Mr. Speaker, fifteen years ago, the United States Congress passed, and President George H.W. Bush signed into law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - landmark civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. On this important anniversary, we must take the opportunity to reflect on the Act’s successes and discuss the work left to be done.

The ADA declared that 54 million Americans with disabilities, including myself, had the right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace and access to public buildings. In doing so, society acknowledged for the first time the civil rights of these Americans to live independently and to fully participate in all aspects of our society – our schools, our businesses, and our communities. At its core, the ADA was about empowerment - giving people the tools they need to pave their own way to success. For Americans with disabilities this can mean many things, from providing information and resources, to making public transportation and housing more accessible, to improving the healthcare system.

As a result of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made significant progress in terms of inclusion since 1990. Students with disabilities no longer have to make choices about their education based on the number of ramps on a campus or the school’s willingness to put Braille signs in their dorms. Many individuals with disabilities have achieved greater participation in their communities through increased access to public buildings, improved accommodations in the workplace and a heightened awareness of their needs and talents.

My own experiences and successes are, in many ways, a direct result of the ADA’s intention. When I was first elected to Congress in 2000, infrastructure changes were necessary. For example, a chair was removed from the House Floor to make space for my wheelchair, and an adjustable podium was built so that I could address my colleagues on the Floor. The flexibility my colleagues have shown illustrates the tremendous advances America has made in accommodating disabled employees and it demonstrates how institutions, even those steeped in tradition, can adapt to assist people in special circumstances.

Not only does society look different to people with disabilities since the ADA, it looks differently at people with disabilities. It is no longer considered charity for businesses to install support beams in their restrooms or curb cuts in their parking lots. By declaring these legal responsibilities, Congress has significantly empowered Americans with disabilities. And in the course of living up to requirements of the ADA, many business owners have discovered loyal customers and employees who might otherwise have been unable to enter their doors. The most effective businesses are active participants in their communities, and in order to be an active part of the community, a business must reach out to all of its members.

Unfortunately, in many cases my success is still the exception rather than the rule. Barriers still exist. Although a major focus of the ADA was to improve employment opportunities, there has been little change in the employment rate of people with disabilities. Only 32 percent of people of working age who have a disability are employed. And today, people with disabilities are still three times more likely to live in poverty.

In many cases, we can make change by bringing the spirit of the ADA to other government-funded programs. For example, Medicare does not sufficiently cover certain mobility devices, such as power wheelchairs, and can even work against people, by refusing to cover wheelchairs for those who are able to leave their homes. Furthermore, many forms of public transportation still aren’t accessible to people with disabilities, and accessible housing is often scarce and unaffordable. Too many Americans, all of whom have gifts and talents to contribute to our country, continue to be imprisoned by their disability.

Our work, as a nation, is far from finished. We have not yet met the goal of the ADA: “to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” We must continue to strive for the day in our country when if you are qualified and you can do the job, you get that job – without regard to disability.

We must recommit to renewing our efforts to realize the promise of the ADA and working to restore its full protections. With thousands of severely injured soldiers returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, we have a special responsibility to assure them that they will receive the fair treatment they deserve as they attempt to return to work and live in their communities.

We must bring our nation closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity that are both our heritage and our hope. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to continue to lead the way in our national effort to make those ideals a reality for all Americans and to support H. Res. 378.