| 00:00:00 | IN CREATING THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK, BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGNING FACILITIES THAT ENSURE INCLUSION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:00:08 | JUST RECENTLY, WE CELEBRATED THE 22nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE A. |
| 00:00:13 | D.A., AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ABILITY. |
| 00:00:16 | BY -- ACT. |
| 00:00:17 | BY REPORTING A TREATY UNDER THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON A STRONG BIPARTISAN BASIS. |
| 00:00:20 | THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIRM OUR NATION'S LEADERSHIP ON DISABILITY ISSUES BY RATIFYING THIS TREATY. |
| 00:00:29 | I HOPE THAT WE WILL DO SO WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT HAS ALWAYS CHARACTERIZED THE SENATE'S WORK ON DISABILITY ISSUES. |
| 00:00:36 | EVERYONE KNOWS THE STORY WHEN BOB DOLE, A DISABLED VETERAN FROM WORLD WAR II, AND TOM HARKIN, HIS COLLEAGUE, DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA, WITH A DISABLED MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. |
| 00:00:52 | IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY BIPARTISAN EFFORT. |
| 00:00:54 | IT DID OUR NATION PROUD. |
| 00:00:56 | IT GAVE TO DISABLED PEOPLE A CHANCE TO BE IN THE MAINSTREAM AND PART OF AMERICA. |
| 00:01:00 | ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED, IN ADDITION TO 54 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING WITH DISABILITY, WAS A FELLOW NAMED BOB GREENBERG. |
| 00:01:10 | BOB GREENBERG WAS THE LEGENDARY SPORTSCASTER WHO ROSE TO PROMINENCE AT CHICAGO'S WBEZ RADIO STATION. |
| 00:01:17 | AT THE APEX OF HIS CAREER, BOB OFFERED COLOR COMMENTARY FOR CHICAGO'S MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS. |
| 00:01:23 | HE INTERVIEWED THE VERY BEST ATHLETES. |
| 00:01:25 | HE ANALYZED THE PLAYERS. |
| 00:01:26 | HE RIFLED OFF STATS AND BOX SCORES THAT PUT THE GAME IN CONTEXT. |
| 00:01:31 | FOR HIS LOYAL AND LARGE CHICAGO RADIO AUDIENCE, BOB GREENBERG DESCRIBED SPORTING EVENTS THEY COULDN'T SEE. |
| 00:01:38 | BOB'S STORY IS UNIQUE BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SEE THE GAMES EITHER. |
| 00:01:41 | BOB GREENBERG WAS BLIND, BUT HE NEVER LET IT STOP HIM FROM ACHIEVING HIS DREAMS. |
| 00:01:46 | THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT LAWS LIKE THE A. |
| 00:01:49 | D.A. HELPED MAKE BOB'S ROAD TO ACHIEVING HIS DREAM A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER. |
| 00:01:52 | WE LOST BOB TO CANCER LAST SUMMER, BUT WE WILL NEVER LOSE THE POWER OF HIS LIFE AND HIS LIFE'S STORY. |
| 00:01:58 | MOST OF US DON'T GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT TO CROSSING THE STREET, READING THE NEWSPAPER OR DESCRIBING THINGS WE'VE SEEN, BUT FOR BOB AND MILLIONS LIKE HIM, OUR NATION'S COMMITMENT TO EQUAL ACCESS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES HAS LITERALLY EXPANDED THEIR WORLD. |
| 00:02:12 | NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT AND ADVANCE DISABILITY RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD BY RATIFYING THE CONVENTION OR THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:02:23 | THE SUPPORT FOR THIS TREATY IS BROAD AND BIPARTISAN. |
| 00:02:27 | I WANT TO THANK MY FRIEND, SENATOR JOHN McCAIN OF ARIZONA. |
| 00:02:31 | HE IS LEADING THIS EFFORT WITH ME TO PASS THIS CONVENTION ON DISABILITIES. |
| 00:02:36 | HE IS A GREAT ALLY. |
| 00:02:38 | WITHOUT HIM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE REACHED THIS POINT. |
| 00:02:41 | BUT ALSO THANK SENATORS JOHN BROORS, CHRIS COONS, JERRY MORAN FOR THEIR BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO RATIFICATION. |
| 00:02:50 | THIS TREATY IS SUPPORTED BY 165 DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE MOST PROMINENT, THE U. |
| 00:02:56 | S. INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES AND MANY OTHERS, AND IN ADDITION 21 VETERANS' GROUPS CAME AND TESTIFIED. |
| 00:03:03 | THEY WERE THE EARLIE WITNESSES, AND FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. |
| 00:03:08 | DISABLED VETERANS KNOW THE LIMITS ON LIFE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD OPENING DOORS LITERALLY FOR THEM TO THE FUTURE. |
| 00:03:20 | THE WOUNDE -- THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT SUPPORTS IT, DISABLED VET VANS, THE VET VANSTHE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS ARE ALL CALLING ON US TO SIGN THE TREATY. |
| 00:03:35 | SENATOR BOB DOLE, A LIFELONG ADVOCATE FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS, STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS TREATY. |
| 00:03:39 | THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS A HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY THAT SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHERS. |
| 00:03:48 | THANK TO THE A. |
| 00:03:49 | D.A. AND SIMILAR LAWS, THE U. |
| 00:03:52 | S. HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESSIBILITY AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED. |
| 00:03:59 | OUR NATION TODAY IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH EVERY TERM OF THE TREATY WHICH I'M BRINGING TO THE FLOOR. |
| 00:04:06 | BEFORE TRANSMITTING THIS TREATY, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONDUCTED AN EXHAUSTIVE COMPARISON OF THE TREATY'S REQUIREMENTS TO CURRENT LAW. |
| 00:04:14 | THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT NEED TO PASS ANY NEW LAW OR REGULATION IN ORDER TO MEET THE TERMS OF THE TREATY. |
