[applause] down. Good point. State. Yeah, state. Feels allpowerful all of a sudden. Okay. This is on. I dont need this. This of for someone else, correct . For me. Hello. Im selma blair, and im here before you today as a proud, disabled woman with my cane [applause] and my service dog scout by my side to celebrate the anniversary of the americans with disabilities act, and the rehabilitation act, the legacy of the leaders who came before. [applause] although i had symptoms since the age of seven, it took a lifetime of self advocacy 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 [applause] without him we would not be here today, who taught me my worth. Looking out at allok of you, sen the people she meant toward, and befriended. I see the beauty of how she prepared the next generation of Community Leaders i stand how the alongside today. In my own disability advocacy, i have realized that these historic pieces of legislation were vital steps toward fairness. But the bush toward equity continues. Ow our laws and policies must reflect that our disabled allies 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, healthcare, education, employment, voting, anden more. It is an honor to introduce a friend to the disability community, and the president who knows that every american deserves a life of dignity and respect. President joe biden. [applause] thank you. My name is joe biden. Im jill bidens husband. [laughing] and what i told this beautiful lady when 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 harkin. Tom, stand up. [applause] stand up for people to see you. Good to see you, tom. Elizabeth dole. Bob dole was a major, major player in all of this. He really was. [applause] i remember getting in trouble because someone was criticizing bob dole on the floor for why do we need curb cuts, why do we need all those kinds of things . And i got myself in trouble. Anyway, but hes a great and theres so, so, so many really important people here that made all this possible. Tammy duckworth is, shes too young. [applause] steny hoyer, steny. [applause]e] Madeleine Dean and jared huffman, i think they were supposed to be here. [applause] mark pocan. And, mark, youre here . Well, i guess what mary kay scanlon. [applause] i keep telling her i think were related. I found out, when i went to ireland, they did my genealogy, and they said ive got a scanlon in the background. So, you may be my, i may be your 19th cousin. [laughing] jan, jan schakowsky. Jan, good to see you. And dina titus. [applause] look, and by the way, is tim shriver here . [applause] tim, thank you, pal. Youve been there the whole time with the special olympics. Youve changed it. You really, its incredible what youve done. And im not going to read all the organizations, because wed get sunstroke by the time i get finished doing that. [laughing] but look, i want to welcome you all to the white house. And, selma, thank you for the introduction. But more importantly, thank you for your advocacy. Your advocacy has given people hope. Youve changed peoples lives,pe along with the rest of you who are here. You know, kamala and doug are here. I want to thank them for being here. Ar theyre strong, strong, strong supporters as well. [applause] and i want to thank you, kamala, for your leadership. Were joined by many members of congress, as i said, including some of the biggest champions of this disability rights community, and i think ive gon through most of the names already. But heres the deal. You know, a big thanks to the courageous activists here who work so hard to make the country more accessible and more just. You know, one of my first acts as a United States senator, i know i dont look old enough to do it, but one of my first acts was i voted, i was a cosponsor of the rehabilitation act, whic [applause] was the first time in our nations history we declared in law what we knew to be true that americans with disabilities deserve dignity, respect, and an equal chance at the American Dream. The rehabilitation act is one of the most consequential civil rights laws in our nations history, banning discriminationt on the basis of disability by any entity funded by the federal government. You know, it promoted equal access for communities, access to our communities, authorized independent Living Services and research that supports disabled people in living their lives that they want to lead. Folks, but 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 thatt the government had failed to implement. One of those was, as youve already mentioned, judy heumann, who we lost earlier this year. And were joined today by so many of judys family and friends. Ar her family stand up, any of judys family. [applause] thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. As an infant, and you all know, judy contracted polio and lost the ability to walk. At the age of five, she was prohibited from entering kindergarten because her principal deemed her wheelchair a fire hazard. A fire hazard. Judy turned that pain of this rejection and the many more thaa followed into purpose. After the rehabilitation act passed, she led demonstrations in san francisco, testified in congressional hearings, demanding, demanding that the people in power actually implement the law that was passed. And after four years of protests, judy and disabled activists all over the country were successful. History shows its often not the people in power but the power od the people that moves a nation forward. And all of you did. Ut [applause] the rehabilitation act laid the groundwork for another landmark law celebrated today the americans with disabilities act. Steny hoyer led the charge in the house along with major robert, excuse me, major robert owens and tony coelho. I dont know as well as tom harkin and bob dole. They led the fight in the senate. W you know, i was enormously proud to be a senator, a senate cosponsor. Today, three decades after its passage, many of us can still recall the america where a person with disability could be denied service in a restaurant or a grocery store, where 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, for all americans. Perhaps most importantly, we did it together. This was a bipartisan bill, signed into law by a 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. Folks, for more than 61 millione americans living with disability, these laws are a source of opportunity, meaningful inclusion, participation, respect, and, as myg dad would say, the most important of all, dignity, dignity. Ensuring the American Dream is for all of us, not just some of us. A bulwark against discrimination and a path to personal independence. And for our nation, these laws are a testament to our character as a people, a 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 they often earn less for exact work someone else is doing who is 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 making, continue to make progress. In my first few months in office, i was around to sign an executive order, proud to do it, establishing a governmentwide commitment to advancing