[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4707-H4710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING AND HONORING JUSTIN W. DART, JR.

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 460) recognizing and honoring Justin W. Dart, Jr., 
for his accomplishments on behalf of individuals with disabilities and 
expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his 
family on his death.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes Justin W. Dart, Jr., as one of the true 
     champions of the rights of individuals with disabilities and 
     for his many contributions to the Nation throughout his 
     lifetime, and honors him for his tireless efforts to improve 
     the lives of individuals with disabilities; and
       (2) recognizes that the achievements of Justin Dart, Jr., 
     have inspired and encouraged millions of Americans with 
     disabilities to overcome obstacles and barriers so they can 
     lead more independent and successful lives.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H. Res. 460.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 460, which 
recognizes and honors Justin W. Dart, Jr., a man who was a tireless 
advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The resolution 
also expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives to Mr. 
Dart's family on his recent death.
  Mr. Dart was known as a pioneer and leader in the disability rights 
movement, and his accomplishments and advocacy in that arena have 
spanned over 4 decades. Mr. Dart became a civil rights activist for 
individuals with disabilities following contracting polio in 1948.
  Mr. Dart served in many leadership positions within the area of 
disability policy and was appointed to such positions by five 
Presidents, five Governors, and Congress, by Republican and Democrat 
alike. Along with participating in national policy development, 
including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Mr. Dart also 
sponsored formal and informal programs of independent-living training 
for individuals with disabilities.
  Again, I am pleased to recognize and honor the accomplishments of 
Justin W. Dart, Jr., and I urge my colleagues to support this important 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 460. This 
resolution fittingly honors and celebrates the life of Justin W. Dart, 
Jr., a civil rights pioneer for individuals with disabilities. Sadly, 
he passed away at the end of June, leaving our Nation to mourn him, but 
also to recognize his legacy of accomplishments.
  Justin Dart is remembered for his tireless work on behalf of 
individuals with disabilities and ensuring their ability to fully 
participate in life. His spirit and efforts to better opportunities for 
individuals with disabilities was a constant focus since he contracted 
polio at age 18. Justin Dart's determination for success led him to 
establish a successful business that employed disabled individuals, but 
also to fight for the civil rights of all Americans.
  Justin received numerous awards and recognitions during his lifetime, 
including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to him by President 
Clinton in 1998. Justin also held numerous positions within the 
disability community, including vice chairperson of the National 
Council on Disability, commissioner of the Rehabilitative Services 
Administration, and chairman of the President's Committee on Employment 
of People with Disabilities.
  Justin is best remembered, however, for his tireless work to enact 
the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has literally opened the 
doors of opportunity to millions of disabled Americans, ensuring they 
can work, go to school, and access facilities to the same extent as 
nondisabled individuals. Without Justin's work on this legislation, I 
am certain there would be no ADA today. The ADA is a living monument to 
his spirit and his determination.
  Our thoughts go out to Yoshiko Dart, Justin's wife, and his family 
for their loss. As individuals and institutions around the world 
celebrate Justin Dart's life, it is only fitting the House recognizes 
him for his lifetime of contributions to the civil rights cause of 
individuals with disabilities. His legacy and his tireless work is an 
inspiration to us all.
  Mr. Speaker, I had intimate, personal knowledge of Justin Dart and 
his amazing energy and dedication as reflected in the spirit with which 
he approached the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I 
know as no one else knows that the Americans with Disabilities Act 
would never have been passed had it not been for Justin Dart. Justin 
Dart at the very beginning of the act's preparation, our effort to pass 
it, recognized the complexity of the bill. The ADA was a bill which had 
jurisdiction spread throughout all the committees of Congress. There 
were many people who predicted it could never pass. The ADA, however, 
moved forward and had a momentum that was mysterious to many people, 
but I clearly understood what was happening.
  Every Congressman tells the advocates of any piece of legislation 
that the first thing they have to do is go out

[[Page H4708]]

