Max Cleland: “in the summer of 1990, President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, into law saying, ``Let the…”

“in the summer of 1990, President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, into law saying, ``Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.'' With intercity buses playing an important role in transporting millions of passengers throughout the country, we must ensure the means are available for all Americans to access this transportation mode. That is why I am introducing, along with Senators Snowe, Hollings, and Schumer, a bill to provide tax credits to intercity bus companies which purchase coaches in compliance with the ADA. Our bill expands a current tax credit to give bus owners a 50 percent tax credit of the cost of purchasing and installing hydraulic wheelchair lifts and other devices to improve accessibility. As my colleagues know, I have long been a proponent of ensuring accessibility. In fact, while I was a member of the Georgia State Senate in the early 1970s, I sponsored a bill to make public facilities accessible to the disabled, and this bill became law. Georgia was a national leader at that time, and I have been pleased to see the changes throughout the country with regard to accessibility over the past three decades. However, there is more that can and should be done.”