[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 84683-84684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26898]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 84683]]

                Proclamation 10681 of December 1, 2023

                
International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 
                2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we 
                recommit to building a world where disabled people 
                everywhere are treated with the dignity and respect 
                they deserve and are afforded an equal shot at 
                achieving their dreams.

                Many Americans can still recall when--just over three 
                decades ago--a person could legally be denied service 
                in a restaurant and employers could refuse to hire them 
                on the basis of their disability. Since the beginning 
                of my career, I have worked hard to change that. One of 
                my earliest acts as a United States Senator was co-
                sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act, which banned 
                discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity 
                funded by the Federal Government. Years later, I was 
                proud to co-sponsor the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act--a landmark piece of legislation that banned 
                discrimination against disabled people in workplaces, 
                schools, public transit, and more.

                In the years since, over 180 nations around the world 
                have passed similar laws, delivering justice to 
                millions of people with disabilities worldwide. But 
                there is still more to do at home and abroad to ensure 
                they have equal opportunities. Too often, disabled 
                Americans are unable to vote, get to and from school, 
                and enjoy public spaces, and are paid less for doing 
                the same work. Around the world, disabled people 
                continue to face discrimination, harassment, 
                exploitation, abuse, and violence, which inhibits their 
                full participation in society.

                That is why my Administration has worked to ensure that 
                the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are lifted 
                in every policy we pursue. Through my American Rescue 
                Plan, we have taken action to improve access to health 
                care for disabled Americans, including providing 
                billions of dollars to all 50 States to expand home- 
                and community-based services under Medicaid so that 
                more people with disabilities can live independently at 
                home. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we 
                have invested billions of dollars more in building a 
                country that works for everyone--from repairing and 
                improving accessibility in airports and transit 
                stations to expanding access to high-speed internet so 
                more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay 
                connected from home. Additionally, the Department of 
                Justice proposed standards for State and local 
                governments to make their internet content and mobile 
                apps more accessible to disabled Americans so that they 
                can easily do things like travel to and from work and 
                school, care for themselves and their loved ones, and 
                vote.

                My Administration is also working to uphold the dignity 
                and freedom of disabled people worldwide. For example, 
                I released the first-ever memorandum on Advancing 
                Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards 
                Globally, which directed departments and agencies to 
                account for the particular needs of persons with 
                disabilities in promoting labor rights. At the United 
                Nations General Assembly in September, I met with 
                leaders from Central Asia at the first-ever C5+1 
                Presidential Summit and launched a joint disability 
                rights initiative aimed at integrating disability 
                rights, promoting inclusive education, and increasing 
                infrastructure accessibility. At

[[Page 84684]]

                the Department of State, I reestablished the role of 
                Special Advisor on International Disability Rights so 
                that the needs of disabled people are consistently 
                represented in foreign policy. Through our 
                participation as a co-chair of the Global Action on 
                Disability Network and a participant in the Global 
                Disability Summit, the United States continues to stand 
                for the equal rights of people with disabilities around 
                the world.

                Today, as we celebrate the dignity, resilience, and 
                immense contributions of disabled people everywhere, we 
                recognize that our progress is not just about 
                protecting disability rights--it is about promoting 
                disability pride. For many of the over one billion 
                disabled people around the world, disability is a 
                source of identity and power--and it is our 
                responsibility to ensure everyone has equal 
                opportunities to reach their full potential.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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, 
                2023, 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 
                first day of December, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-26898
Filed 12-5-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P