IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 378 

Recognizing and honoring the 15th anniversary of the signing of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2005 

Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mr. HOYER, Mr. OWENS, Mr. RAMSTAD, 

Mr. HYDE, Mr. COBLE, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. 

CONYERS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, and Mr. REYNOLDS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the 

Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and honoring the 15th anniversary of the 

signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

Whereas July 26, 2005, marks the 15th anniversary of the 

signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; 

Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was one 

of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation 

since the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 

Whereas the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act 

was— 
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(1) to provide a clear and comprehensive national 

mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; 

(2) to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable 

standards addressing discrimination against individuals 

with disabilities; 

(3) to ensure that the Federal government plays a 

central role in enforcing the standards established in the 

Act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and 

(4) to invoke the sweep of congressional authority, 

including the power to enforce the 14th amendment to 

the Constitution and to regulate commerce, in order to 

address the major areas of discrimination faced day-today by people with disabilities; 

Whereas Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act 

after two years of extensive and exhaustive hearings detailing the historic and staggering isolation faced by people with disabilities; 

Whereas, prior to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities faced significantly lower 

employment rates, lower graduation rates, and higher 

rates of poverty than people without disabilities, and were 

too often denied the opportunity to fully participate in society due to intolerance and unfair stereotypes; 

Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed because existing Federal and State laws were insufficient to 

address the pervasive discrimination that existed for disabled Americans; 

Whereas Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act 

with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, and President 

George H.W. Bush signed the bill into law on July 26, 

1990; 
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Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act established the 

world’s first comprehensive prohibition of discrimination 

on the basis of disability in the areas of employment, 

public accommodations, public services, transportation, 

and telecommunications; 

Whereas, in the 15 years since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, significant changes have occurred in the United States to— 

(1) facilitate greater inclusion and accessibility for 

millions of people with disabilities; 

(2) increase the empowerment of individuals with 

disabilities toward greater independence and self-sufficiency; and 

(3) reduce unfounded negative impressions and 

stereotypes about people with disabilities, and to foster 

greater understanding and tolerance in society; and 

Whereas commemorating the 15th anniversary of the signing 

of the Americans with Disabilities Act both highlights the 

achievements that people with disabilities have gained 

since passage of the Act and recognizes the work left to 

be done to ensure that disabled Americans are fully able 

to participate in society: Now therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes and honors the 15th anniversary 

3 of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act 

4 of 1990; 

5 (2) recognizes and appreciates the work of the 

6 countless individuals and organizations in the dis7 ability rights community who fought tirelessly to ad8 vance the cause of people with disabilities, leading to 
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1 the passage and enactment of the Americans with 

2 Disabilities Act, and who continue to work towards 

3 improving the lives of disabled Americans; 

4 (3) reaffirms its commitment to promoting the 

5 civil and constitutional rights of Americans with dis6 abilities and recognizes the important role of the Na7 tion’s Federal courts in securing the rights of Amer8 icans under the Americans with Disabilities Act; 

9 (4) continues to strongly support the purposes 

10 and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act; 

11 and 

12 (5) encourages all Americans to recognize and 

13 celebrate the important historical significance of this 

14 Act. 

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