[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 247 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 247

  Designating July 29, 2017, as ``Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 3, 2017

  Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Isakson, and Ms. Klobuchar) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating July 29, 2017, as ``Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day''.

Whereas, in 2015, roughly 53,000,000 people in the United States reported living 
        with some type of impairment;
Whereas, in 2015, roughly 3,800,000 veterans in the United States reported 
        living with a service-related disability;
Whereas adaptive sports for individuals with impairments have existed for more 
        than 100 years;
Whereas, after World War II, adaptive sports were widely introduced in order to 
        assist the large number of World War II veterans and civilians that were 
        injured during wartime;
Whereas July 29, 1948, marks the date of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 
        Olympic Games in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, where Dr. Ludwig 
        Guttmann organized the first wheelchair competition for service men and 
        women injured in World War II (also known as the ``Stoke Madeville 
        Games'');
Whereas the Stoke Mandeville Games, in 2017, ultimately evolved into the 
        Paralympic Games and include athletes with physical, visual, and 
        intellectual impairments;
Whereas the International Paralympic Movement celebrates values such as courage, 
        determination, inspiration, and equality, and works to enable Paralympic 
        athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the 
        world;
Whereas Paralympians in the United States continue to achieve competitive 
        excellence, preserve ideals and values of the International Paralympic 
        Movement, and inspire all people in the United States;
Whereas 18 veterans were members of Team USA at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games 
        held in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, and 35 veterans were members of 
        Team USA at the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games held in Rio de Janeiro, 
        Brazil;
Whereas participation in the Paralympic Games, other adaptive sport 
        competitions, and athletic reconditioning activities such as the 
        Paralympic Military Program plays a fundamental role for members of the 
        Armed Forces and veterans who are reintegrating into civilian life, and 
        can enable those individuals to gain a new purpose in life by extending 
        their physical limits during rehabilitation in order to rebuild and 
        recover personal identity, formulate adaptive strategies for life, and 
        achieve athletic excellence;
Whereas a celebration of Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day will improve 
        communities in the United States and uplift and inspire the Paralympic 
        champions of the future;
Whereas Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day will encourage the youth in the United 
        States to participate in and support the practical inclusion of all 
        people in sports; and
Whereas Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day creates awareness of and understanding 
        toward individuals with impairments: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates July 29, 2017, as ``Paralympic and Adaptive 
        Sport Day'';
            (2) supports the inclusive goals and ideals of the 
        International Paralympic Movement, as well as opportunities for 
        individuals with impairments to be full contributing 
        participants in society;
            (3) acknowledges the extraordinary contribution and 
        sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces and veterans who 
        have sustained a traumatic injury and impairment while serving 
        the United States;
            (4) promotes a more inclusive society for all individuals 
        with impairments through Paralympic and adaptive sports 
        throughout the United States; and
            (5) promotes the values of the International Paralympic 
        Movement, including courage, determination, inspiration, and 
        equality.
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