IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 150

Expressing the sense of Congress that Erik Weihenmayer’s achievement of

becoming the first blind person to climb Mount Everest demonstrates

the abilities and potential of all blind people and other individuals with

disabilities.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 5, 2001

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mrs.

NAPOLITANO, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. FILNER, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. HINCHEY,

Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico,

Mr. PALLONE, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. MILLENDERMCDONALD, Mr. WYNN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr.

MCINNIS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. KELLER, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr. WALSH, Mr. GONZALEZ, and Mr. EHRLICH) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that Erik Weihenmayer’s

achievement of becoming the first blind person to climb

Mount Everest demonstrates the abilities and potential

of all blind people and other individuals with disabilities.

Whereas misconceptions and negative stereotypes about

blindness and other disabilities significantly contribute to

the challenges that individuals with blindness or other

disabilities encounter;
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•HCON 150 IH

Whereas in order to help promote a positive public perception

of blindness, the National Federation of the Blind sponsored the quest of Erik Weihenmayer to become the first

blind person to climb Mount Everest;

Whereas on May 23, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer, as part of a

climbing team, successfully climbed to the summit of

Mount Everest, which, at a height of 29,035 feet above

sea level, is the highest summit in the world;

Whereas Erik Weihenmayer has climbed to the summit of

Ama Dablam, Mount McKinley, El Capitan, Kilimanjaro,

Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, and Polar Circus, which is a

3,000 foot ice waterfall in Alberta, Canada;

Whereas despite his blindness, Erik Weihenmayer is a speaker, writer, acrobatic skydiver and scuba diver, long-distance cyclist, marathon runner, skier, mountaineer, and

ice and rock climber;

Whereas Erik Weihenmayer’s many accomplishments have

earned him the Health and Fitness Association Award,

the Glaucoma Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award,

Connecticut’s Most Courageous Athlete Award, ESPN’s

ARETE Award for courage in sports, the Distinguished

Arizonan Award, the Gene Autry Award, induction into

the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the honor of

carrying the Olympic Torch through Phoenix, Arizona;

and

Whereas Erik Weihenmayer’s achievements demonstrate that

blind people and other individuals with disabilities can accomplish extraordinary goals if they are provided with the

proper training and opportunities: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
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•HCON 150 IH

1 (1) Erik Weihenmayer’s achievement of becom2 ing the first blind person to climb Mount Everest

3 demonstrates the abilities and potential of all blind

4 people and other individuals with disabilities; and

5 (2) individuals with blindness or other disabil6 ities can overcome almost any obstacle if they are

7 provided with the appropriate resources.

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