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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 436 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 436

      Expressing support for the designation of July 29, 2017, as 
                 ``Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 2017

Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Reichert, and Mr. Thomas 
  J. Rooney of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, 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

 
      Expressing support for the designation of July 29, 2017, as 
                 ``Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day''.

Whereas more than 53 million Americans disclosed living with a disability in 
        2015;
Whereas more than 3.8 million American veterans reported living with some 
        service-related disability in 2015;
Whereas adaptive sports for individuals with disabilities have existed for over 
        100 years;
Whereas adaptive sports were more widely introduced after World War II with the 
        purpose of assisting the large number of war veterans and civilians who 
        had been injured during wartime;
Whereas July 29 marks the date of the first Stoke Mandeville Games for the 
        Disabled in Stoke Mandeville, England, which provided the first 
        wheelchair competition for service men and women injured in World War 
        II;
Whereas the Stoke Mandeville Games ultimately evolved into the Paralympic Games, 
        which now include athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual 
        disabilities;
Whereas the International Paralympic Movement celebrates the values of courage, 
        determination, inspiration, and equality and works to enable paralympic 
        athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire people around the 
        world;
Whereas the United States Paralympians continue to achieve competitive 
        distinction and preserve the ideals and values of the Paralympic Games;
Whereas 18 veterans were members of Team USA at the Sochi Paralympic Games, and 
        35 veterans were members of Team USA at the Rio Paralympic Games;
Whereas participation in the Paralympic Games and other adapted sport 
        competitions and athletic reconditioning activities, such as the 
        Paralympic Military Program, plays a fundamental role for American 
        service members and veterans who are reintegrating into civilian life 
        and developing adaptive strategies during rehabilitation;
Whereas a celebration of Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day will improve the 
        communities of the United States and uplift and inspire the Paralympic 
        champions of the future;
Whereas Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day will encourage the youth of the United 
        States to participate in and support inclusion of all people in sport; 
        and
Whereas Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day will create awareness and 
        understanding toward people with a disability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``Paralympic and Adaptive 
        Sport Day'';
            (2) supports the inclusive goals of the Paralympic Movement 
        and recognizes the value of sport for athletes with a 
        disability;
            (3) acknowledges the extraordinary contribution and 
        sacrifice of the United States active-duty service members and 
        veterans who have sustained a traumatic injury and acquired a 
        disability in the service of our country; and
            (4) promotes--
                    (A) a more inclusive society for all people with a 
                disability through paralympic and adaptive sport 
                throughout the United States; and
                    (B) the paralympic values of courage, 
                determination, inspiration, and equality.
                                 <all>
```