| 00:04:23 | THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY MEET OR EXCEED TREATY REQUIREMENTS IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR NATION'S BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:04:34 | SO WHY WOULD WE RATIFY A TREATY IF IT DIDN'T GOING TO CHANGE LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES OR PUT ANY NEW REQUIREMENTS ON THE UNITED STATES? |
| 00:04:42 | WELL, THERE ARE MORE THAN 5 1/2 MILLION VETERANS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICAN VETERANS. |
| 00:04:49 | THEY AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS LIVE WITH DISABILITIES BUT THEY TRAVEL, STUDY, WORK AND SERVE OVERSEAS, OFTEN WITH THEIR FAMILIES. |
| 00:04:57 | RATIFYING THIS TREATY WILL HELP TO ENSURE THEY ENJOY THE SAME ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY THEY DO RIGHT HERE AT HOME. |
| 00:05:05 | RATIFYING THIS TREATY WILL GIVE THE UNITED STATES A WELL-DESERVED SEAT AT THE INTERNATIONAL TABLE SO THE U. |
| 00:05:11 | S. CAN PROVIDE ITS GUIDANCE AND EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES WORKING TO ADOPT LAWS, UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODERNIZE FACILITIES TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS WE'VE ALREADY SET AND MET. |
| 00:05:24 | AMERICAN BUSINESSES HAVE INVESTED TIME AND RESOURCES TO COMPLY WITH THE A. |
| 00:05:28 | D.A., THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. |
| 00:05:31 | BUSINESSES IN SOME COUNTRIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH SIMILAR STANDARDS. |
| 00:05:35 | COMPLIANCE WITH THE TREATY LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD BY REQUIRING FOREIGN BUSINESSES TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY MET BY AMERICAN BUSINESSES. |
| 00:05:45 | WE ALSO LEAD THE WORLD IN DEVELOPING ACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY. |
| 00:05:50 | AS OTHER COUNTRIES COMPLY WITH THIS TREATY ON DISABILITY, AMERICAN BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO EXPORT THEIR EXPERTISE AND PRODUCTS TO THE NEW MARKETS SERVING MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD. |
| 00:06:03 | RATIFYING THIS TREATY IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO 54 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO 10% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION THAT LIVE WITH A DISABILITY. |
| 00:06:13 | THE 650 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE LOOKING TO THE UNITED STATES TO JOIN THEM AND SHOW LEADERSHIP AS WE HAVE HERE AT HOME ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS. |
| 00:06:24 | NOT ONLY DO THESE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD COURAGEOUSLY LIVE WITH DISABILITIES, THEY LIVE WITH MANY CHALLENGES AND HURDLES IN OTHER COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT BE REMOVED IF OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW OUR LEAD. |
| 00:06:35 | LET ME TELL YOU JUST A FEW WHEN IT COMES TO DISABILITY AROUND THE WORLD. |
| 00:06:40 | 90% OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DO NOT ATTEND SCHOOL. |
| 00:06:48 | 90%. LESS THAN 25%, 45 OF THE 193 COUNTRIES IN THE UNITED NATIONS, HAVE PASSED LAWS THAT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF A PERSON'S DISABILITY. |
| 00:06:58 | STUDIES INDICATE THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN MEN TO HAVE A DISABILITY. |
| 00:07:04 | WOMEN AND GIRLS OR ARE DISABILITIES -- WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE RAPED, FORCIBLY STERILIZED OR PHYSICALLY ABUSED. |
| 00:07:14 | THIS TREATY WILL HELP PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK SO COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD CAN HELP THEIR OWN CITIZENS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IMPROVE, LIVE PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY LIVES. |
| 00:07:24 | JUST LIKE WE DID BY ENACTING THE A. |
| 00:07:27 | D.A.22 YEARS AGO, RATIFYING THIS TREATY WILL SEND THE WORLD THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. |
| 00:07:34 | WHILE THIS TREATY WILL ENSURE INCLUSION AND ACCESS, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHAT IT WILL NOT DO. |
| 00:07:40 | THE TREATY WILL NOT REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES TO APPROPRIATE ANY NEW FUNDS OR RESOURCES TO COMPLY WITH ITS TERMS. |
| 00:07:48 | NOT A PENNY. |
| 00:07:49 | THE TREATY WILL NOT CHANGE ANY U. |
| 00:07:51 | S. LAW OR COMPRISE OUR SOVEREIGNTY. |
| 00:07:54 | THE TREATY WILL NOT LEAD TO NEW LAWSUITS BECAUSE ITS TERMS DON'T CREATE ANY NEW RIGHTS AND IT CANNOT BE ENFORCED IN ANY UNITED STATES COURT. |
| 00:08:03 | FOR FAMILIES THAT CHOOSE TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME IN THE UNITED STATES, THE TREATY WILL NOT CHANGE ANY CURRENT RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS. |
| 00:08:11 | I WAS PLEASED THAT THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ADOPTED AN AMENDMENT THAT I WORKED ON WITH SENATOR DeMINT TO CLARIFY THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE. |
| 00:08:19 | AND LET ME ADD, TOO, LEADING PRO-LIFE GROUPS, LIKE THE NATIONAL RIGHT-TO-LIFE COMMITTEE, CONFIRM THAT THE TREATY DOES NOT PROMOTE, EXPAND ACCESS OR CREATE ANY RIGHT TO AN ABORTION. |
| 00:08:30 | SENATOR McCAIN, IN HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, MADE THAT EMINENTLY CLEAR. |
| 00:08:35 | HE IS PRO-LIFE. |
| 00:08:36 | THIS TREATY HAS NO IMPACT ON THAT ISSUE. |
| 00:08:38 | THANKS TO DECADES OF BIPARTISAN COOPERATION, OUR COUNTRY EMBODIES THE WORLDWIDE GOLD STANDARD FOR THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:08:45 | WHEN THE SENATE RATIFIES THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, WE CAN BE PROUD OUR COWORKERS, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND COURAGEOUS VETERANS WILL SOON ENJOY THE SAME ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY TRAVEL ABROAD THAT THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT HERE AT HOME. |
| 00:09:01 | SO, MR. |
| 00:09:02 | PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER EXECUTIVE CALENDAR NUMBER 6, TREATY DOCUMENT 112-7, THAT THE TREATY BE CONSIDERED AS HAVING ADVANCED THROUGH THE VARIOUS PARLIAMENTARY STAGES UP TO AND INCLUDING THE PRESENTATION OF THE RESOLUTIONS OF RATIFICATION, THAT ANY COMMITTEE DECLARATIONS BE AGREED TO, AS APPLICABLE, THAT ANY STATEMENTS BE PRINTED IN THE RECORD AS IF READ; FURTHER, THAT WHEN THE VOTES ON THE RESOLUTION OF RATIFICATION ARE TAKEN, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID UPON THE TABLE, THAT THE PRESIDENT BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE SENATE'S ACTION, AND THE SENATE THEN RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION. |
| 00:09:39 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION? |
| 00:09:41 | SORRY. |
| 00:09:42 | IS THERE OBJECTION? MR. |
| 00:09:43 | LEE: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:09:44 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH. |
| 00:09:46 | MR. LEE: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. |
| 00:09:48 | I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS TO EXPLAIN WHY I PLAN TO OBJECT. |
| 00:09:52 | I HAVE RIGHT HERE A LETTER THAT IS SIGNED BY 36 MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO EXPRESS THE VIEWPOINT THAT BECAUSE OF THE PREROGATIVE THAT WE HAVE AS UNITED STATES SENATORS TO RATIFY TREATIES -- TWO-THIRDS OF US HAVE TO PROVIDE OUR ADVICE AND CONSENT TO RATIFY A TREATY BEFORE IT CAN TAKE AFFECT -- THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN PART ARTICLE 6, SECTION 2, TELLS US THAT ONCE RATIFIED, A TREATY BECOMES THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. |
| 00:10:19 | WE HAVE 36 SENATORS ON THIS LETTER, A LETTER ADDRESSED TO LEADER McCONNELL AND LEADER REID EXPLAINING THAT FOR VARIOUS REASONS, WE DON'T THINK THAT ANY TREATY SHOULD COME UP FOR RATIFICATION DURING THE LAME-DUCK PERIOD OF THE 112th CONGRESS. |
| 00:10:35 | AND WE EXPLAIN THAT NO TREATY SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND CONCLUDE THAT WE WILL OPPOSE EFFORTS TO CONSIDER ANY TREATY DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. |
| 00:10:44 | THE PRIMARY REASON CITED IN THE LETTER IS THE FACT THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE TREATIES MEAN. |
| 00:10:52 | IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT BEFORE WE UNDERTAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE LAW, LAW BECOMING SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE TREATIES FULLY. |
| 00:11:03 | IF IT IS TRUE, AS 36 MEMBERS OF THIS BODY CONCUR IN THIS LETTER, THAT IT'S TOO FAST TO MOVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR ANOTHER TREATY THROUGH DURING THE LAME-DUCK SESSION OF THE 112th CONGRESS, IT FOLLOWS FOR SURE THAT IT'S ALSO TOO FAST TO DO IT NOW. |
| 00:11:24 | NOW, WITH REGARD TO IT THIS PARTICULAR TREATY, WE'VE HAD ONE, AND ONLY ONE, HEARING ON THIS ON JULY 26 OF THIS YEAR. |
| 00:11:32 | I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE WORDS OF MY FRIEND, MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE, THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS, AND I'M PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THE TREATY. |
| 00:11:42 | I AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT YET COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND I AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT YET CONVINCED AS TO THE FULL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE LANGUAGE OF THIS PROPOSED TREATY. |
| 00:11:52 | I, THEREFORE, OBJECT. |
| 00:11:55 | MR. |
| 00:11:56 | DURBIN: MR. |
| 00:11:58 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. |
| 00:11:59 | THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS. |
| 00:12:00 | MR. |
| 00:12:01 | DURBIN: I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR LEE. |
| 00:12:04 | REPEATEDLY HE SAID WE SHOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:12:07 | WE ARE NOT IN A LAME-DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:12:09 | THIS IS THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SENATE. |
| 00:12:11 | WE DO PRECIOUS LITTLE IN THIS REGULAR SESSION AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING WE SHOULDN'T DO IT IN THE LAME-SUCCESSION. |
| 00:12:17 | WE'RE NOT IN A LAME-DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:12:21 | AND, I MIGHT SAY, THIS TREATY HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR REVIEW FOR MONTHS. |
| 00:12:25 | IT HAD A FULL REVIEW BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. |
| 00:12:29 | SENATOR KERRY CALLED IT. |
| 00:12:30 | YOU WERE THERE. |
| 00:12:31 | OTHER MEMBERS WERE THERE. |
| 00:12:32 | AND HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT PAGE BY PAGE AND OFFER AMENDMENTS, WHICH MANY SENATORS DID. |
| 00:12:37 | SO TO ARGUE THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW BEING SPRUNG ON THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WITHOUT TIME TO REVIEW IT IS TO IGNORE THE OBVIOUS. |
| 00:12:45 | WE ARE NOT IN A LAME-DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:12:47 | THIS WAS PRODUCED FOR REVIEW AND AMENDMENT, HAD A FULL HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, AND A VOTE WAS TAKEN. |
| 00:12:54 | IT'S DISAPPOINTING. |
| 00:12:56 | WE HAD HOPED TO DO THIS AND DO IT NOW BECAUSE MANY OF THE SRMTS SUPPORTERS OF THIS TREATY ARE FACING THEIR OWN PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. |
| 00:13:04 | ONE OF THEM'S OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, SENATOR BOB DOLE. |
| 00:13:07 | 22 YEARS AGO HE LED THE FIGHT FOR THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. |
| 00:13:13 | WHEN SENATOR JOHN McCAIN TOOK THIS UP, HE SAID, I'M GOING TO CALL BOB DOLE FIRST AND HE DID. |
| 00:13:17 | I WOULD THINK THAT, IN HIS HONOR, I HOPE THE SENATOR FROM UTAH WILL RECONSIDER HIS POSITION AND NOW, BEFORE THE LAME-DUCK SESSION, PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE SOME COMMUNICATION AND PERHAPS THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN RATIFY THIS TREATY IN THE SENATE. |
| 00:13:32 | WE DO PRECIOUS LITTLE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. |
| 00:13:36 | TO DO THIS, AT LEAST TO HONOR SENATOR DOLE, IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK, NOT TO MENTION THE POSITIVE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON SO MANY DISABLED PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WORLD. |
| 00:13:46 | I KNOW THE SENATOR FROM -- SENATOR LEE IS A CONSERVATIVE BUT I ALSO KNOW HE HAS A HEART AND I KNOW HE CARES, AS I DO, ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. |
| 00:13:53 | CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO CHANCE IN LIFE BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY IN OTHER COUNTRIES. |
| 00:13:57 | WOMEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF DISABILITIES. |
| 00:14:00 | THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD SPEAK OUT ON. |
| 00:14:03 | WE'RE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS BUT WE'RE DOUBLY PROUD OF THE VALUES WE STAND FOR AND FIGHT FOR. |
| 00:14:08 | THIS IS ONE THAT WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR. |
| 00:14:10 | I SEE SENATOR HARKIN ON THE FLOOR. |
| 00:14:12 | I'M GOING TO YIELD. |
| 00:14:13 | HE HAS BEEN LITERALLY THE LEADER ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE ON DISABILITY ISSUES TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS HELP ON THIS MATTER. |
| 00:14:21 | MR. HARKIN: MR. |
| 00:14:22 | PRESIDENT? |
| 00:14:23 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM IOWA. |
| 00:14:24 | MR. |
| 00:14:26 | HARKIN: WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, I -- I TRULY AM SORRY TO SEE THIS HAPPEN ON THE SENATE FLOOR, I SAY TO MY GOOD FRIEND FROM UTAH. |
| 00:14:35 | THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING COMING. |
| 00:14:39 | THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES STARTED HERE, STARTED IN AMERICA. |
| 00:14:48 | IT STARTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990 -- IN 1990. |
| 00:14:53 | 91 SENATORS VOTED "AYE" ON THAT. |
| 00:14:56 | STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY CONSERVATIVES, LIBERALS, MODERATES UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP IN HAVING A BROAD CIVIL RIGHTS LAW THAT COVERED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR SOCIETY. |
| 00:15:10 | AFTER THAT WAS PASSED AND DURING THE 1990'S, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS KIND OF IGNITED A KIND OF A CONSCIENCE AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING GLOBALLY ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:15:28 | SO, REALLY, THE UNITED STATES SORT OF BECAME THE -- THE LEADER IN PROMOTING THIS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT THE UNITED NATIONS. |
| 00:15:39 | IN FACT, I HAVE A QUOTE HERE I WOULD SHARE WITH MY FRIEND THAT WHEN -- WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED THE BILL ON JULY 26 AND WE WERE ALL GATHERED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, HERE'S WHAT HE SAID. |
| 00:15:54 | HE SAID, "THIS HISTORIC ACT" -- AND THIS IS A QUOTE -- "THIS HISTORIC ACT IS THE WORLD'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE DECLARATION OF EQUALITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:16:04 | THE FIRST. |
| 00:16:05 | ITS PASSAGE HAS MADE THE UNITED STATES THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON THIS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. |
| 00:16:11 | " AND SO STARTING AFTER THAT, OUR DIPLOMATS AND OTHERS STARTED WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, AND SO THIS CONVENTION WAS DEVELOPED DURING -- THROUGH THE KNITTED NIGHT. |
| 00:16:23 | I DON'T KNOW ALL ADDITION THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS. |
| 00:16:26 | I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WHEREWITHAL OF HOW IT WAS DONE BUT IT WAS DONE AND WE HAD GREAT INPUT INTO THAT. |
| 00:16:30 | AND SO NOW THE CONVENTION'S COME OUT. |
| 00:16:33 | IT WAS SENT TO US A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. |
| 00:16:36 | UNDER OUR LAWS, THE PRESIDENT, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE, HAS TO STHEAND OUT TO ALL THE -- HAS TO SEND THAT OUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS OR DO WE HAVE TO CHANGE ANY OF OUR LAWS TO COMPORT WITH THIS CONVENTION. |
| 00:16:51 | WELL, THAT BUREAUCRACY TAKES AWHILE. |
| 00:16:56 | THAT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS TO WIND THROUGH. |
| 00:16:58 | I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PRESIDENT GOT IT BACK BUT HE SENT IT DOWN TO US THIS SPRING AND THE -- AND THE FINDING WAS THAT -- THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SAID -- MADE IT CLEAR THAT THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THAT RATIFICATION OF THIS CONVENTION WILL NOT REQUIRE ANY CHANGE IN U. |
| 00:17:15 | S. LAW AND WILL HAVE NO FISCAL IMPACT. |
