[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13222-13224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADA'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, it is my 
pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
distinguished minority whip.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  First, let me mention the extraordinary respect I have for the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
  I had the honor of sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act in 
1989 and 1990. We passed it in 1990, and it was signed by then-
President George H.W. Bush. It was called the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, Mr. Speaker, but in many ways it should have been 
called the Americans with Abilities Act. It should have been called 
that because its intent was to focus on what people could do, what 
people would do, what people wanted to do.
  Mr. Langevin is a perfect example of an extraordinary person with 
great ability who has a wheelchair. He has a wheelchair because he has 
a mobility impairment that others of us don't have. But as we have seen 
in serving with our colleague Jim Langevin from Rhode Island, he is 
extraordinarily able and he represents his constituency with great 
energy, with great intellect, and with great integrity. So I am pleased 
to join him in this Special Order.
  We had introduced a resolution, but it is not the practice of the 
House to bring commemorative resolutions to the floor. So we do this 
Special Order in addition to what we would have hoped would have been 
the passage of a resolution, but I understand that is the practice.
  The Senate did in fact pass a resolution, sponsored by Orrin Hatch, 
Patricia Murray from Washington State, and Lamar Alexander, 
commemorating 25 years of progress on the inclusion of those with a 
challenge that others might not have in our society, all that our 
society offers and the opportunities that it offers.
  Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on numerous occasions over this last week 
commemorating the ADA, and I have mentioned a number of names. I would 
like to do that on the floor of this House, because they were people 
who were absolutely critical. It is not a comprehensive list. It is, 
however, a list of people with whom I worked very closely for well over 
a year on the passage of the ADA.
  First, I would like to mention President George H.W. Bush. This issue 
was not a partisan issue. President Bush was a Republican; I was a 
Democrat--and still am. I worked with an extraordinary Republican 
Member of the House. His name was Steve Bartlett. He was from Texas. He 
left the House and became mayor of Dallas. He is now still in 
Washington, working, and we are partners. Every time something happens 
with respect to the ADA, Steve Bartlett and I work together on it.
  Dave Capozzi and Tony Coelho. Tony Coelho, a Member of this body, was 
a person perceived with the disease of epilepsy, but he is one of the 
most able people that any of us know. Tony Coelho, along with Lowell 
Weicker, were the original two sponsors of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act.
  Justin Dart. In 1983, Justin Dart visited every State in the Union in 
his wheelchair, calling attention to State legislatures, Governors, and 
others of the importance of ensuring the accessibility of places of 
opportunity for those with disabilities. Yoshiko Dart, his wife, was 
with him every step of the way and was with us as we worked for the 
passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  And then we have an extraordinary legislator--one of the best 
legislators that I have served with, Mr. Speaker--Bob Dole, a 
Republican from Kansas, majority and minority leader of the United 
States Senate. Mr. Speaker, when he came to the Senate of the United 
States, his first speech was about including those with disabilities. 
He observed that he was an involuntary member of those with 
disabilities as a result of his extraordinary war wounds in Italy in 
World War II.
  We have Chai Feldblum, who is now on the EEOC and a professor at 
Georgetown Law School. She was counsel to myself and Steve Bartlett as 
we considered the complex issues and tried to make sure that ADA could 
be implemented by all in a way that was affordable and reasonable for 
them.
  We then have Lex Frieden, who is the executive director of the 
National Council on Disabilities, who worked so closely with us. Also, 
Boyden Gray, counsel to George Bush, who was a critical ally in this 
effort.
  Then we have a giant in this effort, Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa, 
who, after Lowell Weicker left, was the principal sponsor of the ADA 
and fought hard and effectively on its behalf.
  Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy. Senator Kennedy and Senator Hatch were 
partners in so many different things, but on this they were aligned and 
made this bipartisan effort a very successful one.
  Also, Arlene Mayerson; Paul Marchand; former Congressman and now 
Senator Ed Markey; Senator John McCain; Congressman Norman Mineta; 
Ralph Neas; Katie Neas; Carolyn Osolinik; Becky Ogle; Lee Page; Liz 
Savage; Bobby Silverstein. Like Melissa Schulman who was my chief 
staffer as we considered the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bobby 
Silverstein was Tom Harkin's chief staffer.
  Jim Sensenbrenner, our colleague today. Congressman Sensenbrenner was 
so critical, along with his wife, Cheryl Sensenbrenner, who, herself, 
suffered from a disability and showed such courage in encouraging all 
of us to support the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  I mentioned Lowell Weicker. Lowell Weicker was a Senator from 
Connecticut and then Governor of Connecticut; Bob Williams, who was an 
extraordinary individual who worked so hard; John Wodatch; and last, 
but certainly not least, Patricia Wright.
  There were literally, Mr. Speaker, thousands of others, many of whom 
will not be known but who came here to the Congress of the United 
States,

