[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 88605-88606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29485]
[[Page 88603]]
Vol. 81
Wednesday,
No. 235
December 7, 2016
Part IX
The President
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Proclamation 9550--International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2016
Order of December 2, 2016--Regarding the Proposed Acquisition of a
Controlling Interest in Aixtron SE by Grand Chip Investment GmbH
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
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Proclamation 9550 of December 2, 2016
International Day of Persons With Disabilities,
2016
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Over a quarter-century ago, the United States enshrined
into law the principles of equal access and equal
opportunity for people with disabilities through the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which upholds
the principle that each of us is entitled to a set of
fundamental freedoms and protections. This progress has
made America a leader in advancing the rights of people
with disabilities around the globe. On International
Day of Persons with Disabilities, we celebrate how far
we have come in protecting the rights of those who live
with disabilities and recommit to shaping a future in
which all members of this community can enjoy their
full rights and freedoms.
Building on the progress of the ADA, my Administration
has taken important steps to remove barriers and
eliminate discrimination based on disability. Thanks to
the Affordable Care Act, individuals can no longer be
denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition or
disability. We have supported increasing funding for
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
reauthorized the Children's Health Insurance Program,
and strengthened anti-discrimination and Olmstead
enforcement at the Department of Justice. Additionally,
we created the first-ever Special Advisor for
International Disability Rights, and we established the
United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to
Gender-Based Violence Globally in order to address
violence against women and girls around the world--
because women with a disability are more likely to
experience physical and sexual abuse than women without
one. And last year, we committed to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, which recognize
inclusive education, disability employment, and social
acceptance of the disability community as important
steps to ending world poverty.
Our progress at home reflects our full commitment to
the rights of people with disabilities around the
world. America was the first country to comprehensively
address non-discrimination on the basis of disability
in national legislation and declare that disability
rights are human rights which must be recognized and
promoted everywhere. In my first year in office, the
United States joined 140 other nations in signing the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities--the first international human rights
convention to fully address human rights in the context
of disability. Now joined by over 160 States Parties,
this Convention serves as a beacon of hope to the more
than 1 billion people worldwide who live with a
disability--a reminder that the need to protect
disability rights does not end at our borders.
Regrettably, the Senate has still not provided its
advice and consent for ratification of this Convention,
and I urge them to do so and to uphold our global
commitment to the international disability community.
We have taken important steps forward to advance the
rights of persons with disabilities, but the fight is
not over. As long as anyone succumbs to casual
discrimination or fear of the unfamiliar, we have more
work to do to honor the many people with disabilities
who have shared their stories of exclusion and
injustice--and the millions more they spoke up
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for. Because of the advocates who have led the way,
more individuals with disabilities can pursue their
full measure of happiness. They have taught us that our
world is far better off when all people can live up to
their full potential--it makes all of us more whole,
and it makes our world a better place.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim December 3, 2016, as
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I call
on all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
second day of December, in the year of our Lord two
thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2016-29485
Filed 12-6-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P