H.R. 4853: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-29 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2021

Plain summary

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2021 This bill requires certain medical devices with a digital interface to meet nonvisual accessibility standards established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Specifically, the FDA must establish regulations to require a Class II or Class III medical device with a digital interface to provide a blind or low-vision user access to the same services and information, and generally the same ease of use, as provided to a user who is not low-vision or blind. (The FDA classifies medical devices in three classes. Class I devices are low-risk, Class II devices are moderate-risk, and Class III devices are high-risk.) A Class II or Class III medical device that does not meet the nonvisual accessibility standards established under this bill may not be sold.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · 65 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mark Pocan (D-WI), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Josh Harder (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Mike Quigley (D-IL) and 5 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] reported raising $415,385 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr4853.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4853 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117