[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 122 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6183-S6184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, this week we celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of the passage of landmark civil rights legislation, the 
Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA outlawed discrimination on the 
basis of physical or developmental ability and sought to grant those 
with disabilities the same opportunities as other Americans.
  In the past quarter century, this law has changed our social fabric 
as well as of our physical surroundings. Every newly built building or 
sidewalk with basic accommodations lets more and more of our fellow 
citizens live fuller lives as self-sufficient members of our 
communities.
  Before there were curb cutouts, some Rhode Islanders couldn't cross 
the street. Before there were wheelchair lifts on public buses, some 
Rhode Islanders couldn't commute to work. Before there were assisted 
listening devices, some Rhode Islanders couldn't follow a professor's 
lecture or a pastor's sermon. Before there were Braille signs, some 
Rhode Islanders couldn't find a doctor's office or a child's classroom 
without assistance. Before there were accessible voting systems, some 
of us couldn't even exercise our most basic rights as citizens.
  My colleague in Rhode Island's congressional delegation, Congressman 
Jim Langevin, has a special perspective on this groundbreaking law. 
``As someone who has lived with the challenges of a disability both 
before and after the enactment of the ADA,'' he has said, ``I have 
experienced firsthand the profound changes of this law on our 
society.''
  Jim was only sixteen when an accidental injury left him paralyzed. In 
an amazing example of optimism and courage, Jim went on to serve the 
people of our State in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and as 
our Secretary of State. Today he is the first quadriplegic to serve in 
the U.S. House of Representatives. On the day he was the first person 
ever to preside in the House in a wheelchair, I trooped over from the 
Senate to watch history made.

[[Page S6184]]

  Jim Langevin is living proof of the promise of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act and a champion of expanded opportunity for people with 
disabilities. He fought hard for the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. He is 
founder and cochairman of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus in 
Congress. And he is a living example to his colleagues that a 
disability need not be a limitation. Americans of every level of 
ability are better off for Jim's passion and determination.
  For 25 years, as the Americans with Disabilities Act removed barriers 
to buildings and transportation, it eliminated obstacles that once kept 
people from contributing to our society, growing our economy, and 
realizing their dreams. The equality of opportunity embodied in this 
law is at the very heart of our American notion of liberty. There is 
still work to be done, but we should cheer how far we have come, and 
rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the promise of the ADA. This is 
truly the work of forming a more perfect union.

                          ____________________