A resolution commemorating the life, achievements, and contributions of Alan A. Reich.

Mr. President, I am honored to be the lead Democratic cosponsor of this resolution to commemorate the life, achievements and contributions of Alan Reich.

I was greatly saddened, last week, to hear about the passing of this great and passionate advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. As many Senators know very well, Alan was the founder and president emeritus of the National Organization on Disability. Over the past 25 years, both he and the National Organization on Disability have been tremendously effective advocates for the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of American life.

The achievements of Alan Reich, and the sheer breadth of his activism and leadership, are simply remarkable. While president of the National Organization on Disability, he built a broad coalition of disability groups that successfully fought for the inclusion of a statue of President Roosevelt in a wheelchair at the FDR Memorial. He spearheaded critical research to track the progress of Americans with disabilities in key areas of life. He founded and chaired the Paralysis Cure Research Foundation; was president of what became the National Spinal Cord Injury Association; and he founded the National Task Force on Disability. Alan also led the way in taking the disability rights movement into the international arena. He chaired the World Committee on Disability, and was the first individual using a wheelchair to address the United Nations General Assembly. For these and many other achievements, Alan was awarded the George Bush Medal this past July.

I want to express my own profound respect for this remarkable individual and for all that he accomplished in his life. He played a pivotal role in the disability rights revolution that has transformed this country in important ways in recent decades. He improved the lives of countless individuals with disabilities, both in this country and throughout the world. And, perhaps best of all, he has left a living legacy in the form of the advocacy organizations he founded, which will now continue his work into the future.

Alan Reich was a wonderful advocate and a great American. He fought with all his heart to win equity, access, and opportunity for people with disabilities. He changed countless lives, and made America a much better and fairer society. For all these reasons, the United States Senate honors Alan Reich, today, with this resolution expressing our respect and appreciation.

Mr. President, I am pleased today join with Senator Harkin to submit a resolution commemorating the many contributions and achievements of Alan Reich, who was an inspirational figure in the disability community. Alan Reich devoted his own life to the improving the quality of life for so many others--especially individuals with disabilities. He recently passed away on November 8, 2005, at the age of 75.

Alan Reich was the founder of the National Organization on Disability. This organization is active on a local, State, and national level in efforts to seek full and equal participation for people with disabilities in all aspects of life. You see, at the young age of 32, Alan became a quadriplegic following a swimming accident. He used a wheelchair as a result of this injury. While Alan was told he would not drive or write again, he relearned both skills and went on to become an inspiration for all those in the disability community. In 1990, he received the George H.W. Bush Medal for outstanding service under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Alan Reich is probably best known for leading an effort that raised $1.65 million to add the statue of FOR in a wheelchair to the former President's memorial here in Washington, DC. As Alan said in 2001:

The unveiling is a major national moment, the removal of

the shroud of shame that cloaks disability. The statue will

become a shrine to people with disabilities, but it will also

inspire everyone to overcome obstacles. When you see the

memorial that follows the statue, what will be in your mind

is that he did all this from a wheelchair.

Alan Reich married his best friend and partner in life, Gay Forsythe Reich. They shared 50 years of marriage and were deeply committed to each other and to their 3 children--James, Jeffery, and Elizabeth-as well as their 11 grandchildren.

Alan Reich's contributions to his family, his community, and to this Nation will never be forgotten. As Chesterton said many years ago, ``Great men do great things even when they're gone.'' That is certainly true of Alan Reich. His legacy will live on always.

My wife Fran and I extend our deepest sympathy to Alan Reich's family for their loss.

Mr. President, at this time, under the regular order and a unanimous consent request, the distinguished Senator from Ohio was to be recognized. He has acquiesced in my behalf that I may be recognized for 15 minutes. I ask unanimous consent that I may speak as in morning business for 15 minutes, to be followed by the Senator from Ohio, and that the Senator from Colorado will be recognized after the Senator from Ohio.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from and the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 321.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

I thank the Chair.

(The remarks of Mr. DeWine pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 321 are located in today's Record under ``Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')