The ''Randolph–Sheppard Act'', 20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq., is a
federal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join in a federation, delegating their individual sovereignty and many po ...
which mandates a priority to
blind persons to operate
vending facilities on Federal property.
History
The Act became law after it was enacted by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
and signed by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
on June 20, 1936. The Act's primary sponsor was Representative
Jennings Randolph
Jennings Randolph (March 8, 1902May 8, 1998) was an American politician from West Virginia. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1947 and the United States Senate from 1958 to ...
(D-WV). Senator
Morris Sheppard
John Morris Sheppard (May 28, 1875April 9, 1941) was a Democratic United States Congressman and United States Senator from Texas. He authored the Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition) and introduced it in the Senate, and is referred to as "the fa ...
(D-TX) was the bill's major sponsor in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
. The Act was amended and updated significantly in 1974, with then Senator Jennings Randolph pushing the legislation through Congress almost singlehandedly. Among the people and organizations working to amend the Act were Durward McDaniel, National Representative of the
American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a nationwide organization in the United States. It is an organization mainly made up of blind and visually impaired people who want to achieve independence and equality (although there are many sighted m ...
, Irving Schloss, with the
American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is an American non-profit organization for people with vision loss. AFB's objectives include conducting research to advance change, promoting knowledge and understanding, and shaping policies and practice ...
, and John Nagle, with the
National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is an organization of blind people in the United States. It is the oldest and largest organization led by blind people in the United States. Its national headquarters are in Baltimore, Maryland.
Overvie ...
. The 1974 amendments became law on December 7, 1974.
With his Special Counsel on the Senate
Labor and Public Welfare Committee, Robert Humphreys, Esq., Senator Randolph developed numerous innovations in the Randolph-Sheppard program by expanding opportunities for blind vendors; entitling blind vendors and their State licensing agencies to income from vending machines on all Federal property; providing full
due process
Due process of law is application by state of all legal rules and principles pertaining to the case so all legal rights that are owed to the person are respected. Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual pers ...
to aggrieved blind vendors which enables them to resolve disputes with State agencies through hearings, arbitrations, and Federal court appeals; the creation of elected committees of blind vendors in each state with a Randolph-Sheppard program which are responsible for representing all the blind vendors in a state; creating a priority (rather than the mere preference that existed prior to 1974) for the operation of blind vending facilities on all Federal property.
It was hoped and expected at the time the 1974 amendments became law that the blind vending facility program could double in size within five years. That hope was optimistic, and a number of impediments to the program's progress have emerged over the years. Senator Randolph was the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Handicapped of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee, and was responsible for the enactment of other important legislation to improve the lives of people with disabilities, including the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 () is a United States federal law, codified at et seq. The principal sponsor of the bill was Rep. John Brademas (D-IN-3). The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 replaces preexisting laws (collectively referred to as the V ...
, and the
Education of All Handicapped Children Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs. IDEA was ...
.
Operation and management of the Randolph-Sheppard Program
The Randolph-Sheppard program operates in nearly every State through State licensing agencies as directed in the Code of Federal Regulations. National management and support are provided under the law by the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the
Department of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
. There are some 2,500 blind vendors operating throughout the United States, managing businesses that run the gamut of food service and vending, from snack bars, gift shops, cafeterias, and highway rest stop vending operations, to major food service operations through military dining contracts. The
gross national revenue from such operations now exceeds $800 million annually.
[ (See RS-15 Reports issued by the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration.)]
References
External links
Randolph-Sheppard Actfrom the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, Inc.
under the U.S. Dept. of Education
National Association of Blind Merchants an association of blind merchants providing training, advocacy and marketing services
National Federation of the Blind oldest consumer organization of blind people providing an array of programs targeted to the blind in business, as well as an array of other constituencies
Braille Readers are Leaders in 2007 Congress mandated the minting of the Louis Braille commemorative coin.
Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, Inc.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Randolph-Sheppard Act
1936 in law
United States federal civil rights legislation
United States federal disability legislation
Blindness