Watch books that shaped america, featuring the journals of lewis and clark, tonight, live at 9 00 eastern on cspan, cspan now, our free mobile video app, or online at cspan. Org. Also be sure to scan the q. R. Code to listen to our companion podcast where you can learn more about the authors of the books featured. Next, President Biden on the importance of the americans with disabilities ac. He talks about his administrations plans to continue to protect the rights of those with disabilities. Biden in relation to the disabilities act. Down. Good boy, stay. Stay. I feel so powerful. All of a sudden. Ok. This is on. I dont need this. This is for someone else, correct . President biden for me. Selma hello, im selma blair and im here for you today as a proud, disabled woman with my cane and my service dog scout by my side to celebrate the anniversary of the americans with disability act and the rehabilitation act, the legacy of the leaders who came before. Although id had symptoms since the age of 7, it took a lifetime of selfadvocacy to finally lead me to a diagnosis at age 46. After living most of my life in pain and selfdoubt, it was the late great judy yumen without whom we would not be here today who taught me my worth. Looking out at all of you, seeing so many of the people she mentored and befriended, i see the beauty of how she prepared the next generation of Community Leaders i stand proudly alongside today. In my own disability advocacy, ive realized these historic pieces of legislation were vital steps towards fairness but the push towards equity continues. Our laws and policies must reflect that our disabled lives are not of lesser value, and in partnership with the Disability Community, the Bidenharris Administration is working to do just that, breaking down barriers that exist today in transportation, health care, education, employment, voting and more. It is an honor to introduce a friend to the Disability Community and a president who knows that every american deserves a life of dignity and respect. President joe biden. Scout, release. Scout, release. Thank you. [applause] President Biden my name is joe biden. Im jill bidens husband. I told this beautiful lady while we met inside, shes doing so much to change peoples lives, all of you are. I look out there and i see one of the guys that got it started, tom harken. Tom, stand up for people to see you. Good to see you, tom. And elizabeth dole, bob dole was a major player in all of this, he really was. I remember getting in trouble because someone was criticizing bob dole on the floor for why do we need curb cuts and all those kind of things, and i got myself in trouble. So, so many really important people here who made it all possible. Tammy duckworth, shes too young. Steny hoyer. Madeleine dean. Jerod huffman. I think theyre supposed to be here. Mark, are you here . Mary kay scanlon. I keep telling them, i think im related. We went to ireland and they did my genealogy and i have a scanlon in the background. I may be your 19th cousin. Jan schakowsky. Good to see you. And deana titus. Is tim shriver here . Tim, thank you, pal. Youve been there the whole time in the special olympics. Its incredible what youve done. And im not going to read all the organizations because youll get a sunstroke by the time i get finished doing that. Look, i want to welcome yall to the white house. And selma, thank you for the direction and thank you for your advocacy. Your advocacy has given people hope. Youve changed peoples lives along with the rest of you here. Kamala and doug are here. I want to thank them for being here, theyre strong, strong, strong forces as well. I want to thank you for your leadership. Were joined by many members of congress and some of the biggest champions of this Disability Rights Community and i think ive gone through most of the names already but heres the deal, by thanks to the courageous activists here who work so hard to make the country more accessible and just. One of my first acts with the United States senator i know i dont look old enough to do it but i was a cosponsor of the rehabilitation act. [applause] President Biden first time in the nation we declared in law what we knew to be true, americans with disabilities deserve dignity and respect. The rehabilitations act is one of the most consequential civil rights law in history, banning discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity funded by the federal government. Promoted equal access and authorize independent live Living Services and research and support for people to live their lives they want to lead. After the rehabilitation act was signed into law, its implementation was delayed. In response, Disability Advocates staged sitins, named for the section of the law the government had failed to implement. One of those was, as youve already mentioned, judy yumen who we lost earlier this year and joined today by so many of judys families and friends. Her family, stand up. Any of judys family. As an an infant she contracted polio and couldnt walk and at age of 5 was prohibited from entering kindergarten because the principal deemed her wheelchair a fire hazard. She turned that pain of rejection and many more that followed into purpose after the rehabilitation act passed she led demonstrations in San Francisco and testified demanding the people in power implement the law that was passed. After four years of protest, judy and disabled activists all over the country were successful. History shows its not the people in the power but the power of the people that move the nation forward and all of you did the rehabilitation act laid the groundwork for the americans with disabilities act and steny hoyer led the charge along with major roberto benefit and tony quello as well as tom harken and bob dole. I was enormously proud to be a cosponsor. Many days after its passing many can still recall a person in america can be denied service in a restaurant or Grocery Store or an employer could refuse to hire because of the disability and when we passed this law we made a commitment to build an america for all americans perhaps most importantly we did it together. Its a bipartisan bill signed into law by republican president george h. W. Bush 33 years ago on this spot on the south lawn of the white house. It marked progress that wasnt political but personal for millions of disabled American Veterans and families. It means meaningful inclusion, participation and respect, my dad would say the most important of all, dignity, being treated with dignity, ensuring the American Dream is for all of us not just some of us. For our nation, these laws are a testament to our character as a people, the triumph of values over selfishness but of course these laws didnt bring an end to the work we need to do. Disabled americans are still three times less likely to have a job and often earn less for the exact work someone is doing thats not disabled. Too often disabled americans are unable to vote, to get to and from work and school, to enjoy public spaces. But thanks to all of you, were continuing to make progress. My first few months in office, i was around to sign an executive order to advance quality and equity and Public Employment including for people with disabilities. It brought together the department of labor and office of management to ensure we make workplaces fully accessible for people with disabilities so the dignity and rights of disabled americans are lifted in every policy we pursue. The whole purpose of engaging my Labor Department is to help protect workers with disabilities and fight to end unjust employment practices. You know, were also helping state and local