IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 131 

Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many federally funded 

facilities for all people of the United States, particularly people with 

disabilities. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 26, 2018 

Ms. ESTY of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. 

DELAURO, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. HIMES, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. PAYNE) 

submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and 

Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the need to improve physical access to many 

federally funded facilities for all people of the United 

States, particularly people with disabilities. 

Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution prevents 

Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, 

or abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of the 

press, the right to peaceably assemble, or to petition for 

a governmental redress of grievances, and was adopted 


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•HCON 131 IH 

on December 15, 1791, as 1 of the 10 amendments that 

constitute the Bill of Rights; 

Whereas the Bill of Rights, specifically the First Amendment 

to the Constitution, calls for the right of all persons to 

peaceably assemble, and to this end, all persons, regardless of their physical ability, shall be offered equal opportunity to access all federally funded, in whole or part, 

amenities, with the exception of certain sites of historical 

importance approved by the United States Access Board 

or a nonpartisan commission convened by said United 

States Access Board; 

Whereas in the 28 years since the signing of the Americans 

with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) 

(ADA), there have been unprecedented advances in all 

forms of technology, typified by automatic doors; 

Whereas in 2012, nearly 20 percent of the civilian population 

in the United States reported having a disability as defined by the ADA; 

Whereas in the 2010 census, more than 38,000,000 people 

were reported as having a severe disability; 

Whereas disability is a universal concern, as an aging population increases the incidence of frailty and disability; 

Whereas, as significant advances in medical treatment result 

in increased survival rates, the incidence of disability increases; 

Whereas in 2012, 16 percent of veterans, amounting to more 

than 3,500,000 people, received service-related disability 

benefits; 

Whereas in 2011, the percentage of working-age people in the 

United States who reported having a work limitation due 

to a disability was 7 percent, which is a 20-year high; 


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•HCON 131 IH 

Whereas the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to insure that certain 

buildings financed with Federal funds are so designed 

and constructed as to be accessible to the physically 

handicapped’’, approved August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 

4151 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Architectural 

Barriers Act of 1968’’), was enacted to ensure that certain federally funded facilities are designed and constructed to be accessible to people with disabilities; 

Whereas the United States Access Board (the Board) has developed new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will 

address various issues, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street 

parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain; 

Whereas the Board’s new guidelines will cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb 

ramps, street furnishings, pedestrian signals, parking, 

and other components of public rights-of-way; 

Whereas the Board’s aim in developing these guidelines is to 

ensure that access for persons with disabilities is provided wherever a pedestrian way is newly built or altered, 

and that the same degree of convenience, connection, and 

safety afforded the public generally is available to pedestrians with disabilities; 

Whereas once these guidelines are adopted by the Department of Justice, they will become enforceable standards 

under title II of the ADA; and 

Whereas the United States was founded on principles of 

equality and freedom, and these principles require that 

all people, including people with disabilities, are able to 


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engage as equal members of society: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the immense hardships that peo4 ple with disabilities in the United States must over5 come every day; 

6 (2) reaffirms its support of the Act entitled 

7 ‘‘An Act to insure that certain buildings financed 

8 with Federal funds are so designed and constructed 

9 as to be accessible to the physically handicapped’’, 

10 approved August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), 

11 commonly known as the ‘‘Architectural Barriers Act 

12 of 1968’’, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 

13 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and encourages full 

14 compliance with such Acts; and 

15 (3) pledges to make universal and inclusive de16 sign a guiding principle for all infrastructure bills 

17 and projects and will continue working to identify 

18 and remove the barriers that prevent all people of 

19 the United States from having equal access to the 

20 services provided by the Federal Government. 

Æ 


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