[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 125 (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE 22ND ANNUAL DISABILITY PRIDE PARADE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2025

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 22nd 
Annual Disability Pride Parade taking place in Chicago's Loop on 
Saturday, July 26. The parade takes place 35 years to the day that the 
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was signed into law, and the theme 
of the parade is 35 years of ADA: Still Rising, Still Thriving.
  The mission of the Disability Pride Parade is to change the way 
people think about and define ``disability,'' to break down and end the 
internalized shame among people with disabilities, and to promote the 
belief in society that disability is a natural and beautiful part of 
human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take 
pride.
  In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. 
This bipartisan effort made a commitment that our history of 
segregating and isolating persons with disabilities would end. In the 
law's own words, the purpose of the ADA is to ``provide a clear and 
comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination 
against individuals with disabilities.''
  By setting enforceable standards, providing assistance for 
compliance, and asserting the federal government's central role in 
ending discrimination, this landmark civil rights law has provided hope 
and opportunity for all Americans--those today living with a disability 
and those of us who could become disabled tomorrow. Because of the ADA, 
individuals with disabilities have the legal right to fully participate 
in our society--the right to transportation, health services, shopping, 
entertainment, education, employment, public accommodations, and 
voting.
  Those who fought so hard to win its passage--including my friend and 
mentor Marca Bristo, the founder and head of Access Living--deserve to 
celebrate its enactment and deserve our thanks. But as we celebrate 
today, we have to get to work tomorrow. We need to build on the ADA's 
promise--whether it is passing my bill, the Eleanor Smith Inclusive 
Home Design Act, to make sure that all new residential housing built 
with federal dollars is accessible or increasing the employment of 
adults with disabilities.
  This year, we have seen a number of legislative attempts to take away 
rights from disabled individuals. The Big Ugly Bill, which Republicans 
passed through Congress, is going to strip health care away from nearly 
17 million individuals, including many with disabilities. I stood on 
the frontlines with disability advocates who have truly been the tip of 
the spear in the fight to protect all Americans' health care. While we 
did not win this battle, the fight is not over. The power of the people 
is always greater than that of the people in power.
  As long as discrimination still exists and as long as there are those 
who seek to undermine existing law, the purpose of the ADA will not 
have been completely met. It is our job to make sure that happens.

                          ____________________