[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 85 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PASSING OF JUSTIN DART, JR.

 Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, our Nation lost a true champion 
on June 22, when Justin Dart, Jr. passed away in his sleep at the age 
of 71. Afflicted with polio at a young age, Justin Dart didn't let his 
wheelchair get in the way of fighting for the rights of the disabled 
for more than five decades. Today, millions of disabled Americans have 
more opportunities and better access to public facilities because of 
the tireless work and dedication of Justin Dart.
  From 1988 to 1990, he served as Chairman of the Congressional Task 
Force on the Rights and Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities and 
was instrumental in getting the Americans with Disabilities Act signed 
into law in 1990. To ensure its passage, Justin literally visited all 
fifty states to educate Americans about the barriers people with 
disabilities face every day in their lives, and he spent countless days 
on Capitol Hill to make the ADA a reality.
  In 1998, to honor his lifelong public service, President Clinton 
awarded Justin Dart our Nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of 
Freedom, and told those who gathered to honor him that Justin had 
``literally opened the doors of opportunities to millions of our 
citizens by securing one of the Nation's landmark civil rights laws.'' 
Such tremendous desire to help secure the rights of others defined the 
life of Justin Dart. America is a better place because of his great 
work.
  I know that I speak for all Americans when I say that we will miss 
you, Justin, but a day will never go by without us seeing the doors you 
opened for so many with disabilities.

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