[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          15TH ANNIVERSARY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 378, 
and to acknowledge the positive impact and historical importance of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act. Signed into law 15 years ago today by 
President George Herbert Walker Bush, this Act has become recognized as 
a landmark law for civil rights and represents one of the crowning 
achievements of Congress over the past two decades. Its impact is felt 
every day in every community across America. Wheelchair ramps, signs in 
Braille, and curb cuts are now common place in every comer of our 
lives. The law has truly forever changed the landscape of America.
  Over these 15 years, the law has been challenged and debated, yet it 
has endured as a testament to those who desire to create an inclusive 
society where living with a disability does not mean disappearing into 
isolation. The law embodies everything that we in America should strive 
for; protecting the rights of all men and all women regardless of 
ability, mental capacity, or physicality. By removing barriers for 
peoples with disability, we also removed another barrier that prevented 
America from being a society where justice and equality prevail.
  I remain committed to the Americans with Disabilities Act and 
supportive of efforts to improve our infrastructure and policies to 
enable equal access for all people. In Guam, our community has made 
great strides in upholding the spirit of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, and we will be celebrating its anniversary this week.
  Our work in this area is not yet done, and we will strive to build 
upon the legacy that the Americans with Disabilities Act has created. I 
urge support for H. Res. 378.

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