and get the sentiment of their own Congressman involved, to arouse the 
constituency of each Congressman who is involved in order to make 
certain that the bill is given the proper attention in this House. In 
the case of the ADA, I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears 
a monumental effort led by Justin Dart.
  He put together a task force which visited every one of the 50 
States. In every one of those 50 States, they made certain that 
somebody from every congressional district was present at a meeting or 
a hearing and went forward to talk to their own Congressman about the 
ADA. I recall conducting some hearings in some of the States as a 
result of the request of Justin Dart and the task force and they were 
monumental experiences. I do recall in Boston holding a hearing that 
lasted from 10 in the morning until 5, or it was supposed to last 10 to 
5, it went 10 to 6, and had 90 witnesses. They actually had 90 
witnesses. They were very disciplined. They held them to a 2- to 3-
minute limit. Many of them could not speak. They had to have people to 
speak for them. Some of them had to use devices or machines to help 
speak for them. It was an unprecedented hearing; but they were all 
determined to be heard, and they were heard that day in Boston.
  I recall in Houston, Texas, where one of the people who was a sworn 
opponent against the travel provisions of the ADA, the head of the 
Houston transportation system, he was known as an opponent against the 
bill, but he came in and he testified on behalf of the bill because he 
had suddenly seen the light. He not only testified but he said that it 
was a shibboleth that was being erected by his colleagues across the 
country in terms of their objections to the bill because of possible 
high cost. He said that the cost of the additional services that were 
being provided to people with disabilities would probably be no greater 
than the amount of money spent on conventions and travel by the various 
transportation authorities across the country. This hardball opponent 
concluded by reciting ``Gray's Elegy'' and tears were in his eyes when 
he sat down from his testimony. It was one of the most moving 
experiences I have ever had. Justin Dart and the legions he rounded up 
in every State inspired that kind of response across America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from New 
York for yielding me this time.
  The gentleman and I were very much involved in the passage of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act. No one who was involved in the passage 
of that act could not know Justin Dart. No one could possibly miss the 
incredible contribution he made to the passage of that most significant 
civil rights legislation in a quarter of a century. The gentleman from 
New York was a key part of the leadership in passing that bill in this 
House, as was Steve Bartlett, my Republican counterpart, who was 
assigned by his leadership, Bob Michel, to work with me, I was assigned 
by Speaker Foley, to work on this bill. Both of us knew that we owed 
Justin Dart an incredible debt.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a deep sense of loss, as well as a sincere 
appreciation, that I come to the floor to commemorate the passing on 
June 22 of a dear friend, a personal hero, and a truly extraordinary 
human being. For nearly 5 decades, Justin Dart, Jr., was one of the 
world's most courageous, passionate and effective advocates for civil 
and human rights. He was perhaps best known, as I have said, as the 
father of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the landmark 
civil rights law signed by President Bush that opened the door of 
equality to millions of our disabled brothers and sisters. Many called 
him properly the Martin Luther King of the disability civil rights 
movement. He thought of himself, however, in more humble terms, simply 
as a soldier of justice. But the undeniable moral clarity of his life's 
work, the inspirational, persistent march for equal treatment, respect 
and human dignity invites such comparisons.
  Dr. King famously said, and I quote, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat 
to justice everywhere.'' Justin Dart understood that truth and he acted 
on it, devoting his life to fighting discrimination, empowering the 
disabled and comforting the dispossessed. Justin Dart was born to 
privilege, the son of a wealthy industrialist who was a close adviser 
to President Reagan. His grandfather founded the Walgreen's drug store 
chain. Yet underachievement characterized his early life. He attended 
seven high schools and broke Humphrey Bogart's all-time record for 
demerits earned as a student at the elite Andover prep school.
  Then, in 1948, his life changed forever. Just 18 years of age, he 
contracted polio which left him in a wheelchair for the next 52 years. 
He did not grieve. In fact, he said, and I quote, ``I count the good 
days in my life from the time I got polio. These beautiful people not 
only saved my life, they made it worth saving.''
  What an incredible statement for a man struck down in the early prime 
of his life, serving the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

                              {time}  1500

  That life was dramatic testimony to the ability he had while some 
looked at him as having a disability.
  Justin went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees at the 
University of Houston, where he organized an ``Integration Club'' at 
the then all-white institution. He wanted to become a teacher, but the 
university withheld his teaching certificate because of his wheelchair 
use.
  In 1963, he started Japan Tupperware and, in just 2 years, the 
company expanded from three employees to 25,000 employees. Not 
surprisingly, Justin took severely disabled Japanese out of 
institutions and gave them paying jobs.
  It is also in Japan that he met his wife of 39 years, Yoshiko Dart. 
What an extraordinary person she is as well.
  In 1974, Justin and Yoshiko moved to Texas where they immersed 
themselves in disability activism; and then in 1981, President Reagan 
appointed him to be vice-chair of the National Council on Disability. 
In that position, Justin Dart helped draft a national policy calling 
for civil rights legislation to end discrimination against people with 
disabilities, an action which laid the foundation for the Americans 
With Disabilities Act signed on July 26, 1990.
  In the 1980s, Justin also served as head of the Rehabilitation 
Services Administration, chair of the President's Committee on 
Employment of People With Disabilities, and chair of the Congressional 
Task Force on the Rights and Empowerment of People With Disabilities. 
However, despite his various positions and duties, the high point of 
his 5 decades, 5 decades in the civil rights movement, was the passage 
of the ADA.
  As the lead House sponsor of the ADA, along with the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Owens) and a few others, I saw firsthand how Justice 
crisscrossed the country, at his own expense, building grass-roots 
support for its passage. As a matter of fact, in the last 16 years of 
his life, hear this, Justin Dart, on behalf of ADA implementation and 
ADA passage, visited every State in the Union at least five times. This 
man in a wheelchair, struck down by polio at the age of 18, in the last 
16 years of his life visited every one of the 50 States at least five 
times on behalf of the cause that was his life.
  Its enactment was singular testimony to his ability, his passion, and 
his determined spirit. Fittingly, President Bush presented Justin with 
the first pen he used to sign the ADA into law during a ceremony on the 
South Lawn. Eight years later, President Clinton awarded Justin the 
Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, remarking that Justin had 
``literally opened the doors of opportunities to millions of our 
citizens by securing passage of one of the Nation's landmark civil 
rights laws.''
  Mr. Speaker, the great American humorist Will Rogers once said, ``It 
is only the inspiration of those who die that makes those who live 
realize what constitutes a useful life.'' Justin Dart, Jr., has left a 
legacy of lives touched and hearts changed. We are the beneficiaries of 
his love, his compassion, and his devotion to equality. It now falls to 
us, Mr. Speaker, all of us, to carry on the fight and to realize 
Justin's vision of a revolution of empowerment. That is precisely what 
we owe the memory of this wonderful man.

