[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5958-S5959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last week, the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee reported out the Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities.
  How fitting that this treaty was considered and passed by the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee on the 22nd anniversary of the enactment of 
Americans with Disabilities Act.
  If anyone questions how important this treaty is to the millions of 
Americans living with disabilities, all they needed to do was look 
around the room at the hearing earlier this month. The hearing room was 
filled to capacity--standing room only--with people urging the Senate 
to ratify this important document.
  The United States has led the world in creating the legal framework, 
building the infrastructure, and designing facilities that ensure 
inclusion and opportunity for those living with disabilities. We 
celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act--``ADA''--by reporting the treaty out of the Foreign Relations 
Committee on a strong bipartisan basis. I thank Sen. Kerry for holding 
that hearing and moving the treaty through the committee process.
  As the majority leader has made clear, the Convention on the Rights 
of Persons with Disabilities will soon be considered on the Senate 
floor. The Members of this body will have an opportunity to affirm our 
Nation's leadership on disability issues by ratifying this important 
treaty. I hope that we will do so. And I hope we will ratify this 
treaty with the strong bipartisan support that has always characterized 
the Senate's work on disability issues.
  For the 54 million Americans living with a disability, laws like the 
ADA have provided an opportunity to learn, travel, work, and live 
independently. Perhaps no one knows that better than Ann Ford of 
Springfield, Illinois. Ann had polio as a child and for many years she 
commuted on crutches. This challenging and energy-consuming task 
required Ann to meticulously plan every trip. At the grocery store, Ann 
would purchase all she needed in 20 minutes, in order to be home before 
becoming exhausted.
  After the ADA was enacted, the store manager invited Ann to use a 
recently purchased electric scooter. Ann remembers that day clearly, in 
part because she shopped for an hour and a half going up and down every 
aisle in the store.
  Most of us don't give a second thought to buying groceries. But for 
Ann and millions like her, our Nation's commitment to removing physical 
barriers has expended their world. Now, we have an opportunity to 
demonstrate our commitment and advance disability rights around the 
world by ratifying this treaty.
  The support for this treaty is broad and bipartisan. I thank my 
friend, Senator John McCain, for leading this effort with me. Heis a 
great ally and without him we would not have made such great progress.
  I also thank Senator Barrasso, Harkin, Tom Udall, Moran, and Coons 
for their bipartisan support and dedication to the ratification effort.
  This treaty is supported by 165 disability organizations, including 
the United States International Council on Disabilities, the American 
Association of People with Disabilities, Disability Rights Education & 
Defense Fund, and the National Disability Rights Network, and 21 
veterans groups, including

[[Page S5959]]

the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Legion, Disabled American 
Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars are also calling on us to ratify 
this treaty. President George H.W. Bush, who signed the ADA into law, 
and former Senator Bob Dole, a lifelong advocate for disability rights, 
are strong proponents of this treaty.
  The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a human-
rights treaty that seeks to ensure that people living with disabilities 
are afforded the same opportunities available to others. Thanks to the 
ADA and similar laws, the United States has been so successful 
providing opportunities, increasing accessibility, and protecting the 
rights of those living with disabilities that our Nation is already in 
full compliance with all terms of the treaty.
  Before transmitting this treaty, the Obama administration conducted 
an exhaustive comparison of the treaty's requirements to current U.S. 
law. It concluded that the United States does not need to pass any new 
laws or regulations in order to meet the terms of the treaty. The fact 
that we already meet or exceed the treaty's requirements is a testament 
to our nation's commitment to equality and opportunity for those living 
with disabilities. There are, nevertheless, very important reasons to 
ratify this treaty.
  Disabled Veterans and Other Americans Traveling Abroad--There are 
more than 5.5 million veterans living with disabilities. They and 
thousands of other Americans living with disabilities travel, study, 
work, and serve overseas, often with their families. Ratifying the 
treaty will ensure they enjoy the same accessibility and opportunity 
abroad that they have here at home.
  Accessibility in Other Countries--ratifying this treaty will give the 
United States a seat at the international table, so that the U.S. can 
provide its guidance and expertise to other countries working to adopt 
laws, upgrade infrastructure, and modernize facilities to meet the very 
high standards we have set.
  Leveling the Playing field for American Businesses--American 
businesses have invested time and resources to comply with the ADA. 
Businesses in some countries are not required to comply with similar 
standards. Compliance with the treaty levels the playing field by 
requiring foreign businesses to meet accessibility standards similar to 
those in the U.S.
  New Markets for American Businesses--we lead the world in developing 
accessible products and technology. As other countries comply with the 
treaty, American businesses will be able to export their expertise and 
products to the new markets serving the more than 1 billion people 
living with disabilities around the world.
  While this treaty will ensure inclusion and access for those living 
with disabilities, it is also important that we note what the treaty 
will not do.
  The treaty will not change any U.S. law or compromise U.S. 
sovereignty in any way.
  The treaty will not lead to new law suits because its terms do not 
create any new rights and it cannot be enforced in any U.S. Court.
  For families that choose to educate their children at home, the 
treaty will not change any current rights or obligations.
  The treaty will not require the U.S. to appropriate any new funding 
or resources to comply with its terms--not a single dime.
  Leading pro life groups, like the National Right to Life Committee, 
confirm that the treaty does not promote, expand access, or create a 
right to an abortion.
  Thanks to decades of bipartisan cooperation, our country embodies the 
worldwide gold standard for those living with disabilities.
  When the Senate ratifies the Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities, we can be proud that our coworkers, friends, family 
members, and courageous veterans will soon enjoy the same access and 
opportunity when they travel abroad that they have come to expect here 
at home.

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