Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today as not just the Member from Delaware but also as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to speak to the topic before us of the convention and whether the United States should ratify a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Our country has long been a global leader in recognizing and protecting the basic rights, the human rights of all people, including those with disabilities, and of working hard to be at the forefront of a global movement to improve access to the basic and essential aspects of productive daily life for those with disabilities. Today we have the opportunity to help extend those rights, the same rights that disabled Americans have to other people around the world. If we have that opportunity to promote freedom and human rights, why wouldn't we ensure these protections that apply to Americans apply to them abroad as well and to others, some of the nearly 1 billion fellow citizens of the world who live with disabilities. This treaty that is before us today was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 with 153 nations as signatories and so far 116 as ratifying parties. It has been 6 long years that the United States has not joined as a ratifying party. This treaty has passed with strong bipartisan support through the Foreign Relations Committee by a vote we took back in July after hearings, and it is been nearly 6 months since that vote. Yet this treaty, sadly, faces opposition on the floor of the Senate.…”