,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #cj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ab1 #bjai,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 and ,ms4 ,hirono7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,recognizing the need to improve physical access to many federally funded facilities for all people of the ,united ,states1 particularly individuals with disabilities4 ,whereas the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 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 the right to petition for a governmental redress of grievances2 and 7#b7 was ratified 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 ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 calls for the right of all individuals to peaceably assemble1 meaning that all individuals1 regardless of their physical ability1 shall be offered equal opportunity to access all amenities that are federally funded1 in whole or part1 with the exception of certain sites of historical importance approved by the ,architectural and ,transportation ,barriers ,compliance ,board 7referred to in this preamble as the ,united ,states ,access ,board7 or a nonpartisan commission convened by the ,united ,states ,access ,board2 ,whereas1 in the #bi years since the signing of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 there have been advances in technologies that benefit individuals with disabilities1 such as automatic doors2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention reported that-- 7#a7 #fa1jjj1jjj individuals in the ,united ,states have a disability that impacts major life activities2 7#b7 #a of every #g adults experience a mobility impairment1 which is the most common form of disability2 and 7#c7 as people age1 disability becomes increasingly common1 affecting an estimated #b of every #e older adults2 ,whereas1 as significant advances in medical treatment result in improved health outcomes1 the incidence of disability has increased over time2 ,whereas1 in #bjaf1 an estimated #be4a percent of veterans in the ,united ,states1 or more than #b1jjj1jjj individuals1 reported having a service-connected disability2 ,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 individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas title ,v of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gia et seq47-- 7#a7 prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability in programs and activities funded by the ,federal ,government2 7#b7 requires the elimination of architectural barriers for ,federal employees and applicants with disabilities2 and 7#c7 established the ,united ,states ,access ,board2 ,whereas the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47-- 7#a7 prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability by a ,state or local government1 including any department1 agency1 special purpose district1 or other instrumentality of a ,state or local government1 in programs and activities1 transportation1 communications1 and the built environment2 7#b7 prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability in the activities of a place of public accommodation1 which is an entity that is-- 7,a7 generally open to the public2 and 7,b7 within a category described in that ,act1 such as a restaurant1 movie theater1 school1 day care facility1 or doctor's office2 and 7#c7 requires a newly constructed or altered place of public accommodation or commercial facility 7such as a factory1 warehouse1 or office building7 to comply with the ,standards for ,accessible ,design2 ,whereas the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq47-- 7#a7 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in multifamily housing1 including military family housing2 and 7#b7 requires the elimination of architectural barriers in common areas2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,access ,board has developed new guidelines for public rights-of-way that 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 new guidelines developed by the ,united ,states ,access ,board 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 aim of the ,united ,states ,access ,board in developing the new guidelines includes ensuring that-- 7#a7 access for individuals with disabilities is provided wherever a pedestrian way is newly built or altered2 and 7#b7 the same degree of convenience1 connection1 and safety afforded the public generally is available to pedestrians with disabilities2 ,whereas1 on the date on which the ,attorney ,general adopts the new guidelines1 the guidelines will become enforceable standards under title ,,ii of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaca et seq472 and ,whereas the ,united ,states was founded on the principles of equality and freedom1 and such principles require that all individuals1 including individuals with disabilities1 are able to engage as equal members of society3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that ,congress-- 7#a7 recognizes the importance of equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 recognizes that too many facilities of ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments remain inaccessible to individuals with disabilities due to architectural and other barriers2 7#c7 reaffirms its support of and requires full compliance with-- 7,a7 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 #aifh72 7,b7 title ,v of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gia et seq472 7,c7 the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq472 and 7,d7 the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq472 and 7#d7 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 ,states1 including individuals with disabilities1 from having equal access to the services provided by the ,federal ,government4