[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 49555-49556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19401]



[[Page 49553]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part VII





The President





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Proclamation 7579--Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
2002
 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

 ___________________________________________________________________

 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 49555]]

                Proclamation 7579 of July 26, 2002

                
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act, 2002

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is 
                one of the most compassionate and successful civil 
                rights laws in American history. In the 12 years since 
                President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, 
                more people with disabilities are participating fully 
                in our society than ever before. As we mark this 
                important anniversary, we celebrate the positive effect 
                this landmark legislation has had upon our Nation, and 
                we recognize the important influence it has had in 
                improving employment opportunities, government 
                services, public accommodations, transportation, and 
                telecommunications for those with disabilities.

                Today, Americans with disabilities enjoy greatly 
                improved access to countless facets of life; but more 
                work needs to be done. We must continue to build on the 
                important foundations established by the ADA. Too many 
                Americans with disabilities remain isolated, dependent, 
                and deprived of the tools they need to enjoy all that 
                our Nation has to offer.

                My Administration is committed to removing the barriers 
                that prevent people with disabilities from realizing 
                their full potential and achieving their dreams. The 
                New Freedom Initiative, which I announced last year, 
                builds on the hopeful path of the ADA. It provides 
                Americans with disabilities increased access to 
                assistive technologies, expands educational options, 
                and increases opportunities for them to integrate into 
                our workforce. We are committed to ensuring the 
                delivery of vital services to disabled persons in an 
                integrated, community-based setting.

                My Administration will continue to enforce the 
                Americans with Disabilities Act, and we will work with 
                businesses and State and local governments to increase 
                partnerships that promote the purposes of the ADA. 
                Together, we are working for a day when all people with 
                disabilities are able to live and work with dignity, 
                freedom, and independence and realize their potential 
                as fully integrated members of our society.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2002, as a day in 
                celebration of the 12th Anniversary of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act. I call upon public officials, 
                business leaders, people with disabilities, and all 
                Americans to pursue the ADA's full promise of equal 
                opportunity and to celebrate the expanded freedom that 
                the ADA has brought to American life.

[[Page 49556]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand two, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-19401
Filed 7-29-02; 10:52 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P