Tomorrow we celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a groundbreaking civil rights law that has improved the lives of millions across the Nation, including my own. However, the fight for equality and inclusion is not over. Over the past year, I have collaborated with disability advocates and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to pass bills that strengthen protections for airline passengers with disabilities, expand caregiver services for disabled veterans, and establish a more inclusive emergency preparedness and disaster planning process. I have also called for the Federal Government to account for its hiring and retention of disabled workers, increased funding for spinal cord injury research, co-led legislation to help small businesses break down accessibility barriers and passed a bill in the House to authorize $200 million for respite care services. Madam Speaker, these efforts are only the beginning, and I cannot and will not stop fighting until we achieve the goal of equal opportunity, full inclusion, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities everywhere. ____________________
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