Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as we all now know, the Senate will vote today on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The United States has long been a leader in its treatment of those with disabilities. Becoming a party to the convention would provide an important platform and forum for the United States to continue this leadership. We received strong expressions of support for the convention from a wide range of groups who advocate on behalf of the disabled. This includes numerous veterans organizations representing those who have become disabled while serving our country in the Armed Forces. An important factor in my decision to support the convention has been the testimony received by the Foreign Relations Committee that joining the convention will not require any change--and I emphasize that: will not require any change--in existing U.S. law or policies regarding treatment of the disabled. In their statements before the Foreign Relations Committee, officials from the executive branch as well as former Attorney General Richard Thornburgh stressed that current U.S. law satisfies all obligations the United States would assume in joining the convention. In order to underscore the importance of this point, the Foreign Relations Committee specifically addressed it in a declaration in the resolution of advice and consent.…”