Recognizing the 22nd Annual Disability Pride Parade

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 22nd Annual Disability Pride Parade taking place in Chicago's Loop on Saturday, July 26. The parade takes place 35 years to the day that the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was signed into law, and the theme of the parade is 35 years of ADA: Still Rising, Still Thriving.

The mission of the Disability Pride Parade is to change the way people think about and define ``disability,'' to break down and end the internalized shame among people with disabilities, and to promote the belief in society that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. This bipartisan effort made a commitment that our history of segregating and isolating persons with disabilities would end. In the law's own words, the purpose of the ADA is to ``provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.''

By setting enforceable standards, providing assistance for compliance, and asserting the federal government's central role in ending discrimination, this landmark civil rights law has provided hope and opportunity for all Americans--those today living with a disability and those of us who could become disabled tomorrow. Because of the ADA, individuals with disabilities have the legal right to fully participate in our society--the right to transportation, health services, shopping, entertainment, education, employment, public accommodations, and voting.

Those who fought so hard to win its passage--including my friend and mentor Marca Bristo, the founder and head of Access Living--deserve to celebrate its enactment and deserve our thanks. But as we celebrate today, we have to get to work tomorrow. We need to build on the ADA's promise--whether it is passing my bill, the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act, to make sure that all new residential housing built with federal dollars is accessible or increasing the employment of adults with disabilities.

This year, we have seen a number of legislative attempts to take away rights from disabled individuals. The Big Ugly Bill, which Republicans passed through Congress, is going to strip health care away from nearly 17 million individuals, including many with disabilities. I stood on the frontlines with disability advocates who have truly been the tip of the spear in the fight to protect all Americans' health care. While we did not win this battle, the fight is not over. The power of the people is always greater than that of the people in power.

As long as discrimination still exists and as long as there are those who seek to undermine existing law, the purpose of the ADA will not have been completely met. It is our job to make sure that happens.

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