[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REGARDING SENATE FLOOR ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 110, which was 
reported by the Rules Committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 110) to permit an individual with a 
     disability with access to the Senate floor to bring necessary 
     supporting aids and services.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I first wish to thank the chairman of the 
Rules Committee, the Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for his 
cooperation in moving forward with such an extremely important matter. 
Because of its significance, I think it would be useful for us to 
engage in a colloquy to enlighten the Senate further as to the intent 
of this resolution.
  It is my understanding that the purpose of this resolution is to 
clarify that individuals with disabilities who have been given the 
privilege of access to the Senate floor under rule XXIII of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate may bring necessary supporting aids or 
services onto the floor. This will ensure that the staff of a Senator 
wishes to have on the floor will not be denied the privilege of the 
floor because the staffer happens to use a guide dog or a wheelchair. 
This resolution is intended to be broadly interpreted to cover all 
individuals with disabilities. Is my understanding correct that this is 
the purpose of the resolution?
  Mr. WARNER. That is correct. By adopting this resolution, the Senate 
hopes to be a model for the country in its treatment of individuals 
with disabilities. The Senate intends to be nondiscriminatory and 
accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities who may use 
supporting aids or services. For purposes of this resolution, 
individuals with disabilities are those who have a physical or mental 
impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life 
activities, and supporting aids and services are not intended to be 
limited to the illustrative examples provided in the resolution.
  Mr. WYDEN. The resolution also contains a condition on the use of 
supporting aids and services where such use would place a significant 
difficulty or expense on the operations of the Senate. Is my 
understanding correct that this undue burden language is intended to 
apply only in very unusual circumstances, such as where significant 
architectural modifications might be necessary?
  Mr. WARNER. That is correct. This modifying language would apply only 
in extreme circumstances.
  Mr. WYDEN. I have one final question: is my understanding correct 
that the Rules Committee has written a letter of guidance to assist the 
Sergeant at Arms in interpreting and implementing this resolution?
  Mr. WARNER. That is correct. The Rules Committee will send a letter 
of guidance to the Sergeant at Arms that should be used in interpreting 
the resolution.
  Mr. WYDEN. I again want to express my appreciation to the Senator 
from Virginia, the chairman of the Rules Committee, for his commitment 
to this issue and thank the Rules Committee for moving this resolution 
to the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the resolution appear at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 110) was agreed to as follows:

                              S. Res. 110

       Resolved, That an individual with a disability who has or 
     is granted the privilege of the Senate floor under rule XXIII 
     of the Standing Rules of the Senate may bring necessary 
     supporting aids and services (including service dogs, 
     wheelchairs, and interpreters) on the Senate floor, unless 
     the Senate Sergeant at Arms determines that the use of such 
     supporting aids and services would place a significant 
     difficulty or expense on the operations of the Senate in 
     accordance with paragraph 2 of rule 4 of the Rules for 
     Regulation of the Senate Wing of the United States Capitol.

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