Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ADA Amendments Act, championed by my good friend and colleague from Maryland, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. 

This crucial piece of legislation would not have been possible without his leadership, and I thank him for his tireless efforts to ensure the continued inclusion and protection of people with disabilities in our society. 

I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of the advocates of the disability and business communities, who have united behind this important cause and worked diligently with members of Congress to ensure a fair and strong compromise.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was truly one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation of the twentieth century.  As someone who has lived with the challenges of a disability both before and after the ADA's enactment in 1990, I have experienced, first hand, the profound transformation that this law has created in our society. 

It has broken down countless barriers and helped millions of Americans to flourish in their personal and professional lives.  It has also served as a vital tool against discrimination in the workplace and in public life.

Unfortunately, a number of court decisions over the years have diluted the definition of what constitutes a disability, effectively limiting the ADA's coverage and excluding from its protections people with diabetes, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, and various developmental disabilities.

The bill before us today reaffirms the protections of the ADA and renews our promise of equality and opportunity for every American. 

The ADA has as its fundamental goal the inclusion of people in all aspects of society, and I am very pleased to say that the ADA Amendments Act brings us one step closer to that goal.  I urge my colleagues to support this bill and send a strong message that discrimination, in any form, will never be tolerated in this great nation.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.  I yield back.