Bill Text: NJ SR69 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes United States Senate to ratify Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-10-14 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR69 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR69-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes United States Senate to ratify Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution memorializing the United States Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Whereas, The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that was inspired by the leadership of the United States in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities; and
Whereas, The Convention is a vital framework for creating legislation and policies around the world that embrace the rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities; and
Whereas, The Convention highlights that "a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will make a significant contribution to redressing the profound social disadvantage of persons with disabilities and promote their participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities, in both developing and developed countries"; and
Whereas, The values of independence, inclusion, respect and reasonable accommodation, which are encompassed in the Americans with Disabilities Act, served as the model for the Convention and are echoed throughout the treaty; and
Whereas, A broad American coalition of over 600 disability services, civil rights, faith-based, business, and veterans organizations support the ratification of the Convention by the United States; and
Whereas, By approving the Convention, the United States will offer decades of honed expertise to reduce barriers to persons with disabilities globally and, at the same time, ensure that Americans with disabilities who travel and study abroad have the same standards of access they enjoy at home; and
Whereas, Persons with disabilities are the world's largest minority, numbering one billion worldwide; 57.8 million of these persons are American citizens, 5.5 million of whom are veterans of service in the United States Armed Forces, and approximately 51,000 of these veterans live here in New Jersey; and
Whereas, The United States signed the Convention in 2009, but the United States Senate has yet to ratify the international agreement, notwithstanding bipartisan support in Congress; and
Whereas, Ratification is critical to maintaining the leadership role of the United States in eliminating discrimination in the world, while providing the United States with the opportunity to play an important and expansive role in the development of rights for persons with disabilities in collaboration with other nations, by teaching and sharing our example of an inclusive society; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House memorializes the United State Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, and to the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
STATEMENT
This resolution memorializes the United State Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is an international treaty that was inspired by the leadership of the United State in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities. By approving the Convention, the United States will offer its decades of expertise in reducing barriers to persons with disabilities and also ensure that Americans with disabilities who travel and study abroad have the same standards of access that they enjoy at home. Ratification of the Convention is critical to maintaining the leadership role of the United States in eliminating discrimination in the world, while providing the United States with the opportunity to play an important and expansive role in the development of rights for persons with disabilities in collaboration with other nations.
