SENATOR BOB DOLE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ADA JULY 26, 1991 

MR PRESIDENT, ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN FOR THE HISTORIC SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990. 

THE ADA, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC SERVICES, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WAS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW TO BE ENACTED SINCE 1964. 

THE ADA'S ENACTMENT MARKS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY. MANY CRITICS OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CIVIL RIGHTS POLICIES HAVE NEGLECTED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS STRONG AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES. ALTHOUGH MANY INDIVIDUALS DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE ADA, THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WERE CRITICAL TO ITS SWIFT PASSAGE.

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION NOT ONLY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE ADA'S CONSIDERATION, BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATED ITS COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH PROMPT PROMULGATION OF THE REGULATIONS. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT ANOTHER HISTORIC MILESTONE WAS ACHIEVED WITH THEIR TIMELY COMPLETION. MANY INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING ATTORNEY GENERAL DICK THORNBURGH, EEOC CHAIRMAN EVAN KEMP, AND THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD (ATBCB), DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK. MR. PRESIDENT, I AM CONFIDENT THAT MY COLLEAGUES SHARE MY SENTIMENT THAT THE ADA IS MORE THAN POLITICAL POSTURING. IT'S ABOUT THE INTEGRATION OF ALL CITIZENS INTO EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. IT'S ABOUT REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL LIFE PROBLEMS. 

YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, I HEARD ELOQUENT AND MOVING TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES ON THE NEED TO ENSURE INDEPENDENCE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE HEARING, WHICH ADDRESSED THE USE OF PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES (PAS), MADE IT CLEAR THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO BUILD ON THE GAINS ACHIEVED ONE YEAR AGO TODAY. IN HIS POIGNANT TESTIMONY, TIM STEININGER OF DODGE CITY, KANSAS PERSUASIVELY JUSTIFIED THE REVISION OF CURRENT POLICIES TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND FLEXIBLE PAS PROGRAM. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE TIMELY AND THOROUGH CONSIDERATION OF SUCH A PROGRAM IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES.

WHY? BECAUSE I BELIEVE, AS DO MY COLLEAGUES, THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. IS THIS TOO MUCH FOR A PERSON WITH A SEVERE DISABILITY TO EXPECT OUT OF LIFE? INCLUSION SHOULD MEAN ENJOYING THE RIGHTS THAT THOSE OF US FORTUNATE TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY. ISN'T THAT WHAT THE ADA IS ALL ABOUT?

MR. PRESIDENT, I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DISABILITY POLICY. LET'S BUILD ON THE GAINS WE'VE MADE TO ENSURE INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS.