[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 875 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 875

  Recognizing the 75th anniversary of The Arc of the United States, a 
   leading organization promoting and protecting the civil and human 
 rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 
   actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the 
                 community throughout their lifetimes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 12, 2025

Mr. Fitzpatrick (for himself and Mrs. Dingell) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 75th anniversary of The Arc of the United States, a 
   leading organization promoting and protecting the civil and human 
 rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 
   actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the 
                 community throughout their lifetimes.

Whereas, in 1950, parents and friends of children with intellectual disabilities 
        founded what is now known as The Arc;
Whereas a primary motivation of these families was to keep their children at 
        home where they could live as part of the family because they did not 
        want to send their children to live in institutions, and as their 
        children grew older, these families worked to ensure their inclusion in 
        the community and later expanded The Arc's mission to advance the rights 
        and services of adults with disabilities;
Whereas, in 1971, parents associated with The Arc of Pennsylvania sued the State 
        and won the right of their children to receive a free, appropriate, 
        public education, and this Federal court case, PARC v. Pennsylvania, 
        inspired Congress in 1975 to enact the Education for All Handicapped 
        Children Act, Public Law 94-142, now known as the Individuals with 
        Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that extended equal educational 
        opportunity to the Nation's children with disabilities;
Whereas, since its inception, The Arc has strongly advocated for the rights and 
        protection of individuals with intellectual and developmental 
        disabilities, and this advocacy included exposing abuses in 
        institutional care and pushing for their closure, securing social 
        insurance for adults disabled in childhood, stopping harmful research 
        done on disabled human subjects, and increasing societal awareness of 
        the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy;
Whereas, today, The Arc includes nearly 600 State and local chapters across 47 
        States;
Whereas The Arc has been instrumental in advocating for the passage of numerous 
        critical legislation for people with disabilities, including the 
        Supplemental Security Income program which provides income support for 
        many people with disabilities, the ``Baby Doe'' amendments to the Child 
        Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, the Civil Rights of 
        Institutionalized Persons Act, the Developmental Disabilities and Bill 
        of Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, coverage of health 
        care and long-term supports and services in the Federal and State 
        Medicaid program, and legislation to support the development of robust 
        home and community-based services to replace isolating institutions;
Whereas The Arc has been a leader at the State and national level in landmark 
        litigation to promote and protect the rights of individuals with 
        disabilities and their families regarding public education, 
        deinstitutionalization, and the right to home and community supports, 
        housing, right to medical treatment without discrimination based on 
        disability, and other civil rights and key public services;
Whereas The Arc is a strong partner with local, State, and Federal governments, 
        foundations, corporations, other advocacy organizations, service 
        providers, and other sectors to advocate, provide, or connect 
        individuals to education, employment, caregiving, and aging services; 
        and
Whereas, in 2025, The Arc will celebrate 75 years of advancing the mission 
        envisioned by its founders, to promote and protect the civil and human 
        rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes The Arc of 
the United States on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, honors its 
historic and ongoing contributions to advancing the rights, dignity, 
and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental 
disabilities, and commends its continued partnership with families, 
advocates, and policymakers in building inclusive communities for all.
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