,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #hj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #ab1 #bjai,mrs4 ,hayes 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,lee of ,nevada1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut1 ,ms4 ,de,lauro1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,mr4 ,courtney1 ,mr4 ,payne1 and ,mr4 ,young7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 and in addition to the ,committees on the ,judiciary1 ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 ,energy and ,commerce1 and ,oversight and ,reform1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 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 ,states1 particularly people with disabilities4 ,whereas the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution prevents ,congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion1 prohibiting the free exercise of religion1 or abridging the freedom of speech1 the freedom of the press1 the right to peaceably assemble1 or to petition for a governmental redress of grievances1 and was adopted on ,december #ae1 #agia1 as #a of the #aj amendments that constitute the ,bill of ,rights2 ,whereas the ,bill of ,rights1 specifically the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution1 calls for the right of all persons to peaceably assemble1 and to this end1 all persons1 regardless of their physical ability1 shall be offered equal opportunity to access all federally funded1 in whole or part1 amenities1 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 ,board2 ,whereas in the #bi years since the signing of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 7in this preamble referred to as the ,,ada71 there have been unprecedented advances in all forms of technology1 typified by automatic doors2 ,whereas1 in #bjab1 nearly #bj percent of the civilian population in the ,united ,states reported having a disability as defined by the ,,ada2 ,whereas1 in the #bjaj census1 more than #ch1jjj1jjj people were reported as having a severe disability2 ,whereas disability is a universal concern1 as an aging population increases the incidence of frailty and disability2 ,whereas1 as significant advances in medical treatment result in increased survival rates1 the incidence of disability increases2 ,whereas1 in #bjab1 #af percent of veterans1 amounting to more than #c1ejj1jjj people1 received service-related disability benefits2 ,whereas1 in #bjaa1 the percentage of working-age people in the ,united ,states who reported having a work limitation due to a disability was #g percent1 which is a #bj-year high2 ,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 handicapped1 approved ,august #ab1 #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #daea et seq47 7commonly known as the ,architectural ,barriers ,act of #aifh71 was enacted to ensure that certain federally funded facilities are designed and constructed to be accessible to people with disabilities2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,access ,board 7in this preamble referred to as the ,board7 has developed new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will address various issues1 including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings1 wheelchair access to on-street parking1 and various constraints posed by space limitations1 roadway design practices1 slope1 and terrain2 ,whereas the ,board's new guidelines will cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets1 including crosswalks1 curb ramps1 street furnishings1 pedestrian signals1 parking1 and other components of public rights-of-way2 ,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 altered1 and that the same degree of convenience1 connection1 and safety afforded the public generally is available to pedestrians with disabilities2 ,whereas once these guidelines are adopted by the ,department of ,justice1 they will become enforceable standards under title ,,ii of the ,,ada2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states was founded on principles of equality and freedom1 and these principles require that all people1 including people with disabilities1 are able to engage as equal members of society3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that ,congress-- 7#a7 recognizes the immense hardships that people with disabilities in the ,united ,states must overcome every day2 7#b7 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 handicapped1 approved ,august #ab1 #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #daea et seq47 7commonly known as the ,architectural ,barriers ,act of #aifh71 and the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 and encourages full compliance with such ,acts2 and 7#c7 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 ,government4