| 00:17:20 | SO DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY CHANGE. |
| 00:17:23 | THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE THE LEADER IN THE WORLD ON DISABILITY LAW. |
| 00:17:26 | WE ARE "THE" LEADER. |
| 00:17:31 | AND SO I WENT TO -- SENATOR McCAIN AND I WERE THE TWO LEAD-OFF WITNESSES ON -- IN THE -- WHEN THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAD THEIR HEARING ON THIS BUT WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES. |
| 00:17:48 | BOYDEN GRAY, WHO WAS SO VERY HELPFUL IN 1990 IN DEGHT THE INITIALGETTING THEINITIAL A. |
| 00:17:56 | D.A. -- IN GETTING THE INITIAL A. |
| 00:17:58 | D.A. PASSED THROUGH THE CONGRESS. |
| 00:17:59 | HE TESTIFIED. SENATOR DOLE SAID IN A LETTER -- HE COULDN'T SHOW UP IN PERSON -- FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL THORNBURGH TESTIFIED. |
| 00:18:07 | STEVE BARTLETT, WHO WAS A CONGRESSMAN FROM DALLAS AND WHO LATER LEFT THE HOUSE, BECAME MAYOR OF DALLAS AND NOW I THINK HE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL HERE, WAS THERE TO TESTIFY. |
| 00:18:21 | HE HAD BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN NOT ONLY HELPING US PASS THE A. |
| 00:18:25 | D.A. BUT HELPING US PASS THE A. |
| 00:18:27 | D.A. ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2008 WHICH THE SECOND PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED INTO LAW. |
| 00:18:32 | WELL, I SAY THIS TO MY FRIEND FROM UTAH, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP OVERNIGHT. |
| 00:18:38 | THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, A LOT OF EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT AND AS I SAID, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SAID THERE IS NO CONFLICT WITH OUR LAWS, WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. |
| 00:18:49 | I ALSO SAY TO MY FRIEND THAT -- THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT TO BE THAT CITY ON THE HILL, THAT SHINING CITY ON THE HILL AND THIS IS ONE AREA IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS NO EQUAL. |
| 00:19:04 | WE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE WORLD ON THIS ISSUE. |
| 00:19:06 | COUNTRIES COME TO US TO SEE HOW THEY CAN DO SOMETHING, WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:19:14 | 116 NATIONS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED IT AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. |
| 00:19:19 | IF WE DON'T SIGN IT, THEN WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES THEN THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR LAWS TO COMPORT WITH THIS CONVENTION, I THINK WE SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE. |
| 00:19:31 | WE SHOULD BE THERE WITH THEM, SHARING WITH THEM WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN AMERICA TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS BETTER, TO MAKE EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, EMPLOYMENT, ALL THOSE THINGS. |
| 00:19:45 | IF WE DON'T SIGN IT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT. |
| 00:19:48 | AND YET THE REST OF THE COUNTRIES ARE LOOKING TO US FOR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. |
| 00:19:53 | SO WE SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE. |
| 00:19:57 | AND ONE OTHER THING I'D JUST SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM UTAH, IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY MOBILE PEOPLE, WE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD A LOT. |
| 00:20:05 | AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE TRAVELING. |
| 00:20:10 | VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES, NONVETERANS. |
| 00:20:14 | AND YET HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAVELED OVERSEAS AND SAY GOSH, I WANTED TO GO HERE, YAPTED TO GO THERE BUT BECAUSE I HAVE A DISABILITY I COULDN'T GET AROUND. |
| 00:20:25 | IT WOULD BE NICE IF OTHER COUNTRIES DID THIS. |
| 00:20:28 | WELL, OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE NOW SIGNED ONTO IT AND I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD VOTE THIS AND BE A PART OF IT AND BE A PART OF HELPING OTHER COUNTRIES TO -- TO CHANGE THEIR SYSTEMS AND TO BE MORE ACCOMMODATING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:20:47 | I QUITE FRANKLY I MUST SAID SEAU TO MY FRIEND FROM UTAH, I'M PERPLEXED, I REALLY AM, AS TO WHY -- WHY THIS IS AN ISSUE. |
| 00:20:58 | I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S AN OBJECTION. |
| 00:21:01 | MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS. |
| 00:21:04 | I THOUGHT I DID. |
| 00:21:05 | BUT MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS THAT THE SENATOR CAN ENLIGHTEN ME ON AS TO WHY SHOULDN'T WE BRING THIS UP, AND I SUPPOSE IF SOMEONE WANTS TO VOTE AGAINST IT, THEY CAN, IT TAKES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE SENATE TO PASS THIS. |
| 00:21:24 | I JUST -- WELL, I GUESS I'M JUST PERPLEXED AS TO WHY WE CAN'T DO THIS. |
| 00:21:29 | I SEAT IT SEEMS TO BE SO BIPARTISAN AND IT SEEMS TO BE SO MUCH ABOVE THE POLITICAL FRAY. |
| 00:21:37 | I JUST DON'T NOTICE POLITICS IN THIS WHATSOEVER. |
| 00:21:41 | AND SO I JUST GUESS, I'D ASSUME THAT WE WOULD BRING THIS UP AND PASS IT. |
| 00:21:48 | IT WAS NOT REALLY AWARE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WAY, I WAS IN MY OFFICE WHEN I WAS ALERTED TO THIS. |
| 00:21:56 | SO I'M -- GUESS I JUST -- JUST SAY I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T BRING THIS UP AND HAVE A SMALL DEBATE ON IT AND VOTE ON IT. |
| 00:22:10 | MR. |
