[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

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                         HON. KATHERINE HARRIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 26, 2005

  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 15th 
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which we 
observe this week. This landmark piece of legislation continues to make 
a daily difference in the lives of the American people--not only in the 
lives of those with disabilities, but in all of our lives.
  The Americans with Disabilities Act laid the groundwork to direct our 
nation toward equal opportunity for all. Today, the National Council on 
Disability, working with their federal partners, keeps up the hard work 
of striving to meet this vital goal. I am proud to have one of my 
Florida constituents serving as an appointee to the United States 
Access Board, which helps ensure accessibility in the design of Federal 
facilities. I applaud her commitment and dedication.
  As Florida Secretary of State, I was fortunate to have the 
opportunity to apply the mission of the ADA to the cause of election 
reform. In Florida, we worked to remove the obstacles that were 
preventing individuals with disabilities from participating fully in 
the political process. With this legislation, Florida became the first 
state in the Nation to enact a law to secure the voting rights of 
individuals with disabilities.
  We have fought hard to live up to the promise of our founding and to 
honor the dignity of every individual, and to extend the rights, 
privileges and opportunities of that promise to all our citizens. The 
Americans with Disabilities Act was part of a long line of landmark 
achievements that have expanded freedom and opportunity in the United 
States. Let us continue working toward the goals of this law--to remove 
the obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from enjoying the 
full rights that too many Americans take for granted.

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