[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   SENATOR DOLE'S FIRST SENATE SPEECH

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam President, 49 years ago today, on a hillside near 
Bologna, Italy, a young lieutenant lead his squad through a complex 
array of bunkers and gun emplacements manned by German defenders. While 
executing a flanking maneuver, the squad approached a farmhouse from 
which German machinegun fire was coming. The young lieutenant was 
severely and gravely wounded. He lie face down in the mud, paralyzed 
from his neck down, his collarbone crushed, his lung punctured, and his 
vertebrae damaged.
  He endured numerous operations, and for nearly a year the wounded 
soldier could not feed himself, not even the basic elements of personal 
care. It took even longer for him to be able to dress himself without 
assistance. When he was wounded, he weighed 194 pounds. One year later, 
he weighed 122 pounds. He ultimately spent 39 months in rehabilitation 
hospitals, and death was near several times.
  Movement gradually returned to his body, and his last operation took 
place in November 1947. Through sheer guts, determination, mental 
toughness, and faith the young man not only survived, he excelled. He 
went back to college. He received a law degree in 1952. He was elected 
to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1950. In 1960, he was elected 
to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1968, he was elected to the 
Senate.
  As a Senator, he wanted to be very sure that his first speech in this 
remarkable Chamber was a significant one; that it dealt with an issue 
which combined what was in his heart with his vision for Federal policy 
in the future. And, of course, there were many things going on in our 
Nation during that turbulent period--the Vietnam war, campus dissent, 
inner-city riots. There was surely no shortage for potential topics.
  I am told that he and his staff received thousands of suggestions for 
this first speech. I am also informed that there was never any doubt in 
the mind of this new Senator as to what the topic of that speech would 
be.
  Twenty-five years ago today the junior Senator from Kansas then, now 
our friend, our leader, Bob Dole, rose on this floor to discuss an 
issue with which he was intimately familiar, and for which he had a 
remarkable vision: Federal disability policy. I understand that it was 
the first time that a Senator had ever addressed disability as a 
personal issue as well as a national issue on the floor of the Senate.
  The speech was a comprehensive discussion of the broad sweep of 
disability issues. He spoke of concepts like independence for people 
with disabilities, such ideas that are mainstream today, but they were 
not 25 years ago.
  He talked about where our Government was on disability policy issues, 
where it needed to be in terms of employment issues, transportation 
issues, architectural barriers, better health care, education issues, 
technology for the disabled, how Federal tax policy might assist those 
with disabilities, private sector-public sector partnerships, and how 
to better incorporate the family of those with disabilities.
  The recurring theme of the speech was how our policy might best help 
to move along those who had disabilities, from their feelings of 
helplessness and hopelessness, and move them along toward greater 
independence and security.
  Madam President, today, Senator Dole came to the floor, and in 
commemoration of his speech 25 years ago, he outlined where we are 
today in regard to Federal disability policy. I certainly concur with 
my friend, Bob Dole. We have come a very long way since 1969. Great 
progress has been made in all the areas he discussed in that first 
speech.
  He should be especially proud of his critical leadership role in the 
passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a bill which also had 
the strong support of so many on both sides of the aisle and President 
George Bush.
  Much of the progress that has been made in the area of disability 
policy in this country is due to the leadership of this one respected 
man, our Republican leader. There is no one in Congress that has done 
more for those who have disabilities or who has helped more to increase 
the awareness and sensitivities of those Americans who do not. That has 
been one of his greatest contributions as a Member of Congress, and 
there are many.
  However, Senator Dole also noted that there is still much to do in 
the area of disability policy. As so many of our colleagues in Congress 
have done in the last 25 years, I intend to follow the leadership of 
Senator Bob Dole as he continues to point out areas where we must do 
better, how we might best accomplish our Nation's goals.
  I am so very proud to serve as assistant Republican leader to a 
highly regarded man who has such a superb record not only in defense, 
law and order, civil rights, foreign and trade policy issues, but on a 
great number of critical domestic issues, none of which may be more 
important to him than the Federal disability policies of our country.
  So congratulations to our friend, my friend, my leader. It is a great 
honor to serve as a lieutenant to this fine captain who proved himself 
not only in the field of battle but in the fray here which can 
sometimes be nearly as brutal but without the shellfire.
  So congratulations to him on the 25th anniversary of his first of so 
many important speeches on this floor. I am very proud of this man.

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