The 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve short terms (two years) and are elected by far fewer people (only those in their respective districts) than the members of the U.S. Senate.

Stark Contrast with McCrory

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill passed by a vote of 402 to 17:

"Nearly 18 years ago, with the enactment of the ADA, this nation committed to removing barriers that had too long denied Americans with disabilities full and equal access to all aspects of American society - in our businesses, schools, communities, and government.

Since that time, the ADA has played a vital role in transforming society's attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and has advanced our nation's fundamental calling to respect each individual.

The ADA's promise remains unfulfilled because of court rulings that wrongly ignored the intent of Congress. Courts have narrowed the definition of 'disability' to preclude those individuals who undertake mitigating measures such as hearing aids or medications.

Today, Congress is restoring the law's intent and its broad protections. By strengthening the ADA, we bring our nation closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity that are both our heritage and our hope."

Bush Republicans have engaged in unprecedented obstruction. They have used every delaying tactic available to them, including filibusters and secret holds. But Bush Republican efforts to block floor consideration of even bipartisan and non-controversial bills clearly reveals their strategy: block everything.

Below is a list of the non-controversial, bipartisan bills blocked by Bush Republicans this morning.

ALS Registry Act. S. 1382, which would authorize $75 million for fiscal 2008 to create a registry with the Centers for Disease Control to collect and analyze data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The bill was passed out of committee and has 67 bipartisan co-sponsors.

On July 27, 2007 Governor Mike Easley signed Senate Bill 753: Disability History and Awareness Month into law. Starting today North Carolina recognizes October as Disability History and Awareness Month.

In honor of Disability History and Awareness here are some facts on Disability in America today.

• Senate Bill 753 was created during the North Carolina Youth Leadership Network Summit in August of 2006. Seventy-eight youth from around the state gathered to learn about disability history. These amazing young people met with elected officials during this past legislative session to encourage them to support this bill. Their voices and actions made this law a reality.
• North Carolina was the third state to pass this legislation. The first was West Virginia.
• In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act was founded on four principles: inclusion, full participation, economic self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity for all people with disabilities.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law.
• According to the 2000 United States Census there are 1,117,577 people with disabilities living in the State of North Carolina.
• According to the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2003-2004 school year 193,956 students with disabilities were being served in North Carolina.
• Disability History and Awareness Month in North Carolina will increase public awareness and respect for people with disabilities who comprise a substantial percentage of North Carolina's population, teach future generations that people with disabilities have a rich history and have made valuable contributions throughout North Carolina and the United States, and ensure future generations understand that disability is a natural part of life and that people with disabilities have a right to be treated as individuals above all else.

Former State Party First Vice-Chair, and former State Party Minority Affairs Chair, Ed Smith passed away Sunday morning. He was 56 years old.

With over 65 campaigns and political committees on his resume, Ed Smith redefined the term "party activist." In the 2000 Gore-Lieberman campaign alone, Ed served as Co-Chair of the N.C. Gore-Lieberman Steering Committee, and as a member of the national steering committees of African-Americans for Gore-Lieberman and Americans with Disabilities for Gore-Lieberman. Ed served in similar positions in the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign, while also serving as the Clinton-Gore whip at the National Convention. A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Ed spent most of his career in state government, rising to the position of Director of the Civil Rights Division of the state Office of Administrative Hearings. He also served on the executive committee of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Adam Behsudi, Asheville Citizen-Times

State first lady Mary Easley will join Wildwater Rafting on the Nantahala River on Saturday to raise money for cancer research during the annual Raft for the Cure.

The event, held in conjunction with the 11 other outfitters of the Adventure Gateway organization, will attempt to raise more than $8,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Although all rafting trips are counted toward the donation, the featured rafting trip is the 2:15 p.m. Nantahala trip, which returns to Wildwater’s Rafting Center at 5 p.m.

A reception follows at 5:30 p.m. The program includes an acknowledgment of attending cancer survivors, the presentation of the donation to the Komen Foundation representative as well as a few words from Easley. Light snacks and drinks will be provided.