July 26, 2023 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today marking the 33rd anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act: “The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) thirty-three years ago today helped America further realize its founding promise that 'all men are created equal.' Serving as the lead House sponsor on that historic legislation remains one of my proudest accomplishments throughout my time in public service. The ADA went beyond widening doors, building ramps, installing audible warnings, and requiring Braille translations – it transformed our country and allowed millions of Americans to participate in public life with the dignity and respect they deserve. It helped alleviate the stigma of disability and established protections against disability discrimination in everything from housing to employment to transportation. “I was fortunate to have Tony Coelho, Tom Harkin, Bob Dole, and many other gifted legislators as partners on the ADA. Its enactment was the culmination of decades of hard work from grassroots activists and disability rights advocates. Drafted by Democrats and Republicans in Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, the ADA was also a paragon of bipartisanship. “Thirty-three years later, it's crucial that we continue to embrace the spirit of the ADA by promoting equality of opportunity for all and by focusing on what people can do rather than what they can't.”