governments, businesses and nonprofits. Access federal funds to hire more disabled americans and continue to make sure this administration looks like america, appointing people with disabilities to positions all across our government. Over my first two years of my administration weve seen a 22 increase for people with disabilities employed by the federal government and well continue to grow. Were making the federal government a model employer when it comes to wages, accommodations, opportunity to advance for people with availabilities. Were also taking action to improve access to health care for disabled americans. Today, as many unfortunately know, some doctors and hospitals are denying medical treatment related to Organ Donation or lifesaving care for disabled americans based on their disability alone. Thats why the department of health and Human Services just proposed the rule barring these kinds of denials for medical treatment because no american should be deprived of health care they need, period. Simple. No american. The department of health and Human Services launched a long covid Clinical Trial and released the first of its Kind Initiative in our history. And because of their advocacy, the National Institutes of health just designed just designated people with disabilities, Health Disparity population. You know what that means. Ill try to briefly explain that to people listening, opens up new funding for research for unmet health needs specific for unhealthy americans. We are driving breakthroughs in biomedicines to treat diseases including cancer, diabetes and alzheimers and other neurological diseases like m. S. The American Rescue plan provided billions of dollars to all 50 states, all 50 states to expand home and Community Based services under medicaid. Again, my friends who are disabled, my experience is it also continues to provide the dignity theyre looking for. Just dignity. More people with disabilities including intellectual disabilities can live independently at home. The inflation reduction act, capped the cost of insulin at 35 a month and outofpocket Prescription Drug costs will be limited to 2,000 a year for Older Americans no matter what the disability and no matter how expensive and no matter what drugs they use even using cancer drugs 10,000 to 14,000, no more than 2,000 a year. And it makes the biggest investment ever, 1. 75 billion to make transit and rail stations more accessible. Were modernizing airports by adding wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms and more. The department of transportation issued a rule that now requires all new single aisle aircraft over a certain size to have Wheelchair Accessible restrooms. The department of justice proposed standards for state and local governments to make their internet content and mobile apps more accessible to disabled americans so they can easily do things like travel to and from work and school, to care for themselves and loved ones, and vote. Look, accessibility is the cornerstone to ensuring Government Works for everybody, accessibility. Let me close with this. Judy heumann reflected on her life, and i quote, change never happens at the pace we think it should, it happens over years of people joining together, strategizing, sharing, and pulling all the levers they possibly can. Thats the story we celebrate here today, progress hardfought and won, making real our nations founding promise that every american, every american has the right to be recognized and respected for who they are. Billions of americans with disability is the source of identity and power. This is the essence of the disability. Its the essence of what judy and many here today fought so hard for and the progress well continue to make together. Folks, as we look out on all of you, i can honestly say, ive never been more optimistic about americas future and i mean that from the bottom of my heart, never. We just have to remember who in the hell we are, we are the United States of america. There is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity we set our minds to do it and we work together. Folks, theres so much more, because its so hot out here i dont want to keep you. But folks, the fundamental Research Going on for all the various disabilities is staggering. Its staggering. And for example, whether were spending billions on research and development for health disparities, everything from anyway, i wont but its because of you all. You all not only have the physical courage to deal with whatever your disability is, those of you who are in this community, but you stood up. You spoke for everybody else. You spoke not just for yourself but for everybody. Youve changed. Youve given people hope and allowed them to regain their pride, their dignity to be able to do what they want to do as best they can. So i think this is just the beginning. I think someone is going to be standing here 20 years from now talking about how fundamentally its changed across the board. We can never stop. God bless you all and may god protect our troops. Thank you. Thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2023] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy visit ncicap. Org] seven years ive been saying i wanted to meet you the whole time. They needed a photo. I want to take a photo. Love you, man. Let me turn around. Ready . President biden here you go, man. Just wanted to take a picture of you two together. Thank you. Sure. A dream to meet you. Its hot, though, isnt it . Ready . Ready . Ready . One, two, three. Got it. Thank you, mr. President. Thank you so much. Sir, i work for you in the Science Office of technology. Can we take a selfie . President biden we sure can. Ready . Yes. Thank you, sir. Im from california. You told me my story. And we are doing it again. President biden god love you. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Thank you. The president of trying to slaps your priorities around the world. Were giving judy an award this year at the kennedy center. Thank you, sir. Exit this way. Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Today the u. S. House is considering several wills bills including limiting the use of educational standards for federal Cyber Security positions. First votes set for 6 30 eastern today. Later in the week members are expected to debate two appropriations bills, they include spending for the legislative branch and water development. Earlier today matt gaetz tooct floor to talk about House SpeakerKevin Mccarthy saying he may offer a motion sometime this week seeking to remove him as speaker using a procedure known as a motion to vacate which requires a simple majority vote. Watch live coverage of the u. S. House when lawmakers return at 6 30 eastern today here on cspan. A healthy democracy doesnt just hook like this it looks like. This when americans can see democracy at work, when citizens are truly informed, our democracy thrives. Get informed, straight from the source, on cspan. Unfiltered, unbiased, wordforword. The opinion that matters the most is your own. This is what democracy looks like. Powered by cable. Tonight, watch cspans series in partnership with the library of congress. Books that shaped america will feature the journals of lewis and clark. The journals came about following the louisiana purchase. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriweather Lewis to lead and expedition to explore the west all the way to the pacific ocean. He chose William Clark to help lead the mission which covered nearly 18,000 nearly 8,000 miles. From 1804 to 1806. They kept detaild journals on the terrain, plant and animal life, native peoples and possible trade route