[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 80369-80370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22992]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 80369]]


                Proclamation 10825 of September 30, 2024

                
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                America's economy is stronger when every American has 
                an opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully. 
                During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                we honor the incredible contributions of disabled 
                Americans to our country and economy. And we recommit 
                to opening the doors of opportunity wider for people 
                with disabilities, making our Nation more equal, 
                accessible, and fair.

                Not too long ago, a person with a disability in America 
                could be denied employment because of their disability. 
                They could even be denied access to public spaces and 
                basic needs like service in a restaurant or a grocery 
                store. One of my early acts as a United States Senator 
                was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act. It was the 
                first time in our Nation's history that we declared in 
                law what we knew to be true: that Americans with 
                disabilities deserve dignity, respect, and an equal 
                chance at the American Dream. The Rehabilitation Act is 
                one of the most consequential civil rights laws in our 
                Nation's history, banning discrimination on the basis 
                of disability by any entity the Federal Government 
                funds.

                The Rehabilitation Act laid the groundwork for another 
                landmark law: the Americans with Disabilities Act. I 
                was enormously proud to co-sponsor that bill and remain 
                even prouder of its lasting legacy today. For more than 
                61 million Americans living with a disability, these 
                laws are a source of opportunity, meaningful inclusion, 
                participation, respect, and--as my dad would say--
                dignity. And in the Obama-Biden Administration, we 
                built on the lasting legacy of these laws by setting 
                hiring goals in Federal contracts for people with 
                disabilities, which we have upheld and continued to 
                pursue in the Biden-Harris Administration.

                My Administration is committed to ensuring people with 
                disabilities have access to good jobs. In my first few 
                months in office, I signed an Executive Order 
                establishing a Government-wide commitment to advancing 
                equality and equity in Federal employment, including 
                for people with disabilities. It brought together the 
                Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity 
                Commission, and the Office of Personnel Management to 
                ensure that Federal workplaces are fully accessible to 
                people with disabilities so that the dignity and rights 
                of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy we 
                pursue. That includes making sure our Nation's largest 
                employer--the Federal Government--is the model for 
                fair, accessible, and decent practices in the 
                workplace. This Executive Order directs agencies to 
                address the challenges faced by job applicants and 
                employees with disabilities. Additionally, the General 
                Services Administration adopted the United States 
                Access Board's new guidelines to ensure people with 
                disabilities have access to the over 300,000 Federal 
                Government buildings. Furthermore, my Administration 
                ended the use of unfair subminimum wages in Federal 
                contracts--no longer will employers be permitted to pay 
                workers with disabilities less than minimum wage 
                through the AbilityOne Federal contracting program. And 
                the Department of Labor has launched a comprehensive 
                review of the subminimum wage program. We are working 
                to increase hiring for

[[Page 80370]]

                people with disabilities in every sector--from helping 
                State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits 
                access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans to 
                appointing people with disabilities to positions in my 
                Administration.

                My Administration is also strengthening our Nation's 
                infrastructure and making it more accessible so that 
                people with disabilities have no problems commuting to 
                work or other places. My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 
                makes the biggest investment ever--$1.75 billion--to 
                expand accessibility in transit and rail stations. It 
                also includes $65 billion to expand access to high-
                speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, 
                study, and stay connected from home. Further, the 
                Department of Justice finalized standards for State and 
                local governments to make their internet content and 
                mobile apps more accessible so that digital workplaces 
                are accessible to disabled Americans.

                During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                we celebrate the talent, impact, and legacy of people 
                with disabilities across our Nation by working to make 
                our country stronger, more prosperous, and more just. 
                And we recommit to ensuring people with disabilities 
                have every opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 
                as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I 
                urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills of 
                workers with disabilities and to promote the right to 
                equal employment opportunity for all.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                ninth.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-22992
Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P