[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 116 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S5513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT 25TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, July 26, 2015, marks the 25th anniversary 
of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I would like 
to take a moment to discuss the importance of this landmark legislation 
and to highlight the strides we have made in making our communities 
more inclusive.
  It is estimated that nearly one in five Americans have a disability. 
Upon its passage, the ADA was hailed as the world's first comprehensive 
declaration of equality for people with disabilities. It established a 
clear national mandate that we as a nation have a moral responsibility 
to ensure that all Americans have access to the programs and the 
support needed to contribute to society, live with dignity, and achieve 
a high quality of life. Over the past 25 years, the ADA has expanded 
opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and 
changing perceptions and increasing full participation in all areas of 
public life, including the workforce, education, and transportation. 
Because of this legislation, we have made tremendous progress in 
eliminating barriers to everyday life for Americans living with 
disabilities.
  Unfortunately, even after 25 years, we still live in a world where 
people with disabilities have fewer work opportunities and higher rates 
of unemployment than people without disabilities. We still have more 
work to do to ensure that the basic civil rights of persons with 
disabilities are fully protected and respected, but the ADA was an 
important step forward in achieving these goals.
  Through passage of the ADA, we have made more progress on this issue 
than anyone ever dreamed of 25 years ago. We should be proud of these 
efforts to make our communities more inclusive, and we should honor 
this important anniversary by continuing our efforts to ensure that no 
person with a disability experiences prejudice, discrimination, or 
barriers to living full and productive lives.

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