Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported out the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. How fitting that this treaty was considered and passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the 22nd anniversary of the enactment of Americans with Disabilities Act. If anyone questions how important this treaty is to the millions of Americans living with disabilities, all they needed to do was look around the room at the hearing earlier this month. The hearing room was filled to capacity--standing room only--with people urging the Senate to ratify this important document. The United States has led the world in creating the legal framework, building the infrastructure, and designing facilities that ensure inclusion and opportunity for those living with disabilities. We celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act--``ADA''--by reporting the treaty out of the Foreign Relations Committee on a strong bipartisan basis. I thank Sen. Kerry for holding that hearing and moving the treaty through the committee process. As the majority leader has made clear, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will soon be considered on the Senate floor. The Members of this body will have an opportunity to affirm our Nation's leadership on disability issues by ratifying this important treaty. I hope that we will do so.…”