The Senate may consider providing its advice and consent to U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, or the Convention) during the 114 th Congress. CRPD is the only multilateral treaty that specifically aims to protect the rights of those who are disabled. To date, 151 countries have ratified or acceded to the Convention. It has been signed by 159 countries, including the United States. President Barack Obama signed CRPD on behalf of the United States on July 30, 2009. He transmitted it to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification in May 2012, where it was received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC). The committee reported the Convention favorably to the full Senate on July 31, 2012, by a vote of 13 in favor and 6 against, subject to three reservations, eight understandings and two declarations. On December 4, the full Senate voted against providing advice and consent to ratification of CRPD by a vote of 61 to 38. When the 112 th Congress adjourned, the treaty was automatically returned to SFRC. Most recently, on July 28, 2014, SFRC favorably reported CRPD to the full Senate by a vote of 12 in favor and 6 against, subject to three reservations, nine understandings and two declarations. The full Senate did not consider the treaty. CRPD was automatically returned to SFRC at the end of the 113 th Congress. Generally, issues related to disability rights have received bipartisan agreement in Congress, and there has been support for CRPD among some Senators from both parties. Many policy makers—including those in the Obama Administration—agree that existing U.S. laws are generally in line with CRPD's provisions, and that no U.S. laws or policies would change as a result of U.S. ratification of the Convention. At the same time, other policy makers contend that ratification of CRPD would adversely affect U.S. sovereignty and interests. During Senate debates on CRPD ratification, a number of issues were discussed and may continue to be points of contention during the 114 th Congress. For example, some policy makers have expressed concern regarding the Convention's possible impact on existing U.S. laws and policies, particularly the role and authority of CRPD's monitoring body, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (The committee makes non-binding recommendations and has no authority over U.S. law.) Senators may also debate the potential benefits to U.S. ratification, such as the ability of the United States to advocate and share its experiences regarding the rights of disabled persons in global fora, and improved disability rights for U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad. Another key area of debate includes the impact of U.S. ratification, if any, on parental rights, particularly regarding decisions related to the education of disabled children. Some policy makers have also raised questions about CRPD's possible impact on healthcare—including the extent to which, if any, the Convention addresses existing laws and policies related to abortion. CRPD and its Optional Protocol were adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in December 2006. The treaty was opened for signature on March 30, 2007, and entered into force on May 3, 2008. Many experts view CRPD's adoption as the culmination of a gradual shift in international perceptions toward persons with disabilities from "objects" of charity, medical treatment, and social protection to "subjects" with fundamental rights who are able to make life decisions based on free and informed consent and as active members of society. The overall purpose of CRPD is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. States Parties agree to "undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability." The Convention sets broad goals of autonomy, equality, acceptance, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. It does not provide a definition of "disability." It acknowledges that the term is an "evolving concept" that results from "the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others." (For example, a person in a wheelchair might fail to gain employment not because he or she uses a wheelchair, but because environmental barriers—such as stairs, lack of ramps, or insufficient transportation—impede access to the work place.) Parties to CRPD agree to take appropriate measures to carry out a range of policies, laws, and administrative measures. The Convention's provisions can grouped into five general themes: Equality and non-discrimination —CRPD prohibits discrimination and requires States Parties to recognize that "all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law." Accordingly, States Parties are required to take steps to ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided to persons with disabilities. Accessibility and personal mobility —States Parties must take measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, and to other facilities open or provided to the public. States Parties also must ensure "liberty of movement" and freedom of disabled persons to choose their nationality and residence on an equal basis with others. Education —States Parties are required to "ensure an inclusive education system at all levels." Persons with disabilities must be offered the same opportunities for free primary and secondary education as others in their communities, and their individual requirements must be reasonably accommodated. Within the general education system, persons with disabilities shall receive the support required "to facilitate their effective education." Work and employment —CRPD recognizes the right of disabled persons to work on an equal basis with others in an environment that is "open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities." Parties agree to prohibit employee discrimination against disabled persons and, if necessary, to adopt laws barring such discrimination in the employment process, including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and termination. Health —The Convention calls on States Parties to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the same range, quality, and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons—including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health. Under the Convention, health care professionals must provide equal care to persons with disabilities. CRPD offers other broad legal protections, such as ensuring that persons with disabilities are not deprived of liberty, either unlawfully or arbitrarily. In addition, States Parties are required to take measures to protect disabled persons from exploitation and violence and abuse, as well as in emergency situations such as armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and natural disasters. States Parties must also take steps to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to attain and maintain maximum independence through comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services. Parties must also guarantee equal political rights for disabled persons, including voting protection and political participation. The Optional Protocol to the CRPD establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure that allows individuals or groups of individuals from States Parties to bring petitions to the committee claiming breaches of their rights. The second is an inquiry procedure that authorizes the committee to undertake inquiries of grave or systematic violations of the Convention. The Optional Protocol, which entered into force on May 3, 2008, has been signed by 92 countries and ratified or acceded to by 85 countries. The United States has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol. Under Article 40 of CRPD, the Conference of States Parties—composed of States Parties to the Convention—has the authority to consider any matter with regard to implementation of the Convention. The Conference has met four times since CRPD entered into force in 2008. Participants have discussed issues ranging from accessibility and reasonable accommodation to CRPD's role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, established under Article 34 of CRPD, is the monitoring body of the Convention. It is composed of 18 independent experts elected by the Conference of States Parties, taking into account geographic distribution. States Parties are required to submit periodic reports to the committee on their implementation of CRPD, including an initial report within the first two years of ratification or accession and regular reports every four years. The committee examines each report and makes suggestions and general recommendations to the concerned States Parties. Under the CRPD Optional Protocol, the committee may examine individual complaints regarding alleged violation of the Convention by States Parties to the Protocol. The committee meets about twice a year in Geneva, and to date has held 12 sessions. On July 30, 2009, President Obama signed the Convention. The Administration transmitted it to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification on May 17, 2012, where it was received, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC), and placed on the committee calendar. In his letter of transmittal, the President expressed his support for U.S. ratification of CRPD, stating that it would "position the United States to occupy the global leadership role to which our domestic record already attests."