[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1773 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1773

 Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many United States 
  postal facilities for all people in the United States in particular 
                           disabled citizens.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2010

Mr. Murphy of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. 
     Courtney, Ms. DeLauro, and Mr. Himes) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
 Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 
   Labor, the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and 
   Infrastructure, 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 the need to improve physical access to many United States 
  postal facilities for all people in the United States in particular 
                           disabled citizens.

Whereas in 2008, 12.1 percent of all United States citizens reported some 
        disability, amounting to over 36,000,000 people;
Whereas in 2008, 16.9 percent of veterans, amounting to over 13,000,000 United 
        States citizens, reported a service related disability to the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs;
Whereas according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, the 
        number of United States citizens reporting a disability is at a 20-year 
        high;
Whereas the Architectural Barriers Act, was first enacted in 1968 to ensure that 
        certain federally funded facilities are designed and constructed to be 
        accessible to people with disabilities and requires that public 
        buildings, including post offices and other Federal facilities, have at 
        least one handicap accessible path and entrance;
Whereas automatic doors, though not mandated by either the Architectural 
        Barriers Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act, provide a greater 
        degree of self-sufficiency and dignity for disabled United States 
        citizens, as well as the frail elderly who have limited strength to open 
        a manual door;
Whereas a report commissioned by the Access Board, an independent Federal agency 
        created to ensure access to federally funded facilities, recommends that 
        all new buildings used by the public should have at least one automated 
        door at an accessible entrance, with an exception for small buildings 
        where adding such a door may be a financial hardship for building 
        owners;
Whereas States and municipalities have begun to recognize the importance of 
        automatic doors in approving accessibility as Connecticut State law 
        requires automatic doors in certain shopping malls and retail 
        businesses, Delaware requires an automatic door or calling device for 
        newly constructed places of accommodation, and the District of Columbia 
        has a similar requirement;
Whereas the U.S. General Services Administration's Facilities Standards for the 
        Public Buildings Service requires automation of at least one exterior 
        door for all newly constructed or renovated General Service 
        Administration facilities, including post offices;
Whereas over the past 5 years, 71 percent of complaints received by the Access 
        Board regarding the Architectural Barriers Act have concerned a post 
        office or other postal facility;
Whereas the Postal Service employees 596,000 people, making it the Nation's 
        second-largest civilian employer;
Whereas 7,000,000 people a day visit one of the over 36,400 post offices in the 
        United States; and
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of equality and freedom, and 
        these laws ensure that all citizens, even those with disabilities, are 
        able to engage as equal members of society: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the immense hardships that disabled United 
        States citizens must overcome everyday;
            (2) reaffirms its support of the Architectural Barriers Act 
        and the Americans with Disabilities Act and full compliance of 
        the laws;
            (3) recommends that the United States Postal Service and 
        other public agencies install power-assisted doors to ensure 
        equal access to all citizens; and
            (4) pledges to continue to work to identify and rectify the 
        barriers that are preventing all United States citizens from 
        having equal access to the services provided by the Federal 
        Government.
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