equality and equity in federal employment, including for people with disabilities. [applause] it brought together the department of labor and the office of Personnel Management to ensure that were making federal workplace, the federal workplaces all over fully accessible to people with disabilities so that dignity and rights of disabled americas are lifted in every policy we pursue. The whole purpose im engaging my Labor Department is to help protect workers with disabilities and fight to end the unjust employment practices. You know, were also helping state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits access federal funds to hire more disabled americans. And we continue to make sure this administration looks like america, appointing people with disabilities to positions all across our government. And over my first two years, my administration, weve seen a 22 increase in people with disabilities employed by the federal government, and were going to continue to grow it. [applause] were making the federal government a model employer when it comes to wages, accommodations, and opportunities to advance for people with disabilities. Were also taking action to improve access to healthcare for disabled americans. Today, as many of you unfortunately know, some doctors and hospitals are denying medical treatments related to organ donations or lifesaving care for disabled americans based on their disability alone. Thats why the department of health and Human Services just proposed a rule barring, barring these kinds of denials for medical treatment, because no american, no american should be deprived of healthcare they need. Period. Its simple. No american. [applause] and the department of health and Human Services also launched the long covid Clinical Trials and created the office of Long Covid Research and practice with a firstofitskind initiative in our history. And because of your advocacy, the National Institutes of health just designated people with disabilities a healthne disparity population. [applause] and you all know what that means, but im going to try to briefly explain that to people listening, which opens up new funding for research into unmet, health needs specific to disabled americans. Ne we launched arpah to drive breakthroughs in biomedicine to prevent, detect, and treat diseases, including cancer, diabetes, alzheimers, and other neurological diseases, like ms. The American Rescue plan provided billions of dollars to all 50 states, all 50 states to expand home and communitybased services under medicaid. [applause] so again, in my experience with friends who are disabled, my experience is it also just continues to provide the dignity theyre looking for, just dignity, more people with disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, can live independently at home. The Inflation Reduction Act capped the cost of insulin at 35 a month. E and outofpocket Prescription Drug costs are going to be limited to 2,000 a year for older americans, no matter what the disability, no matter how expensive, no matter what drugs they use. Even if youre using cancer drugs that are 10, 12,dr 14,000, no more than 2,000 a year. [applause] our bipartisan infrastructure law makes the biggest investment ever, 1. 75 billion, to make transit and rail stations more accessible. R, were modernizing airports by adding wheelchair ramps, accessible restrooms, and so much more. And the department of transportation issued a rule that now requires all new singleaisle aircraft over a certain size to have wheelchairaccessible restrooms. [applause] 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 doa things like travel to and from work and school, care for their selves, their selves and their f loved ones, and vote. A look, accessibility is a cornerstone of ensuring Government Works for everybody, accessibility. So let me close with this. Judy heumann, in reflecting on her life, wrote, 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 j levers they possibly can. Well, thats the story we celebrated here today progress, hard fought and won, making real our nations founding promise that every american, every american has a right to bebe recognized and respected for who they are. And millions of americans with disability, its a source of identity and power. This is the essence of disability pride. Look, folks, its the essence of what judy and so many of you here today have fought so hard for and the progress well continue to make together. Folks, as i 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. We just have to remember who in the hell we are. E. We are the United States of america. There is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we set our mind to do it and we work together. And, folks, there is so much more. I dont, because its so hot out here, i dont want to keep you. Folks, the fundamental Research Going on for all the various disabilities is staggering. Its staggering. And, for example, whether its arpa, were spending billions of dollars on research and development for health disparities, everything from, anyway, i wont [laughing] but its because of you all. You all not only had 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 peoples lives for the better. Youve given people hope. And youve allowed them, allowed them to regain their pride, p their dignity, and 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 behe standing here 20 years from now. Talking about how fundamentally its changed across the board,0 across the board. We can never stop. May god bless you all. And may god protect our troops. Thank you. 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Watch as with all the candidates on the campaign trail with meeting greets, speeches and more as you make up your own mind. Campaign 2024 on the cspan network here at cspan out our free app or any time online at cspan. Org. Cspan your unfiltered view for politics. Come up today on the cspan networks, like tinian eastern o cspan the u. S. House of representativesetns and will consider 2024 eneynd water spending legislati. On cspan2 live at tinian eastern the Supreme Court hears oralrgument on whether the Consumer Financial protection buaus funding structure is constitutional. And live at p. M. Eastern the senate is back and the vice present will swear in 2027488001 u. S. Senate replacing the late senator Dianne Feinstein also in the Senate Consideration of the nomination of James E Obrien to be assistant secretary oftate with votes expected at 5 30 p. M. Eastern laphonza butler. Life at 2 30 p. A hearing on counterfeit goods sold online and the shop safe act. These is also stream live on the cspan now video app. Midco supports can as a Public Service along with these other television providers, giving awe front row seat to democracy. Up next, a group of attorneys review the upcoming Supreme Court term, gun rights and free speech. The Pacific Legal foundation is the host of this hour long presentation. Okay, were going to go ahead and get started. Perfect timing, yeah. Good afternoon, im Elizabeth Slattery on behalf of