| 00:22:11 | PRESIDENT, I HAVE MORE TO SAY BUT I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:22:17 | MR. LEE: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:22:18 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH. |
| 00:22:20 | MR. LEE: MR. PRESIDENT, WITH GREAT RESPECT TO MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS TREATY AND A MOVE TO MOVE IT TO THE FLOOR FOR A FULL VOTE RIGHT NOW, I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT THEY MAY NOT SHARE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THIS LETTER, SERNS SURROUNDING THE FACT THAT TREATIES ONCE RATIFIED BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND, THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. |
| 00:22:39 | CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE FACT MANY AMERICANS MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, CONCERNS THAT MAY BE EXPRESSED DURING THE UPCOMING ELECTION SEASON, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS BECOMES A MATTER OF DEBATE, IT MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ELECTION. |
| 00:22:51 | I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART OF WHAT MOTIVATED 36 SENATORS SIGNING THIS SAYING NO TREATY OUGHT TO BE VOTED ON DURING THE LAME DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:23:02 | WITH REGARD TO THE COMMENT MADE BY MY FRIEND FROM ILLINOIS, THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS MOMENTS EARLIER, OF COURSE UNDERSTAND WEEMB NOT IN A LAME DUCK SESSION. |
| 00:23:13 | THAT IS MY ENTIRE POINT. |
| 00:23:14 | IF IT IS TRUE THE LAME DUCK SESSION IS TOO SOON TO CONSIDER TREATIES, NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO CONSIDER TREATIES, IT FOLLOWS A FORTIORI, STRONGER MAKE THE POINT NOW IT'S TOO STRONG TO CONSIDER THIS NOW. |
| 00:23:30 | WITH REGARD TO THE LAW OF THE SEA TREATY, WE HELD HEARINGS, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY, THREE, FOUR, FIVE THIS YEAR. |
| 00:23:38 | WE'VE HAD EXACTLY ONE HEARING ON THIS ONE. |
| 00:23:40 | I UNDERSTAND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT BE SATISFIED WITH THE ASSURANCES PROVIDED BY SOME LAWYERS WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS IS ENTIRELY COMPATIBLE WITH U. |
| 00:23:49 | S. LAW TO THE EFFECT IT WOULD NOT IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL NEW DIFFERENT OBLIGATIONS ON U. |
| 00:23:54 | S. LAW. |
| 00:23:55 | I'M NOT SATISFIED THAT THAT IS THE CASE. |
| 00:23:57 | I THEREFORE OBJECT. |
| 00:23:58 | THANK YOU, MR. |
| 00:24:00 | PRESIDENT. |
| 00:24:01 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM IOWA. |
| 00:24:06 | MR. HARKIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO SATISFY MY FRIEND FROM UTAH. |
| 00:24:08 | IT GOES OUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. |
| 00:24:10 | THEY HAVE TO ANALYZE THIS AND THEY TOOK OVER A YEAR, ALMOST TWO YEARS, TO DO THIS TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY CONFLICTS WITH LAWS. |
| 00:24:20 | SO WHAT -- IF YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT, AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS REPORT BACK AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS OR ANY LAWS WE HAVE THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD SATISFY THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH. |
| 00:24:37 | WHAT COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE? |
| 00:24:40 | SO WE ALMOST RAISE AN IMPOSSIBLE BARRIER. |
| 00:24:46 | UNLESS THE SENATOR COULD INFORM US AS TO WHAT IT WOULD BE THAT WOULD SATISFY HIM. |
| 00:24:54 | I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU COULD DO OTHER THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS BILL. |
| 00:25:01 | NOW, AGAIN, I CAN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAD A HEARING ON IT, I THINK IT WAS WELL ATTENDED, BUT AS I SAID, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SPRUNG UP OVERNIGHT. |
| 00:25:13 | THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. |
| 00:25:18 | AND TO THINK THAT HERE WE ARE THE WORLD'S LEADER ON THIS ISSUE , SWRINDZ ALL THAT -- I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE SENATOR SAID BUT HE SAID IT COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE ELECTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? |
| 00:25:34 | I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. |
| 00:25:38 | IF THERE'S TRULY A NONPARTISAN, BIPARTISAN ISSUE, IT'S THIS. |
| 00:25:42 | AND WE'VE ALWAYS MADE IT THUS. |
| 00:25:45 | WHEN WE PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IT WAS TRULY BIPARTISAN. |
| 00:25:50 | WHEN THE SUPREME COURT MADE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE SUTTON CASE, THE SUTTON TRILL O. |
| 00:25:57 | J.Y IN THE TOYOTA CASE IN THE LATE 1990'S, EARLY 2000, THAT KIND OF THREW A MONKEY WRENCH IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT IN TERMS OF DISABILITY, IT CAUSED A LOT OF CONSTERNATION IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WE HAD TO RIGHT THAT. |
| 00:26:17 | WE HAD TO KIND OF TELL THE SUPREME COURT WHAT WE MEANT. |
| 00:26:22 | WELL, THAT WAS 2001, IT TOOK US SEVEN YEARS OF WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, EVERYBODY, BUT IN 2008 WE PASSED A BILL IN THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY, PASSED IT IN THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY. |
| 00:26:41 | PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, THE SECOND BUSH, SIGNED IT INTO LAW. |
| 00:26:43 | I WAS DOWN THERE FOR IT. |
| 00:26:45 | THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH WHO SIGNED THE INITIAL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS THERE. |
