DNC Chair Jaime Harrison issued the following statement marking the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

“As disabled Americans battle for justice, equality, inclusion, and protection from discrimination, one thing is clear: Disability rights are civil rights. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act — one of the most important civil rights laws in our history — our country took a major step toward accessibility and acceptance. While the ADA was a transformative piece of legislation, there is still more work to do and we are determined to continue fighting until we can truly say we live in a world that is accessible for all. 

“President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats across the country have been steadfast in their commitment to creating a more equitable version of our country where all Americans have access to the resources they need to thrive. During their time in office, the Biden-Harris administration has rebuilt our nation’s infrastructure to make public transportation more accessible, signed an executive order advancing opportunities for people with disabilities in the federal workforce, and directed agencies to make polling places and voter registration more accessible for those with disabilities.

“On the other side of the aisle, you have a party led by someone who reportedly said some disabled people ‘should just die.’ As Democrats continue to expand health care and equal protections, Donald Trump and extreme Republicans are running on an agenda that threatens the disabled community. A second Trump presidency would slash Medicaid benefits, build barriers in the workforce for disabled people, and erode federal protections for students with disabilities. 

“Democrats are fighting tirelessly to uphold our values and foster a nation that uplifts and supports all Americans. That’s why this November, we need to lock in, get involved, and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”