From: Jamal Mazrui 
Subject: More Senate remarks on guide dog issue (Forward)
----------------------------------------
Remarks by WYDEN (D-OR) and 2 others on S.Res. 72
         APPRECIATION TO SENATE LEADERSHIP [CR page S-3167, 86 lines]
                  Attributed to WYDEN (D-OR)
                        APPRECIATION TO SENATE LEADERSHIP
    Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to express my appreciation to the
  bipartisan leadership for responding so quickly to an issue that cries out
  for justice. With strong and responsive action from the leadership today, 
the
  U.S. Senate said that those who have a visual impairment will be able to
  fully utilize their talents on this Senate floor.
    A resolution was accepted today in the Senate which allows persons
  requiring a guide dog, a wheelchair, or a cane to be considered on a 
case-by-
  case basis for entry to the floor. Pursuant to this resolution, the 
ergeant
  at Arms has determined that for Ms. Moira Shea, a staffer in my office, 
hat
  her guide dog is necessary and appropriate to the performance of her 
ies.
                             PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
    Mr. WYDEN. Given this development, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
  that my staffer, Ms. Moira Shea, be granted access to the floor of the 
United
  States.
    The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
                              ----====>====----
                          EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY
    Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, and colleagues, watching Ms. Shea enter the
  Chamber today makes me feel very proud. It is a good day for the Senate
  because ensuring equal access to opportunity is what the U.S. Senate is all
  about. Ms. Shea has been assisting my office in a number of matters,
  particularly nuclear waste legislation and legislation with respect to the
  rights of the disabled.
    Yesterday, I attempted to bring Ms. Shea on to the Senate floor to assist
  me in debate on the nuclear waste bill. Ms. Shea is a respected economist 
and
  energy policy expert who has worked for the Federal Government for more 
han
  20 years. She was denied access to the Senate floor yesterday because she
  requires the use of a guide dog as a result of a genetic condition which
  significantly impairs her vision.
    Today, Mr. President and colleagues, I thank the majority and minority
  leaders as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee 
for
  moving so expeditiously to ensure that this body extend equal opportunity 
o
  citizens who are visually impaired.
    Today, a resolution was offered by the majority and minority leaders and
  referred to the Senate Rules Committee that seeks to permanently address 
this
  issue so that an individual with a visual impairment will not need to seek
  case-by-case approval just to use their talents on this Senate floor. I
  intend to work with Members on both sides of the aisle and with Ms. Shea to
  make certain that the U.S. Senate provides appropriate access to those
  citizens with disabilities and that the access complies with the spirit of
  the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    It seems to me, Mr. President, that what the Senate is saying today is 
that
  a double standard will not be allowed here. In the private sector, for
  example, Federal law is very clear. In the private sector where you have an
  individual with Ms. Shea's talents and abilities, and if a guide dog or a
  white cane is needed to carry out those duties in the private sector, Ms.
  Shea would have a legal right to have that guide dog with her.
    Now, I close by thanking several of our colleagues for their help in
  rectifying this situation. I particularly thank Senator Reid of Nevada, the
  lead cosponsor of my resolution, as well as chairman Frank Murkowski for 
is
  support yesterday. In addition, Senators Wellstone and Bryan and, in fact,
  all Members of the Senate who were on the floor yesterday during discussion
  of this issue moved to be cosponsors of this legislation. I thank Senator
  Ford who also, for years, has worked for the rights of the disabled. 
Finally,
  I thank our Sergeant at Arms, Mr. Greg Casey. He has been extraordinarily
  patient and conscientious in working with myself and our staff. I thank him
  for helping to bring justice to the floor of the Senate.
    Mr. President, the U.S. Senate has done the right thing today by standing
  up for full legal rights and equal opportunity for those like Ms. Shea who
  have a visual impairment. The Senate is sending a message across this 
country
  that we are not going to leave our citizens behind. I am very proud that 
he
  Senate has taken this action. I yield the floor.
    Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I compliment the distinguished Senator from
  Oregon and Ms. Shea for doing this historic and unprecedented resolution.
  This is a beautiful dog, Ms. Shea, and we are proud to have you on the 
loor
  of the U.S. Senate and proud to have your dog here as well.
    Mr. LEVIN. Will the Senator yield?
    Mr. HATCH. I yield.
    Mr. LEVIN. I want to join Senator Hatch in congratulating and thanking 
he
  Senator from Oregon for his persistence.
    Ms. Shea, we are delighted you are on the Senate floor with your dog. It 
is
  a historic day for the Senate. Senator Hatch has made the point and I join,
  and I think all of our colleagues join, in expressing appreciation to the
  Senator from Oregon who has done an important service for the Senate for
  making it possible for this to happen.
    Mr. WYDEN. I thank my colleague.
----------
Text of Measure -- S.Res. 72
         SENATE RESOLUTION 72--RELATIVE TO SENATE FLOOR ACCESS
         [CR page S-3225, 17 lines]
              SENATE RESOLUTION 72--RELATIVE TO SENATE FLOOR ACCESS
    Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Reid, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Murkowski,
  and Mr. Bryan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
he
  Committee on Rules and Administration:
                                   S. Res. 72
    Resolved, That an individual with a disability who has or is granted the
  privilege of the Senate floor may bring such supporting services on the
  Senate floor, which the Senate Sergeant At Arms determines are necessary 
nd
  appropriate to assist such disabled individuals in discharging the official
  duties of his or her position until the Committee on Rules and 
Administration
  has the opportunity to fully consider a permanent rules change.
---
---------------