Nancy Kassebaum: “I rise to congratulate my colleague from Kansas on this special remembrance of a speech that is no less compelling today…”

“I rise to congratulate my colleague from Kansas on this special remembrance of a speech that is no less compelling today than it was a quarter of a century ago. In choosing the topic for his first speech in this body, Senator Dole elected to discuss an issue of tremendous importance to him personally and to all of us as U.S. citizens. Issues relating to persons with disabilities-- whether physical, mental, or emotional--remain a great challenge to our Government, to businesses and to families, and we have certainly come a long way in many of these areas since 1969. Senator Dole laid out a number of his concerns with the state of persons with disabilities in his maiden speech, and he has kept those thoughts in sight throughout his career. His personal commitment and dedication to this issue is felt from communities in Kansas to points across this country, and is evident in his work with the Dole Foundation and here in the U.S. Senate. He has always approached the complex challenges of disability with thoroughness and depth, as well as understanding and compassion, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for his leadership on this important issue.”