[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES 
                                  ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 1994

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today at the White House 
nearly 3,000 people joined the President and Mrs. Clinton, Vice 
President and Mrs. Gore, and a number of our colleagues to mark the 
fourth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act [ADA]. I want to take this opportunity to commend the National 
Council on Disability for their work in creating the ADA and for now 
ensuring its implementation. I also would like to commend President 
Clinton for his wise decision to appoint my friend, Ms. Marca Bristo as 
the chairperson of this distinguished council.
  Four years ago yesterday, the ADA became law. Its passage marked one 
of this body's finest moments. We came together to extend true civil 
rights to millions of Americans who had been locked out and segregated 
from society. People with disabilities issued us a challenge to 
reaffirm the principles of equality and justice upon which our Nation 
was founded and I am proud of the way we rose to meet that challenge.
  Now, people with disabilities, along with millions of other 
Americans, have issued another challenge. They have challenged us to 
affirm by our actions that decent health care is a right for all 
Americans.
  Perhaps the single most significant barrier which remains for the 
disabled is the lack of access to quality health care coverage. Of 
course, this barrier is faced by millions of nondisabled Americans as 
well.
  As we rose to the challenge of the ADA for the rights of people with 
disabilities, I urge my colleagues to rise to this most recent 
challenge from Americans to guarantee the basic right of every American 
to quality health care coverage which cannot be taken away.
  We will be judged by America for the way we respond to this 
challenge. I hope that I am as proud of our action on health care as I 
was of our efforts on the ADA 4 years ago.

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