[[Page 13223]]

wrote their Members, called them up, and came to town meetings and 
forums on behalf of those with disabilities.
  The Americans with Disabilities Act is now used as a sample and has 
been adopted in some 50 countries throughout the world, perhaps more. 
There is a disabilities rights convention, which is pending. Only three 
countries in the world have not signed on to that convention. 
Unfortunately, we are one. I would hope that the Senate would do that 
in this Congress. Senator Bob Dole has been an extraordinary proponent 
of that convention.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my friend, James Langevin, who 
has been a beneficiary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 
reasonable accommodations that we ask to be effected so that Jim 
Langevin could get through the door, could get on the elevator, could 
get into this Chamber. And, Mr. Speaker, there is a lift on the rostrum 
on which you now sit so that James Langevin would be able to preside, 
if that were in order. In fact, he has been up there and has presided. 
That is called a reasonable accommodation. And because of those 
reasonable accommodations, this Congress, his State, and our country 
have been advantaged.
  Mr. Speaker, I think when we end our careers, most of us who were 
involved in the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act will 
look back on the adoption of it overwhelmingly by this Congress in a 
bipartisan fashion and the signing of that act by President George Bush 
as one of our most important contributions and achievements during our 
service in the Congress of the United States.
  I thank Mr. Langevin for his extraordinary example for all those in 
our country to look at the abilities, not the disabilities.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman. Let me express my profound 
gratitude to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
distinguished minority whip, for his kind words, Mr. Speaker, but most 
especially because of his extraordinary commitment and the work that he 
put in, along with countless others, to actually pass the Americans 
with Disabilities Act and seeing it signed into law.
  As the gentleman from Maryland stated, Mr. Speaker, that law has had 
a profound impact on my life and on countless other lives--and will for 
generations to come. I thank the gentleman for his extraordinary work.
  Let me also thank the extraordinary list of individuals that the 
distinguished gentleman from Maryland just read off, some of whom I 
have had the absolute distinct honor and privilege to meet and to thank 
personally, and many of whom I will never have the privilege of 
actually knowing or meeting personally because many have also passed 
on.

