenses Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP).

Advocated for Congress extending the current telehealth provisions before the last deadline and also support H.R. 1614 to make physical therapists and occupational therapists permanently authorized providers of telehealth under Medicare. H.R. 1614, the Expand Practitioners Eligible to Furnish Telehealth Services Under the Medicare Program Act, introduced by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Adrian Smith (R-NE) has bipartisan support to eliminate the need for continued extensions, instructing Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to permanently adopt the temporary waiver of restrictions on payment for telehealth services delivered by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other qualified healthcare.

United Spinal provided a letter of support for research proposal addressing chronic pain for submission to the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) PLACER mechanism.

United Spinal, as a member of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare
and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, along with numerous other organizations, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to express strong support for H.R. 5343, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated breakthrough devices and technologies are covered under Medicare during a four-year transitional period, while also establishing a pathway to make a permanent coverage determination. The ITEM Coalition believes this bill would be a positive step in the right direction towards ensuring timely access to breakthrough devices and technologies for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. The letter urged the House Energy & Commerce Committee to hold a markup on H.R. 5343 as soon as possible in the second session of the 119th Congress.
https://itemcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/item-letter-to-ec-re-h.r.5343-the-ensuring-patient-access-to-critical-breakthrough-products-act-final.pdf

United Spinal, as a member of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition steering committee, along with numerous other organizations, submitted comments of support in response to the U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) proposal to revoke rulings that currently allow certain portable aluminum ramps from China to enter the United States duty-free under subheading 9817.00.96 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule pursuant to the Nairobi Protocol.

United Spinal, along with numerous other steering committee members of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR), wrote to thank the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives and their appropriations colleagues for including critical funding for programs that are essential to individuals with disabilities, chronic conditions, and injuries in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education) appropriations conference report. The letter urged the House of Representatives to pass the important legislative package as expeditiously as possible to avoid another federal government shutdown on February 1, 2026.
https://preserverehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cpr-letter-to-house-leadership-re-fy-2026-labor-hhs-education-appropriations-package-final.pdf

United Spinal and other members of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR),wrote the sponsors of H.R. 5940/S. 3480, the Seniors Deserve Streamlined Medical Approvals for Timely, Efficient, Recovery (SMARTER) Care Act of 2025 to express strong support for this bipartisan legislation. The letter read in part, CPR believes this important legislation is urgently needed to protect Medicare beneficiaries from harmful disruptions in care by preventing the implementation of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) model, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026.
https://preserverehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cpr-letter-of-support-for-h.r.5940-the-seniors-deserve-smarter-care-act-final.pdf

United Spinal staff attended Unite2Fights 20th Annual Science & Advocacy Symposium Congressional briefing to advocate for spinal cord injury research and related issues.

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Health Task Force, submitted comments in response to the Department of Educations Request for Information about Artificial Intelligence, HHS Health Sector AI RFI, RIN 0955-AA13. The comments read in part, People with disabilities and their caregivers have significant concerns about the adoption and use of AI in clinical care. These concerns include a lack of transparency that make it hard or impossible to understand the basis for treatment reductions or denials, or even whether technology is being used, inadequate testing and auditing of the data and algorithms that drive AI decisions, and the absence of meaningful federal regulation and oversight. We urge the Department to review and consider the growing body of research and lived experience which shows that AI poses serious risks of harm,especially to people with disabilities. HHS must prioritize protecting people by carefully collecting, analyzing, and publicly sharing disaggregated data from all developers and deployers and by evaluating long-term patient outcomes before rapidly deploying new technology. HHS should not sacrifice these essential safeguards for health and safety for the sake of administrative convenience and speed. https://c-c-d.org/fichiers/CCD-Health-HHS-RFI-on-AI-2.23.2026.pdf

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Customs & Border Protection

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code HOM

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal along with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and numerous other organizations wrote to the Senate Majority Leader requesting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding be separated from the minibus appropriations package that included funding for the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Transportation (DOT
https://aahd.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AAPD-led-Letter-to-Senate-separate-HHS-and-DHS-funding-package-vote-01292026.pdf

United Spinal contacted local advocates to advise them of the National Council on Disabilitys January meeting in Orlando, Florida, focusing on disaster emergency and relief services and the opportunity to speak.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, Natl Council on Disability

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code EDU

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal expressed interest to a member of Congress in again supporting legislation entitled, Domenic and Eds Law. The bipartisan legislation would allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to be eligible for a student loan discharge. Under current law, a student who suffers an injury or illness resulting in a total and permanent disability (TPD) is eligible to have their federal student loans discharged. However, parents who have taken out student loans on their childs behalf do not have a similar recourse available. These parents are often left with the challenges of providing care for a disabled child while seeking to pay back loans for education their child can no longer fully take advantage of.

United Spinal and other members of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR), submitted comments to the Secretary of Education in response to the Department of Educations proposal implementing the student financial aid provisions under Public Law 119-21, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), specifically the definition of professional degree programs. The comments read in part, CPR has significant concerns with this proposal and believes that all students pursuing accredited post-baccalaureate health professional degrees generally required for licensure or certification-regardless of discipline-should be treated equitably in loan eligibility, borrowing limits, and access to repayment programs.
https://preserverehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/cpr-comments-to-doe-on-professional-degrees-final.pdf

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Education - Dept of

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code GOV

16. Specific lobbying issues

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies to respectfully request support for the inclusion of $10.5 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Senate Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies bill to fund the United States Access Board. This funding request represents a $500,000 increase from FY2026 and is critical to strengthening enforcement of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies to respectfully request support for the inclusion of $10.5 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 House Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies bill to fund the United States Access Board. This funding request represents a $500,000 increase from FY2026 and is critical to strengthening enforcement of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, wrote to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting the inclusion of $42 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations (LHHS) bill for the Assistive Technology (AT) Act Programs. Further, respectfully requested that instructions be included to eliminate the following language from the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Act (AT Act) that states provide $2,000,000 for competitive grants to support existing and new alternative financing programs that provide for the purchase of AT devices. With this change, we further request that the available $2 million be allocated directly to the AT Act (which contributes to the increased total requested of $42 million).

United Spinal and other members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, requested the bipartisan leadership of the House Appropriations Committees Subcommittee on labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies to support including $42 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations (LHHS) bill for the Assistive Technology (AT) Act Programs. The letter read in part, Further, we respectfully request instructions be included to eliminate the following language from the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Act (AT Act) that states provide $2,000,000 for competitive grants to support existing and new alternative financing programs that provide for the purchase of AT devices.With this change, we further request that the available $2 million be allocated directly to the AT Act (which contributes to the increased total requested of $42 million).

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

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Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE

29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
No Yes