Title: A resolution recognizing the importance of independent living for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling for further action to strengthen home and community living for individuals with disabilities.
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary:
This resolution addresses issues related to individuals with disabilities.
Specifically, the resolution

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 348 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 348

 Recognizing the importance of independent living for individuals with 
 disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
 1990 and calling for further action to strengthen home and community 
               living for individuals with disabilities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 9, 2021

Mr. Casey (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Brown, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Merkley, 
  Mr. Reed, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Manchin, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
  Cardin, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
 Padilla, Mr. Murphy, Mr. King, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Smith, Mr. Booker, and 
Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the importance of independent living for individuals with 
 disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
 1990 and calling for further action to strengthen home and community 
               living for individuals with disabilities.

Whereas, in enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        12101 et seq.), Congress recognized that ``historically, society has 
        tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and, 
        despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against 
        individuals with disabilities continue to be a serious and pervasive 
        social problem'';
Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 recognized the rights of 
        individuals with disabilities to fully participate in their communities 
        through independent living, equality of opportunity, and economic self-
        sufficiency;
Whereas, 31 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
        1990 and 22 years after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United 
        States in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), many individuals with 
        disabilities continue to live in segregated institutional settings 
        because of a lack of support services;
Whereas continued instances of segregated institutional settings have hindered 
        the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in communities, schools, 
        and workplaces, undermining the promise of the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990;
Whereas people with disabilities living in institutional and long-term care 
        settings suffered disproportionate rates of infection and death during 
        the COVID-19 pandemic, with data showing 60 percent of COVID-19 deaths 
        involved a person with a disability;
Whereas people of color with disabilities experience disproportionately greater 
        barriers to quality, accessible health care, education, and employment 
        opportunities, infringing on the right of such people under the 
        Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to full participation in their 
        communities;
Whereas, 31 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
        1990, people with disabilities continue to face higher rates of 
        unemployment and barriers to accessible workplaces and access to 
        competitive integrated employment opportunities.
Whereas, 31 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
        1990, some telecommunication, electronic, and information technologies 
        continue to be developed without the goal of full accessibility and 
        inclusion for all people of the United States; and
Whereas, 31 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
        1990, many businesses, public and private organizations, transportation 
        systems, and services are still not accessible to all individuals with 
        disabilities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the importance of independent living for 
        individuals with disabilities made possible by the enactment of 
        the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
        seq.);
            (2) encourages all people of the United States to celebrate 
        the advancement of inclusion and equality of opportunity made 
        possible by the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities 
        Act of 1990;
            (3) pledges to continue to work on a bipartisan basis to 
        identify and address the remaining barriers that undermine the 
        national goals of equality of opportunity, independent living, 
        economic self-sufficiency, and full participation for 
        individuals with disabilities, including by focusing on 
        individuals with disabilities that remain segregated in 
        institutions;
            (4) pledges to work with States to improve access to home- 
        and community-based services for individuals with disabilities;
            (5) calls on the Department of Labor to provide 
        information, resources, and technical assistance that enable 
        individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-
        sufficiency; and
            (6) calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to 
        provide information, resources, and technical assistance 
        regarding home- and community-based services and supports that 
        enable individuals with disabilities to live independently.
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