[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
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 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