[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7038-H7039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATION OF DISABILITY PRIDE DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1355) expressing support for 
designation of Disability Pride Day and recognizing that all people, 
including those living with disabilities, have the right, 
responsibility, and ability to be active, contributing members of our 
society and fully engaged as citizens.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1355

       Whereas all people, including those with disabilities, 
     should be guaranteed the right to receive a quality 
     education, to be productive members of our workforce, to 
     raise families, to exert control and choice over their own 
     lives, and to have equal opportunity to access and 
     participate in all facets of life;
       Whereas having a disability should be seen as a natural 
     part of human diversity;
       Whereas many people with disabilities share a cultural 
     experience and history;
       Whereas 18 years ago, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act was signed into law, ending discrimination 
     against and providing equal opportunity for persons with 
     disabilities in employment, education, government services, 
     public accommodations, commercial facilities, and 
     transportation;
       Whereas in spite of the recent efforts to restore the 
     intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with 
     disabilities continue to face tremendous challenges in our 
     society that test their resolve sociologically, emotionally, 
     and psychologically, as well as face negative cultural 
     assumptions based on fears and myths that need to be 
     eliminated and replaced with presumptions of competence, 
     strength, and individual worth;
       Whereas July 26, 2008, is the City of Chicago's 5th Annual 
     Disability Pride Parade, a celebration that will seek to 
     educate and change the way that people think about and define 
     those with disabilities by promoting the belief that 
     disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity 
     in which people living with disabilities can take pride; and
       Whereas July 26, 2008, would be an appropriate day to 
     designate as Disability Pride Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Disability Pride Day;
       (2) acknowledges the efforts of the City of Chicago's 5th 
     Annual Disability Pride Parade organizers to raise awareness 
     concerning the value of people with disabilities;
       (3) invites the Nation to join in celebrating the pride, 
     the power, and the potential of people with disabilities by 
     celebrating Disability Pride Day; and
       (4) urges public officials and the general public to honor 
     Americans with disabilities by educating themselves on ways 
     to support and encourage understanding of persons with 
     disabilities in our schools, within our diverse workforce, as 
     well as in our communities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert 
extraneous material on H. Res. 1355 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 1355, which designates July 26, 
2008, as Disability Pride Day and recognizes that all people, including 
those living with disabilities, have the right, responsibility and 
ability to be active, contributing members of our society, and fully 
engaged as citizens.
  Over 54 million Americans have one or more disabilities. That 
translates into approximately one in five Americans who have a 
disability. The number of individuals with disabilities continues to 
increase with advances in medicine and technology, as well as with our 
aging population.
  People with disabilities represent the Nation's largest minority. 
There are many famous and influential Americans with disabilities. Our 
32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt; actors Tom Cruise and 
Michael J. Fox; scientist Albert Einstein; and disability rights 
activists such as Justin Dart and Chicago's own Marca Bristo, to name 
just a few. Disability Pride Day acknowledges the contributions of all 
Americans with disabilities.
  To make this great nation's promise of equality and freedom a reality 
for people with disabilities, Congress has protected the civil rights 
of individuals with disabilities through landmark Federal legislation 
such as the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  Eighteen years ago this week, on July 26, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination 
against individuals with disabilities in employment, education, 
government services, public accommodations, telecommunications and 
transportation.

[[Page H7039]]

  The ADA has fundamentally changed the landscape of this country, 
providing equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities and 
improving access to all aspects of life in our communities.
  Despite these efforts, we still have a long way to go. According to a 
national survey in 2004, people with disabilities live in poverty at a 
rate three times the national average. Also, people with disabilities 
are twice as likely to struggle with inadequate transportation, and 
only 35 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities are employed 
full or part time.
  In the face of these challenges, celebrating Disability Pride Day 
reminds us that disability is not an abnormal, flawed condition, but, 
rather, as stated in the Developmental Disabilities Act, that 
``disability is a natural and normal part of the human experience.'' 
Human diversity should be embraced and encouraged, as it represents one 
of the core values of an empowered nation.
  H. Res. 1355 promotes this belief in human diversity, acknowledging 
that all people, including those with disabilities, should be 
guaranteed the right to receive a quality education, to be productive 
members of our workforce, to raise families, to exert control and 
choice over their own lives, and to have equal opportunity to access 
and participate in all facets of life.
  This resolution invites the Nation to join in celebrating the pride, 
the power and the potential of people with disabilities by celebrating 
Disability Pride Day, and it urges all public officials and the general 
public to honor Americans with disabilities by educating ourselves on 
ways to support and encourage understanding of persons with 
disabilities.
  Finally, H. Res. 1355 commends the organizers of the City of 
Chicago's Fifth Annual Disability Pride Parade for their work on the 
disability pride activities planned for July 26, 2008, and their 
efforts to raise disability awareness.
  I once again express my support for H. Res. 1355, and I urge all of 
my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today there are approximately 51 million Americans 
living with one or more disabilities. This means approximately 18 
percent of Americans report having one or more disabilities, which may 
include physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive or 
intellectual impairment, mental disorder or various types of chronic 
disease.

                              {time}  2045

  Without the contributions of Americans with disabilities we would be 
without some of our best athletes, artists, and most brilliant minds.
  Jim Abbott, the only person in Major League Baseball to be born with 
one hand, has thrown a no-hitter and has won Olympic gold. Patty Duke, 
who was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder, won three Emmy Awards 
for made-for-television movies and is a nationally recognized actress. 
Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with ALS, is one of the premier 
physicists in the world.
  One-legged downhill skiers have been clocked during sporting events 
going more than 70 miles an hour. Authors without limbs have written 
best-selling novels. Blind violinists have played in Carnegie Hall. And 
the list goes on and on.
  Americans with disabilities have contributed to America's culture and 
society in ways many of us with lesser challenges could not dream of. 
House Resolution 1355 recognizes the designation of Disability Pride 
Day, and urges everyone to honor Americans with disabilities.
  I'm happy to join my colleague, Representative Danny Davis of 
Illinois, in support of this resolution and ask my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady 
from North Carolina for her comments, and I appreciate her work with us 
on this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1355.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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