[[Page H4709]]

  Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincere condolences to Yoshiko, his 
daughters, and his entire family; and I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution but, indeed, to do more than that: to keep the faith 
with this brave and decent human being, humble almost to a fault, 
giving credit to all around him for that which was accomplished. But 
all of us knew that in the final analysis, the moral leader of our 
effort, the inspiration for our work was this great and gentle man, 
Justin Dart, Jr.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man that few of us have ever 
seen the like of. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer) for introducing this resolution and for the fact that this 
resolution has been brought up on the House floor today, which is a 
little earlier than 12 years since the signing into law of the 
Americans With Disabilities Act.
  Justin Dart. Men and women like Justin that have made our Nation 
great have raised our conscious, challenged actions, and given to 
others relentlessly.
  Mr. Speaker, Justin Dart continues to give, even in his death.
  I would like to read for the Record Justin Dart's final words: 
``Dearly beloved: Listen to the heart of this old soldier. As with all 
of us, the time comes when body and mind are battered and weary.
  ``But I do not go quietly into the night. I do not give up struggling 
to be a responsible contributor to the sacred continuum of human life.
  ``I do not give up struggling to overcome my weakness, to conform my 
life, and that part of my life called death, to the great values of the 
human dream.
  ``Death is not a tragedy. It is not an evil from which we must 
escape. Death is as natural as birth.
  ``Like childbirth, death is often a time of fear and pain, but also 
of profound beauty, of celebration of the mystery and majesty which is 
life pushing its horizons toward oneness with the truth of mother 
universe.
  ``The days of dying carry a special responsibility. There is a great 
potential to communicate values in a uniquely powerful way, the person 
who dies demonstrating for civil rights.
  ``Let my final actions thunder of love, solidarity, protest, of 
empowerment.
  ``I adamantly protest the richest culture in the history of the 
world, a culture which has the obvious potential to create a golden age 
of science and democracy dedicated to maximizing the quality of life of 
every person, but which still squanders the majority of its human and 
physical capital on modern versions of primitive symbols of power and 
prestige.
  ``I adamantly protest the richest culture in the history of the world 
which still incarcerates millions of humans with and without 
disabilities in barbaric institutions, back rooms and, worse, 
windowless cells of oppressive perceptions, for the lack of the most 
elementary empowerment supports.
  ``I call for solidarity among all who love justice, all who live 
life, to create a revolution that will empower every single human being 
to govern his or her life, to govern this society, and to be fully 
productive of life equality for self and for all.
  ``I do so love all of the patriots of this and every Nation who have 
fought and sacrificed to bring us to the threshold of this beautiful 
human dream.
  ``I do so love America the beautiful and our wild, creative, 
beautiful people. I do so love you, my beautiful colleagues in the 
disability and civil rights movement.
  ``My relationship to Yoshiko Dart includes, but also transcends, love 
as the word is normally defined. She is my wife, my partner, my mentor, 
my leader, and my inspiration to believe that the human dream can live. 
She is the greatest human being I have ever known. Yoshiko, beloved 
colleagues, I am the luckiest man in the world to have been associated 
with you.
  ``Thanks to you, I die free. Thanks to you, I die in the joy of 
struggle. Thanks to you, I die in the beautiful belief that the 
revolution of empowerment will go on. I love you so much. I am with you 
always. Lead on! Lead on!''
  Mr. Speaker, Justin Dart will live on in love.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 460.
  Justin Dart was known by many Members of Congress and by countless 
thousands in America and around the world for his inspirational 
leadership and determined efforts to open the doors of opportunity 
wider for all people whose hopes and dreams have been crushed by 
discriminatory treatment.
  Since 1966, when Mr. Dart and his wife, Yoshiko, decided to dedicate 
their lives to removing the barriers of misunderstanding that exist 
about people with disabilities and to advocate for their civil rights 
wherever discrimination exists, he built an unstoppable grass-roots 
movement that will continue far beyond his days on this Earth.
  Mr. Speaker, I last saw Justin Dart at a rally in the Senate where 
you and I and Senator Harkin and some others were there in support of 
MiCASSA. I just recently read yesterday, as a matter of fact, a 
wonderful letter from his lovely wife who shared not only his life, but 
also his passion for the disabled. I guess the reality is that one can 
be as instructive and didactic in death as they have been in life.
  If there is any person who never read Justin Dart's last writings 
that were just mentioned a moment ago by the gentlewoman from Maryland 
(Mrs. Morella), I would urge, if my colleagues want to be inspired, if 
my colleagues want to be motivated, if my colleagues want to be 
activated, if my colleagues want to be stimulated, just get that and 
read it.
  Justin Dart will live on, not only in the hearts and minds of people, 
but in every action that we take to remove the barriers of 
discrimination that have existed against people with disabilities.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Langevin).
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today we pay tribute to a true hero, 
Justin Dart, Jr. I am proud to join with my colleagues, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the 
gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), and the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) in introducing this legislation.
  I have known Justin for several years. He spoke at my alma mater 3 
years ago. He has traveled to my home State of Rhode Island on numerous 
occasions. But most of all, he is one of the primary reasons that I am 
here today. Justin Dart inspired me to run for office, supported me 
throughout my campaign and, years before, laid the path to make it 
possible for me to run for the United States Congress.
  Twelve years ago, Justin crisscrossed the country to build grass-
roots support for the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. 
He traveled five times to each of the 50 States, educating the public 
on mobilizing people with disabilities, their friends and loved ones, 
to support the enactment of ADA. He was the voice of reason, a vision 
of leadership, and a force to be reckoned with. He understood that the 
injustices he and millions of other Americans experienced on a daily 
basis must be stopped and that only Federal legislation could meet this 
objective. Justin Dart's dogged, yet charismatic, skills of persuasion 
and unyielding dedication to implementing a meaningful civil rights law 
is what ensured successful passage of the ADA.
  Justin applied this rare combination of grit and wisdom to the many 
invaluable roles he played in prior administrations. He served as vice 
chairman of the National Council on Disability, commissioner of the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, and chairperson of the 
President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities. He was 
also awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.
  The commitment of making a difference ran through Justin Dart's veins 
from his youth. He was born into

