[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today marks 20 years since the historic 
Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. It is one of the 
most important pieces of civil rights legislation of the last quarter 
century. Passage of this groundbreaking law came as a result of the 
efforts of legions of activists. I want to recognize two individuals, 
in particular, who made ADA possible. The late Justin Dart, a true 
civil rights leader, was instrumental in the fight to pass the law that 
made discrimination against people with disabilities illegal. He showed 
us the path, and we continue to look to his lessons as we chart new 
ground. His spirit is with us on this anniversary and every day that we 
fight for justice for all.
  I also want to recognize Marca Bristo, who has been an unflagging 
national leader in the fight for people living with disabilities. I am 
lucky to call her a friend but Bristo has also been a teacher. She has 
educated untold numbers of people, including me, by opening our eyes to 
the barriers standing in the way of people with disabilities. Bristo 
has been at the helm of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago for 
decades. As an organizer in the critical work of disability rights 
years before the ADA was passed in Congress, she, too, was incredibly 
influential in creating and shepherding the law to passage.
  Since ADA's passage, we have taken many steps to build on its 
foundation--and we've accomplished many of our goals in recent years. 
This includes a historic health care bill that will prevent insurance 
companies from denying coverage, dropping coverage, setting 
discriminatory annual or lifetime limits on benefits, or charging 
higher premiums to people with disabilities. We have passed mental 
health parity legislation. And we are providing more home- and 
community-based options for care.
  Yet, we cannot sit back and become comfortable with what we have 
achieved with--and since--passage of the ADA. We know we have much more 
left to do. Every person must be guaranteed full access to safe 
housing, good jobs, educational opportunities, quality health care, 
cutting edge technology, and economic prosperity. Our great country can 
be made even greater by providing every person with the opportunity to 
contribute and live comfortably in their community.
  We must work to enforce the ADA, not reward those who disobey it. 
There is simply no excuse for anyone who violates the Americans with 
Disabilities Act; laws that protect the rights those living with 
disabilities are no less important and no different from any other 
legal protection.
  We have to make sure that the Community Choice Act is passed and 
implemented, to further expand the infrastructure so individuals can 
get convenient, quality care in the settings that everyone prefers: at 
home and in our own communities.
  We must expand opportunities for independence. That is why I am the 
sponsor of H.R. 1408, the Inclusive Home Design Act, to require that 
new, single-family homes that get federal assistance meet minimum 
standards so those with disabilities can come and go freely and seniors 
can age in place. This is a common sense solution that ensures 
livability as well as sound economics. Building new homes that are 
accessible from the start cost several hundred dollars, while 
retrofitting can cost several thousand dollars or more--forcing some 
people to move into a nursing home.
  We must also expand the realms of access for people living with 
disabilities--especially to new technologies that did not exist at 
ADA's inception. Therefore, I am also a sponsor of H.R. 4533, the 
Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind Act, to require that consumer 
products like home appliances and office equipment are manufactured so 
that they are fully accessible to blind consumers.
  On this 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I 
wholeheartedly thank the countless individuals who worked tirelessly to 
lay the groundwork for ADA in the decades that preceded its passage. 
Without their passion and activism, we would not be celebrating today. 
I also thank those who continue the fight, and I look forward to 
helping to build upon the enormous successes of the ADA--in this 
Congress and in those to come.

                          ____________________