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Langevin at White House for signing of disabilities law

7:21 AM Thu, Sep 25, 2008 | Permalink
By John E. Mulligan, Washington bureau

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WASHINGTON -- Rep. James R. Langevin will go to the White House this morning as President Bush signs into law the latest amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (S- 3406).

``It's a historic day,'' the Rhode Island Democrat said of the event during a brief interview on Capitol Hill yesterday afternoon.

Langevin, who suffers himself from a serious disability, was active in the drafting of the legislation, which passed the House last week. The congressman has been confined to a wheelchair since his spinal cord was damaged in an accidental shooting when he was a teenaged cadet in the Warwick Police Department.

Langevin's pursuit of a political career despite the crippling injury has given him special standing to argue a number of policy positions over the years, from his opposition to abortion to his support for research on stem cells from human embryos.

Here are excerpts from Langevin's statement on the floor of the House during its debate of the ADA amendments earlier this month:

"I am pleased to support S. 3406, the Senate-approved ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Passage of this bill will clear the way for the President's signature and finally renew our promise to the American people that discrimination, in any form, will never be tolerated.

"The ADA was groundbreaking civil rights legislation. As someone who has lived with the challenges of a disability both before and after the ADA's enactment in 1990, I have experienced, first hand, the profound changes that this law has effected within our society . . .

"In July, we celebrated the 18th anniversary of the ADA. It was a day to reflect on our past accomplishments, our current challenges and future opportunities. I can think of no better way to honor the spirit of this landmark bill than by passing the ADA Amendments Act and reaffirming Congress's intent to ensure the ADA's broad protections.

"People with disabilities represent a tremendously valuable resource.
By fostering an environment of inclusion and empowerment, we can provide the means for every individual to fulfill his or her potential.''