Post by bot on Jul 31, 2015 20:13:30 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Sunday, July 26:
“Twenty-five years ago, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA has since been recognized as one of the most important civil rights victories in our nation’s history, ending generations of exclusion and dependency for tens of millions of Americans with differing abilities and opening doors of opportunity to the workplace, marketplace, schools, and public transportation. Moreover, as people with disabilities have become more visible within our economy and society, and as their contributions have been recognized, attitudes have changed as well, and the stigma they once bore is disappearing. The ADA has also spurred a global movement for the rights of those with disabilities and was the inspiration behind the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which I urge the Senate to ratify.
“Sponsoring the ADA in the House was one of the proudest accomplishments of my time in public service, and I was honored to work with legislators like Ted Kennedy, Tony Coelho, Tom Harkin, Bob Dole, Steve Bartlett, and Orrin Hatch to move the ADA successfully through Congress so it could be signed into law in one of the great bipartisan successes of our time. Crucial to that effort was a grassroots movement of individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, family members, and advocacy groups, which drew Congress’s attention to the challenges those with differing abilities had faced. The ADA brought about more than public accommodation – it brought independence and dignity to millions.
“As we mark this milestone anniversary, let us rededicate ourselves to the task of securing full equality, access, and opportunity for those with differing abilities and continue working to ensure that every American can contribute to their fullest measure in our shared project of a better future for our nation and the world.”
Visit www.democraticwhip.gov for more press, floor and member resources.