[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 80 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 80
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
December 12, 2019
Mrs. Hayes (for herself, Mrs. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Himes,
Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Courtney,
Mr. Payne, and Mr. Young) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor,
and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Transportation and
Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and 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 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 29 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) (in this preamble referred to as the
``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;
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 (in this preamble referred to as 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 engage as equal members of society: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) recognizes the immense hardships that people with
disabilities in the United States must overcome every day;
(2) reaffirms its support of 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), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and encourages full compliance with such
Acts; and
(3) pledges to make universal and inclusive design a
guiding principle for all infrastructure bills and projects and
will continue working to identify and remove the barriers that
prevent all people of the United States from having equal
access to the services provided by the Federal Government.
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