Sam Farr: “there can be no worse public act than a government that refuses to acknowledge the humanity of its citizens. Throughout…”

“there can be no worse public act than a government that refuses to acknowledge the humanity of its citizens. Throughout history, the United States has struggled to rise above the divisions among its people and, instead, fuse its people into a single, unified citizenry. Whether it was the struggle over civil rights for persons of color, the fight for women's rights or, most recently, the battle for access by persons with disabilities, the United States has risen above our differences and embraced them as worthy of a society that sees itself as open, free, and inclusive. The fight by persons with disabilities for nondiscrimination in matters of employment, transportation and building access, and accommodation, was landmark. Through the enactment of the ADA, our country removed the cloak of secrecy wrapped around our disabled citizens and announced to the world that persons with disabilities were valued members of our society. So, today, as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, I rise to honor ever person, disabled or not, who worked so hard to see this law enacted. These persons and their effort are a testament to the spirit of fairness, the spirit of perseverance, and the spirit of hope that inspires us all. There can be no worse public act than a government that refuses to acknowledge the humanity of its citizens.…”