[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15912-15913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 CELEBRATING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES 
                                  ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, we are now celebrating the 10th 
year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I rise this 
evening to not only celebrate this landmark occasion, but also to 
acknowledge my unwavering support of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, known as ADA, and the future of this legislation.
  Just a few days ago, I signed a pledge of support for the American 
Association of People With Disabilities, thereby affirming my belief 
that we need an America that lives up to the promise of liberty, 
opportunity, and justice for all.
  The ADA advocates for our Nation's more than 43 million citizens with 
disabilities. In the Seventh District of Illinois, there are over 
35,000 people with disabilities under the age of 65, and over 20,000 
people with disabilities 65 years or older.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to share a few thoughts regarding the 
principles of the ADA and its successes over the last 10 years.
  First of all, the ADA seeks to break down stereotypes and 
misconceptions about people with disabilities by including them in the 
progress and prosperity of our Nation. Equal opportunity, full 
participation in society, employment opportunities, independent living, 
and economic self-sufficiency are the guiding principles of the ADA.
  Today, we are seeing a more inclusive and integrated society as a 
result of the ADA. People with disabilities

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are getting jobs that they want and for which they are well qualified. 
The Global Strategy Group Survey found in October of 1995 that 75 
percent of companies with 51 to 200 employees are now hiring people 
with disabilities. From 1991 to 1994, 800,000 persons with severe 
disabilities joined the workforce. Public transportation changes and 
curb cuts are widespread. Accommodations in hotels, restaurants, and 
stores are becoming more and more accessible. Telecommunications for 
people who are deaf and hard of hearing is becoming a reality. People 
who are blind can receive information in a format they can use.
  So successes from the ADA are visible today, and I hope that we 
continue to use these gains as a baseline for future work to liberate 
those who live in confining conditions and who want to be more 
integrated into society.
  Mr. Speaker, along that line, I am pleased to note that I am the 
sponsor of the MiCASSA bill, which would bring our Nation's Medicaid 
system into accord with the principles set forth by the ADA. This bill 
will allow individuals with developmental and other disabilities to use 
Medicaid funding for home-based and community- based services, not just 
for confining medical institutions. I believe this will strengthen the 
existing infrastructure set forth by the ADA and the Developmental 
Disabilities Act.
  Mr. Speaker, we are not yet where we want to be, but thank God we are 
not where we were 10 years ago. We still have much progress to make. 
However, I am pleased to be here today to offer my unwavering support 
for our people who live and work daily with disabilities. I am proud 
that as a result of the ADA, many people with disabilities are now 
thriving, productive members of society, and looking forward to the 
future with glee and anticipation.

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