Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3694

 123STA T . 3 674PROCL A M AT I O N8 3 9 8 —JU L Y 24, 2 0 09 Wehav e m a d e gr ea tp r o gre s s in prote c ting the l egal rights o f o u r citi -z ens , and the L egal S ervices C orporation has pla y ed a vital role in this story for more than 3 decades . With continued support, it w ill serve those in need and help our N ation live out its highest ideals. N O W, THER E F ORE, I , BA RAC K OBA M A, P resident of the U nited States of America, b y virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim J uly 25, 2 0 0 9 , as the 35th Anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation. I call upon legal professionals and the people of the United States to honor the contributions of this vital organization. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- third day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n839 8o fJu l y24, 2 0 09 An n iversa r yofth eA m eri c ans W ith D isa b i l ities Act ,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Today we celebrate the 1 9th anniversary of the enactment of the his- toric Americans with D isabilities Act ( ADA ) . Signed into law on July 2 6, 1990, this landmar k legislation established a clear mandate against discrimination on the basis of disability so that people with disabilities would have an e q ual opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Our Nation is once again poised to make history for people with dis- abilities. I am proud to announce that the United States will sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the United Nations G eneral Assembly in New Y ork on De- cember 13, 2006. The Convention is the first new human rights con- vention of the 21st century adopted by the United Nations, and it rep- resents a paradigm shift in protecting the human rights of 650 million people with disabilities worldwide. We proudly j oin the international community in further advancing the rights of people with disabilities. As we reflect upon the past and look toward a brighter future, we rec- ognize that our country has made great progress. More than ever be- fore, Americans with disabilities enjoy greater access to technology and economic self-sufficiency. More communities are accessible, more chil- dren with disabilities learn alongside their peers, and more employers recognize the capabilities of people with disabilities. Despite these achievements, much work remains to be done. People with disabilities far too often lack the choice to live in communities of their choosing their unemployment rate is much higher than those without disabilities; they are much likelier to live in poverty; health care is out of reach for too many; and too many children with disabil- ities are denied a world-class education.