[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 131 (Friday, July 24, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          30TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago this Sunday, President George 
H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law and 
ushered in a new era of equality and justice for people with 
disabilities.
  This law was ushered through Congress with the great leadership of 
people like Senator Tom Harkin; Congressman Tony Coelho; our current 
majority leader, Steny Hoyer; Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner; and 
countless others who rallied behind this cause, including from the 
private sector, people like Justin Dart. This was an extraordinary 
grassroots effort from around the country.
  The ADA guaranteed that the one in four Americans living with a 
disability have the right to learn, work, and live in their 
communities, free from discrimination.
  As someone who has lived with a disability since the age of 16, I 
have witnessed the transformation we have made into a more accessible 
and inclusive society. In fact, without the ADA, I quite possibly 
wouldn't have the privilege of representing Rhode Island's Second 
Congressional District in the United States Congress.
  However, our work is not yet finished. We must strengthen the promise 
of the ADA to ensure that all people with disabilities can pursue the 
life that they choose. Accessible transportation, comprehensive home 
and community-based services, inclusive workplaces, and universally 
designed technology are only a few of the challenges that we must 
tackle moving forward.
  Madam Speaker, inclusivity benefits us all, and we must continue 
fighting for a world where accessibility is the default, not an 
afterthought.
  Happy 30th anniversary to all those who have been a part of this 
effort to include all those with disabilities in achieving a more 
active and inclusive life in our country.

                          ____________________