Political Quotes

“I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of disability rights activist, Judy Heumann. Today, I join so many touched by her advocacy in mourning her passing, remembering her life, and paying tribute to the contributions she made to the disability community. Judy's activism began early in life. As a young child who contracted polio and used a wheelchair, she was denied the right to attend school in New York. Later in life, Judy was denied a teaching license after failing her medical exam due to ``paralysis of both lower extremities.'' She sued the Board of Education and went on to be the first teacher in New York State to use a wheelchair. Judy served in various capacities throughout multiple Presidential administrations and was instrumental in the passage of groundbreaking legislation including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. She was the recipient of the Henry B. Betts Award, the Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award, and was featured in numerous documentaries. I had the honor of working with Judy throughout my time as ranking member and chair of the HELP Committee and seeing firsthand how committed she was to making our world more welcoming and accessible to everyone. Her tenacity was an inspiration to me, and I am grateful that I had the chance to learn from her and work alongside her to make this country more inclusive for all.…”