5/21/19 PRESS ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
Bruce Darling: (585) 370-6690
Dawn Russell: (303) 884-1471
Marilee Adamski-Smith: (715) 204-4152
WHO: ADAPT
WHAT: ADAPT Continues Pursuing Democratic Co-sponsors in the House
WHERE: Longworth, Canon, and Rayburn House Office Buildings
WHEN: Tuesday, May 21, 2019
ADAPT Demands Democrats in House Advance Disability Freedom 11/13/18 Washington, DC – After yesterday’s historic action where ADAPT occupied 19 offices of Democratic Representatives and secured 19 co-sponsors of the Disability Integration Act (HR.555). Today, DIA has 172 cosponsors and ADAPT has secured the commitment of 33 representatives to cosponsor the bill or vote for it. ADAPT returns to the House Office Buildings to seek additional cosponsors. “We are thrilled,” said Dawn Russell, an ADAPT organizer from Denver, CO, “With this level of support, we are confident we will be able to obtain the necessary 14 votes to secure a majority of the House of Representatives.”
DIA would ensure the basic rights of life, liberty, and freedom to elderly and Disabled Americans by ending the institutional bias which limits availability of home and community based services and supports and forces elderly and disabled people into nursing facilities and institutions.
Since the reintroduction of the Disability Integration Act on January 15, 2019, ADAPT members and disability advocates from across the country have contacted and made multiple asks of every Democratic member of the House for their co-sponsorship. “This is not new to any of them,” said Misty Dion from North Central Pennsylvania ADAPT. “ADAPTers have called, emailed, and visited these offices asking them to hear our concerns and “free our people”. Our freedom is tied to the decisions of these representatives, and in their silence we know their answer.”
With the passage of the Equality Act in the House, Democrats are portraying themselves as champions of civil rights while Disabled Americans die – everyday – in institutions. Sophie Poost an organizer with Rochester ADAPT said, “We’re giving Democrats the choice; they can be known for supporting disability freedom or blocking it.”
Today ADAPT also calls on House Leadership to cosponsor DIA. Majority Leader Hoyer, House Majority Whip Clyburn and Energy and Commerce chair Pallone need to follow the lead of Speaker Pelosi who supports the bill. “I am very proud to stand before you wearing this pin. It’s a Disability Integration Act pin… Bruce [Darling] lent this to me so I could hold it up here and say to you that I will do everything possible to get as many cosponsors for this legislation,” said then-Minority Leader Pelosi at a disability rights rally last July. ADAPT and the broader Disability Community now also call the Speaker who promised to help ADAPT secure cosponsors to, in fact cosponsor the bill herself.
ADAPT has worked for decades to secure the same rights and liberties for Disabled Americans as those enjoyed by their non-disabled neighbors. Learn more about ADAPT’s history and activities at www.adapt.org, on social media with the National ADAPT Facebook and Twitter pages. Also, keep up to date on their current endeavors by following the hashtags #DIAToday and #ADAPTandRESIST
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