| 00:26:50 | WE WERE THERE WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. |
| 00:26:52 | IT WAS NOT SEEN AS ANY KIND OF AN ISSUE. |
| 00:26:56 | AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, 2008 WAS AN ELECTION YEAR. |
| 00:27:01 | IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. |
| 00:27:04 | AND YET PRESIDENT BUSH DID NOT SAY WE CAN'T SIGN THIS BECAUSE THERE'S AN ELECTION. |
| 00:27:10 | THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS. |
| 00:27:13 | AND SO I JUST FIND THIS ALMOST BIZARRE THAT THE SENATE CANNOT ACT ON SOMETHING SO CLOSE TO US AS A PEOPLE, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TAKEN SUCH A LEAD ON, SOMETHING WHICH MEANS SO MUCH IN TERMS OF OUR LEADERSHIP GLOBALLY, THAT WE CAN'T ACT ON THIS. |
| 00:27:40 | AND, AGAIN, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS. |
| 00:27:44 | NOT ONLY SENATOR DURBIN AND SENATOR KERRY OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS BUT SENATOR McCAIN, SENATOR BARRASSO, SENATOR MORAN, SENATOR LUGAR, SENATOR UDALL, SENATOR COONS, MANY, BIPARTISAN, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. |
| 00:28:02 | I'LL ADMIT, OBVIOUSLY I HAVE A DEEP INTEREST IN THIS SINCE I WAS THE SENATE AUTHOR OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. |
| 00:28:09 | IT'S BEEN A KEY PART OF MY SENATE CAREER FOR 25 YEARS NOW. |
| 00:28:16 | FOR 25 YEARS. |
| 00:28:25 | ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS WAS PASSING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. |
| 00:28:35 | THANKS TO THE A. |
| 00:28:36 | D.A., OUR COUNTRY IS A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE. |
| 00:28:38 | NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, FOR EVERYONE. |
| 00:28:42 | FOR EVERYONE. |
| 00:28:46 | I CITED EARLIER WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH SAID WHEN HE SIGNED IT. |
| 00:28:49 | HE SAID THIS HISTORIC ACT IS THE WORLD'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE DECLARATION OF EQUALITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:28:55 | THE FIRST. |
| 00:28:57 | ITS PASSAGE HAS MADE THE UNITED STATES THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON THIS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. |
| 00:29:02 | THAT'S PRESIDENT BUSH, 1990. |
| 00:29:05 | THE FIRST. WE WERE THE FIRST. |
| 00:29:08 | WE ARE THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON THIS ISSUE. |
| 00:29:12 | AND NOW, 116 OTHER NATIONS, THE EUROPEAN UNION CAN SIGN ONTO THIS BUT WE CAN'T? |
| 00:29:20 | THIS IS TRULY BIZARRE. |
| 00:29:23 | THANKS TO THE A. |
| 00:29:25 | D.A. AND OTHER U. |
| 00:29:26 | S. LAWS PASSED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE A. |
| 00:29:31 | D.A., AMERICA HAS SHOWN THE REST OF THE WORLD HOW TO HONOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHILDREN'S AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, HOW TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO SOCIETY, REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO FULL PARTICIPATION, IN ACTIVITIES WE NOW TAKE FOR GRANTED. |
| 00:29:44 | WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT OUR SUPPORT FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS HAS INSPIRED, INSPIRED A GLOBAL MOVEMENT THAT LED THE UNITED NATIONS TO ADOPT THE CRPD, THE CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. |
| 00:30:02 | WE LED THAT. |
| 00:30:03 | OUR LEGAL FRAMEWORK INFLUENCED THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CONVENTION. |
| 00:30:08 | ITS INFORMING ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE 116 COUNTRIES THAT SIGNED AND RATIFIED IT ALONG WITH THE URINE UNION. |
| 00:30:15 | AS I -- EUROPEAN UNION. |
| 00:30:17 | AS I SAID, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. |
| 00:30:22 | SOME SENATORS HERE BEFORE BUT NOT NOW, SENATOR DOLE, SOME HERE WHO WERE ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, SENATOR McCAIN. |
| 00:30:33 | NEW SENATORS, SENATOR BARRASSO, SENATOR MORAN, OTHERS. |
| 00:30:40 | GEORGE -- PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF THE CRPD. |
| 00:30:50 | HIS WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL, BOYDEN GRAY, HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, DICK THORNBURGH HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC AND ACTIVE SUPPORTERS OF US RATIFYING, THE SENATE RATIFYING THE CRPD. |
| 00:31:04 | AND BY RATIFYING THIS CONVENTION THE UNITED STATES WILL BE REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES ARE. |
| 00:31:12 | AS I SAID EARLIER, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDING DISABLED VETERANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE, TRAVEL, STUDY, WORK ABROAD WITH THE SAME FREEDOMS AND ACCESS THAT THEY ENJOY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. |
| 00:31:24 | AND AS THE STATE PARTIES, AS THESE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES COME TOGETHER TO GRAPPLE WITH THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE PROGRESS AND REMOVE BARRIERS, WE, AMERICA, SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE WITH THEM. |
| 00:31:36 | HELPING THEM LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCE. |
| 00:31:39 | AS I SAID, THE ADMINISTRATION AS SUBMITTED WHAT THEY CALL RESERVATIONS, UNDERSTANDINGS, AND DECLARATIONS THAT MAKE CLEAR THAT U. |
| 00:31:49 | S. RATIFICATION OF THE CRPD WILL NOT REQUIRE ANY CHANGE IN U. |
| 00:31:54 | S. LAW AND WILL HAVE NO FISCAL IMPACT. |
| 00:32:02 | WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO TO SATISFY SOMEONE. |
