Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to see my bill, the Think Differently Transportation Act, come to the House floor. This is yet another item to pass the House that builds off the work that we began when I was county executive in New York State, in Dutchess County, New York, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative. ThinkDIFFERENTLY is a call to action to break down barriers and create opportunities for those living with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities. The Think Differently Transportation Act does just that. The bill requires that Amtrak submit to Congress and the President an annual report with an expected timeline for bringing Amtrak trains and stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Amtrak stations and trains should be fully accessible for all Americans of every ability and fully compliant with Federal law. The ADA was passed in 1990 and established a 20-year timeframe for intercity rail stations to be accessible to those with disabilities. As of July 2023, sadly, Amtrak has only brought 30 percent of the 385 stations it is responsible for into ADA compliance. This is simply unacceptable and creates far too many barriers for every person of every ability, making this bill necessary. The Think Differently Transportation Act is a strong bipartisan bill that allows Congress to have appropriate oversight of Amtrak to ensure it complies with its obligations under the law.…”