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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 150 Introduced in House (IH)]

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. Millender-McDonald, 
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;
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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) 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; and
            (2) individuals with blindness or other disabilities can 
        overcome almost any obstacle if they are provided with the 
        appropriate resources.
                                 <all>
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