[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 106 (Thursday, July 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the occasion of the eleventh 
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which works on 
protecting our citizens with both hidden and visible disabilities from 
discrimination.
  The Americans with Disabilities Act has been protecting citizens of 
this great nation for the past eleven years. In fact, 52.6 million 
Americans live with some level of a disability. That translates into 
one in every 5 people. In fact, one in every eight U.S. residents has a 
severe disability.
  This Act does not allow people to discriminate against people with 
disabilities and requires that necessary accommodations be made to 
assist the disabled. Commonplace amenities such as elevators and ramps 
in all new buildings were virtually unheard of before the passing of 
the 1990 act. What is now viewed as a regular feature in movie theaters 
and other venues, listening aids were once uncommon and unavailable. 
One of the most recent triumphs of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
has been the United States Supreme Court Ruling that a golf cart must 
be supplied to disabled golfer, Casey Martin, for his PGA Tournaments. 
The Americans with Disabilities Act also extends to non-physical and 
more often hidden disabilities, allowing at the most basic level 
accommodations to be made for students in schools nationwide as well as 
elected officials, many of whom would never have had an opportunity for 
public service without ADA.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past eleven years the Americans with 
Disabilities Act has been an integral part of this nation. As such, the 
Americans with Disabilities Act is more than worthy of receiving our 
recognition today. I hope that all my colleagues will join me in 
commemorating this truly remarkable law.

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