[[Page H4710]]

wealth, but chose to fight for justice at all costs. At the young age 
of 22, he created an organization to promote racial integration of the 
then-segregated University of Houston where he studied as both an 
undergraduate and graduate student. He championed equal rights and 
self-empowerment throughout his years in both the public and private 
sectors. He constantly fought for justice and equality for people with 
disabilities and government, business, labor, and religious 
organizations. He knew that if people are provided with the proper 
resources, training and opportunities, disabled or not, they can 
achieve tremendous success.

                              {time}  1515

  Last year when I joined Justin for ADA anniversary celebrations in 
the Senate, he said, ``Let us rise above politics as usual. Let us join 
together, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Americans. Let us 
embrace each other in love for individual human rights. Let us unite in 
action to keep the sacred pledge: Liberty and justice for all.''
  Today I salute Justin Dart. I send my warmest condolences to his 
wife, Yoshiko, and I thank God for blessing us all for the powerful 
presence of such a luminous spirit, which lives on in each and every 
one of us.
  As we will soon commemorate the 12th anniversary of the ADA, I urge 
all Americans to honor and celebrate Justin Dart.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to again thank the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for his sponsorship of this bill.
  Justin Dart, with his wide-brimmed hat and in many other ways, liked 
to remind us that he was a Texan. His vision was broad and 
comprehensive like that of LBJ. He could also be as combative as Teddy 
Roosevelt.
  Justin Dart was always politically alert, but he really operated 
above politics. He was a lifelong Republican who would not hesitate to 
make alliances with Democrats and others when he felt it was necessary. 
Justin was above politics. He really belongs with the ranks of Martin 
Luther King and Mother Teresa.
  We are proud to recognize Justin Dart as one of the true champions of 
the rights of individuals with disabilities, and for his many other 
contributions to the Nation throughout his lifetime.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) 
for presenting this resolution. I did not personally know Mr. Justin 
Dart, Jr., but I feel, through the eloquence of my colleagues, and 
having had the opportunity to assist and listen to them this afternoon, 
that I have a regret that I did not have the opportunity of meeting him 
personally. He must have been a very great man.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution in his 
honor.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 460.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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