On the recordDecember 4, 2012
let me just say to the Senator from Arizona before he leaves, the Senator and I have engaged on these issues for some years now, and we have disagreed respectfully and in a friendly way. I would say to him, very respectfully, that there is no contradiction in the position of the proponents of this bill. While I understand what he said about China, the fact is that because China has signed up--and Russia and other countries--if we were a party to this and at the table discussing it, we would have greater leverage in order to be able to advance the rights of persons in China and elsewhere. Now, don't take that from me, I would say to the Senator from Arizona. Guongcheng Chen is the blind activist for civil rights in China who has sought refuge in America for a brief period of time. His family has suffered in China, and he has written a letter to us. He says: Dear Senators, I am writing you to personally ask for your support for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As you know, my work on civil rights began with trying to ensure that people with disabilities in my home country of China were afforded the same rights as everyone else. The CRPD is making this idea real in significant ways around the world today. He goes on to say: I am hopeful that you will support ratification and allow others to benefit from these triumphs. And he is referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the other things we have done.…
