On the recordNovember 17, 2010
I wish to preface my remarks by thanking him personally. Tom Harkin has been not only a great colleague and friend, he has been such an exceptional leader when it comes to this important issue. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which literally has changed the face of America and opened doors for the disabled across our Nation, is not only one of the most dramatic steps forward when it comes to human rights and civil rights in my time, it was led by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Senator Robert Dole, Republican of Kansas, who then served in the Senate. So Tom Harkin has been our conscience and our leader when it comes to issues involving safety, human rights, and expanding the reach of freedom in our Nation to those who otherwise might have been denied.
