[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING THE 12TH YEAR OF THE ADA

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today Americans throughout the country will 
celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(ADA). The landmark 1990 civil rights law for people with disabilities.
  The disability community will come together in our Nation's Capital 
to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Justin Dart Jr., one of the 
fathers of the ADA. Justin Dart passed away on June 22nd at the age of 
71.
  As founder and Co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus this 
celebration of the ADA makes me proud to be an American. It was one of 
my proudest moments as a Member of the U.S. Congress to be at the White 
House 12 years ago and see President Bush sign the ADA into law.
  President Bush said it best at the signing of ADA, he said:
  ``This Act is powerful in its simplicity. It will ensure that people 
with disabilities are given the basic guarantees for which they have 
worked so long and so hard. Independence, freedom of choice, control of 
their lives, the opportunity to blend fully and equally into the right 
mosaic of the American mainstream.''
  It was a defining moment to hear President Bush proclaim ``I now lift 
my pen to sign the Americans with Disabilities Act and say, let the 
shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down''.
  Justin Dart was right by the President's side.
  Mr. Speaker, Justin Dart Jr. was an activist who for more than three 
decades worked to champion the cause of people with disabilities. For 
his tireless efforts, In 1998 Justin Dart was awarded the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom.
  I believe that it is only fitting that Congress honor this civil 
rights activist with the Congressional Gold Medal, this is why I have 
introduced H.R. 5188.
  Let Congress, too, celebrate the life and death of Justin Dart; let 
Congress reaffirm its commitment to the civil rights of all Americans 
with disabilities, by honoring this true American hero with the 
Congressional Gold Medal, and I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 
5188.

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