                              {time}  1830

  They made an extraordinary difference in the lives of millions of 
people, as I said, both now and in future generations to come; and it 
is with profound gratitude that I thank them for their work.
  Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act, a tremendous milestone for one of the 
most significant civil rights laws of the 20th century.
  As a Member of Congress, as co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities 
Caucus and someone who has lived with the challenges of a disability, 
both before and after the ADA's enactment in 1990, I have experienced 
firsthand the profound changes that this law has affected within our 
society.
  When I was paralyzed at the age of 16, my life changed forever. As I 
lay in my hospital bed, I wondered what life could possibly have in 
store for me next, but I drew strength and inspiration from other 
people with disabilities who had accomplished both great things and 
small. They taught me that there was life after a disability.
  I was also incredibly fortunate to have the support of my family and 
my community, whose generosity and concern ultimately made me want to 
give back to Rhode Island through a career in public service, but 
accessibility was not yet considered a civil right at that time, and I 
know many people with disabilities were not as fortunate as I was.
  So many passionate advocates and champions like Mr. Hoyer fought for 
the rights and protections enshrined in this law. For all of us, the 
ADA has been a profoundly life-altering act that has provided new 
opportunities and fundamentally changed the way society views and 
treats people with disabilities.
  The ADA has broken down physical and psychological barriers. It has 
opened up opportunities to education, employment, and technology. It 
has made public transportation more accommodating, improved voting 
accessibility, and expanded inclusion and justice for millions.
  At its core, this groundbreaking legislation codified the correct 
collective ideal that no one should suffer discrimination because of a 
disability.
  Mr. Speaker, it was with this same conviction that I was pleased to 
support the passage of the ADA Amendments Act in 2008, after a number 
of court decisions diluted the definition of what constituted a 
disability.
  When that law was signed into effect, I had the privilege of being 
with Mr. Hoyer and several of the other champions of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, the original enactment, original authors of the ADA, 
including Senator Harkin and Cheryl Sensenbrenner.
  I also had the privilege of meeting President George H.W. Bush and be 
with his son, President George W. Bush, as President George W. Bush 
signed that bill into law. It was such an honor for me to be able to 
personally thank President George H.W. Bush personally for his support 
and leadership in seeing the original ADA signed into law.
  Now, when the ADA Amendments Act was passed, these rulings, 
effectively, the Court rulings that took place necessitating this act 
effectively limited the ADA's coverage and excluded people with 
disabling conditions that were not readily visible or apparent, like 
epilepsy, MS, and various developmental disabilities.
  The ADA Amendments Act reaffirmed the protections of the ADA and 
upheld the ideals of equality and opportunity on which this country was 
founded. As a result of these efforts, I am proud that future 
generations will live in a world that is more inclusive, more 
accessible, and increasingly recognizes the unique talents and 
abilities of individuals with disabilities.
  As we celebrate our accomplishments, so must we recognize that our 
work is not finished. Equal employment opportunities and fully 
integrated community living have not yet been entirely realized.
  In fact, recent data shows that 31 percent of disabled individuals 
live below the poverty line, and less than 34 percent are fully 
employed.
  Mr. Speaker, as a nation, we can do better, and we must. It is more 
important than ever that we educate businesses and connect them with 
proper resources to create more employment opportunities. Many people 
with disabilities have both the desire and the capability to work, as 
well as exceptional talents to offer.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not see those talents go to waste. I have often 
said, Mr. Speaker, that people with disabilities are still one of this 
Nation's greatest untapped resources, and we need to tap into that 
talent to see our Nation grow even further.
  Mr. Speaker, their divergent backgrounds, unique experiences and 
wide-ranging talents promote a culture of diversity that doesn't just 
play a role in the workplace, but also influences the very nature of 
our society. With proper awareness, accommodation, and investment, our 
economy and society can reap countless rewards.
  We must also ensure that transportation is available and accessible 
to everyone so that they can get to their jobs, the doctor, or the 
grocery store.
  I have often said that it doesn't do anyone any good if they can 
actually apply for a job and get the job, but can't get to the job, so 
that needs to improve.
  To help us realize this goal, I have introduced the Transit 
Accessibility Innovation Act, legislation that would create a 
competitive grant program to

[[Page 13224]]

encourage transit systems to make public transportation more accessible 
and user friendly.
  Mr. Speaker, accessible public transportation is essential in order 
for people with disabilities to live independently and with full 
inclusion in their communities. By improving these services, we can 
improve the quality of life for countless individuals and families.
  Mr. Speaker, to further promote independence, we must also ensure 
that family caregivers of people with disabilities have greater access 
to critical services like respite care. Respite care provides temporary 
relief to family members engaged in the full-time task of caring for 
their aging or disabled loved ones with special needs.
  Mr. Speaker, these caregivers, I have often said, are unsung heroes. 
These caregivers devote so much of their time, energy, and love to 
their families, but in many cases, they can be often unprepared for 
these new responsibilities, and the challenges that they face can be 
daunting, from employment difficulties, to financial challenges, to 
depression and family stress.
  Very often, though, with just a little bit of assistance, they can 
continue to be extraordinary caregivers and fulfill all of the other 
challenges and responsibilities that a family requires.
  That is why I have introduced and I have championed the Lifespan 
Respite Care Act, Mr. Speaker, with my friend and former Republican 
colleague, Mike Ferguson from New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, that law, it passed into law in 2006 and has already 
provided grants to 32 States and the District of Columbia to help set 
up respite care networks for families in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I continue to push for that program's reauthorization, 
and I included it in the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services 
Improvement Act that I introduced in April to strengthen the support 
services for family caregivers of injured and disabled veterans. I 
think this is an important thing that we can do for our veterans.
  We have come far, Mr. Speaker, since the passage of the ADA, but we 
still have much more work ahead. Disabilities don't discriminate on the 
basis of party affiliation, income level, or gender; instead, they can 
happen to anyone at any time. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that they also 
have the unique ability to unite us in common purpose.
  As we celebrate the silver anniversary of the ADA together, we must 
use this as a call to action and to reaffirm our commitment to equal 
opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-
sufficiency for people with disabilities everywhere.
  Let me close, Mr. Speaker, by thanking the many champions and the 
advocates and many unsung heroes who made the ADA possible and saw it 
through the legislative process and put it on the desk of President 
George H.W. Bush, who signed it into law and changed the lives of 
people with disabilities everywhere forever.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________