| 00:32:06 | BUT I WOULD SAY IF PEOPLE JUST FEEL THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP, WELL, THEN, THEY CAN VOTE AGAINST IT BUT WE OUGHT TO BRING IT UP FOR A DEBATE AND A DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THE SENATE FLOOR AND I WOULD SAY ALTHOUGH U. |
| 00:32:21 | S. RATIFICATION WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON OUR LAWS, AND WILL NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT, MY HOPE IS THAT U. |
| 00:32:30 | S. RATIFICATION WILL HAVE A MORAL IMPACT, A MORAL IMPACT. |
| 00:32:36 | MY HOPE IS THAT IT WOULD SEND A SIGNAL TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT IT IS NOT OKAY TO LEAVE A BABY WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DIE. |
| 00:32:50 | IT'S NOT OKAY TO WAREHOUSE ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN INSTITUTIONS. |
| 00:32:57 | CHAINED TO THE BARS OF A CELL WHERE THEIR ONLY CRIME IS THEY HAVE A DISABILITY. |
| 00:33:03 | IT'S NOT OKAY TO REFUSE TO EDUCATE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY'RE BLIND OR DEAF OR USE A WHEELCHAIR. |
| 00:33:10 | IT'S NOT OKAY TO PREVENT DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE VOTING OR GETTING MARRIED OR OWNING PROPERTY OR HAVING CHILDREN. |
| 00:33:18 | IT'S NOT OKAY TO REBUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACES LIKE IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, HAITI AND OTHER WAR-TORN OR DISASTER-STRICKEN AREAS WITHOUT IMPROVING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE SAME TIME. |
| 00:33:39 | FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN FREQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT AMERICA AS A CITY ON A HILL, A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD, TO THE NATION THAT ENSURES OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL OF ITS PEOPLE. |
| 00:33:50 | THANKS TO OUR COUNTRY'S SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE A. |
| 00:33:55 | D.A., ADVANCING THAT LAW'S GREAT GOALS OF FULL INCLUSION AND FULL PARTICIPATION FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, AMERICA INDEED HAS BECOME A CITY ON A HILL, A SHINING CITY ON A HILL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. |
| 00:34:11 | BY RATIFYING THE CRPD, WE CAN AFFIRM OUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS FIELD. |
| 00:34:16 | WE CAN GIVE RENEWED IMPETUS TO THOSE STRIVING TO EMULATE US. |
| 00:34:21 | WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT RENEWED IMPETUS BY OUR EXAMPLE, BY SITTING DOWN WITH THEM IF WE ARE SIGNATORY TO THIS. |
| 00:34:32 | SO AGAIN, I GUESS I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE SOME SENATORS WHO WERE NOT PART OF THE BIPARTISAN VOTE TO SUPPORT IT IN THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. |
| 00:34:42 | I GUESS THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE NOT READY TO SUPPORT THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT MOTION BEFORE US. |
| 00:34:50 | MY HOPE, SINCE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TKOPLG A -- COMING TO A CLOSE HERE, I HOPE WE USE THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE COME BACK IN OUR LAME DUCK SESSION AFTER THE ELECTION TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE CRPD. |
| 00:35:09 | IF SENATORS HAVE ISSUES AND WANT THEM RAISED, LET'S GET THEM OUT. |
| 00:35:15 | AND THEN LET'S MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE ELECTION WHEN WE COME BACK WITH A STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE AND A STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE FOR US TO RATIFY THE CRPD. |
| 00:35:33 | WHEN WE VOTED ON THE A. |
| 00:35:34 | D.A., AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990, 91 SENATORS -- THERE WERE NINE THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT. |
| 00:35:42 | I UNDERSTAND THAT. |
| 00:35:44 | 91 SENATORS VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THAT HISTORIC LAW. |
| 00:35:47 | MY HOPE IS WHEN THIS COMES UP FOR VOTE AFTER THE ELECTION WE CAN ACHIEVE THE STRONG BIPARTISAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ONE BILLION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD. |
| 00:36:01 | WE MUST -- WE MUST REAFFIRM OUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. |
| 00:36:06 | AND LET THE REST OF THE WORLD KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT STEPPING BACKWARD ON THIS. |
| 00:36:11 | WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN OUR SUPPORT FOR THE DIGNITY AND THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NOT ONLY HERE IN AMERICA, BUT ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD. |
| 00:36:25 | SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M REALLY SORRY THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP. |
| 00:36:30 | I HAVEN'T DONE ANY HEAD COUNTS OR ANY VOTES, BUT I THINK I KNOW MOST OF THE SENATORS HERE, AND PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, AND I REALLY BELIEVE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS AND THINK ABOUT IT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET AN OVERWHELMING VOTE OF SUPPORT. |
| 00:36:48 | SO I'M JUST SORRY WE COULDN'T BRING IT UP. |
| 00:36:50 | I LOOK FORWARD, HOPEFULLY, TO PASSING THIS WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER THE ELECTION. |
| 00:36:56 | WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:37:03 | MR. SESSIONS: MADAM PRESIDENT? |
| 00:37:04 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA. |
| 00:37:06 | MR. |
| 00:37:07 | SESSIONS: MADAM PRESIDENT, SENATOR REID WAS, I THINK, STUNG A BIT THIS MORNING WHEN REMARKS WERE MADE ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THIS SENATE TO PASS |
Loading...