109 HRES 378 IH: Recognizing and honoring the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. U.S. House of Representatives 2005-07-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 109th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 378 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2005 Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Owens, Mr. Ramstad, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Coble, Mr. Smith of Texas, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Pryce of Ohio, and Mr. Reynolds) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Whereas July 26, 2005, marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Whereas the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act was— (1)to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (2)to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (3)to ensure that the Federal government plays a central role in enforcing the standards established in the Act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and (4)to invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the 14th amendment to the Constitution and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with disabilities; Whereas Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act after two years of extensive and exhaustive hearings detailing the historic and staggering isolation faced by people with disabilities; Whereas, prior to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities faced significantly lower employment rates, lower graduation rates, and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities, and were too often denied the opportunity to fully participate in society due to intolerance and unfair stereotypes; Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed because existing Federal and State laws were insufficient to address the pervasive discrimination that existed for disabled Americans; Whereas Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, and President George H.W. Bush signed the bill into law on July 26, 1990; Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act established the world’s first comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in the areas of employment, public accommodations, public services, transportation, and telecommunications; Whereas, in the 15 years since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, significant changes have occurred in the United States to— (1)facilitate greater inclusion and accessibility for millions of people with disabilities; (2)increase the empowerment of individuals with disabilities toward greater independence and self-sufficiency; and (3)reduce unfounded negative impressions and stereotypes about people with disabilities, and to foster greater understanding and tolerance in society; and Whereas commemorating the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act both highlights the achievements that people with disabilities have gained since passage of the Act and recognizes the work left to be done to ensure that disabled Americans are fully able to participate in society: Now therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes and honors the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (2)recognizes and appreciates the work of the countless individuals and organizations in the disability rights community who fought tirelessly to advance the cause of people with disabilities, leading to the passage and enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and who continue to work towards improving the lives of disabled Americans; (3)reaffirms its commitment to promoting the civil and constitutional rights of Americans with disabilities and recognizes the important role of the Nation’s Federal courts in securing the rights of Americans under the Americans with Disabilities Act; (4)continues to strongly support the purposes and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and (5)encourages all Americans to recognize and celebrate the important historical significance of this Act.