Expressing support for designation of January 23rd as "Ed Roberts Day".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1759) expressing support for designation of January 23rd as ``Ed Roberts Day''.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1759 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1759, which supports the establishment of ``Ed Roberts Day.'' Mr. Edward Verne Roberts was a pioneering leader and a champion in the disability rights movement.

Mr. Roberts was born January 23, 1939, in San Mateo, California. Mr. Roberts acquired polio at the age of 14 in 1953, 2 years before the Salk vaccine put an end to that epidemic. After 18 months in the hospital, he returned home paralyzed from the neck down except for a few fingers and toes.

Roberts continued his high school education while spending vast amounts of time resting and sleeping in the iron lung. When a high school administrator threatened to deny him a diploma because he had not completed drivers and physical education requirements, he protested and began an early career of activism. Later, Roberts became the first student with severe disabilities to attend the University of California at Berkeley.

At UC Berkeley, other students with significant disabilities joined Roberts in an empty wing in which the university had placed him and, over the next few years, began to call themselves the ``Rolling Quads.'' The Rolling Quads began advocating for curb cuts, opening access to the wider community, and creating the first student-led disabilities service program at any university in the Nation. That student program led to the creation of the Nation's first Center for Independent Living, and Roberts assumed leadership of the center and guided its development as a model for disability advocacy and self-help service.

After earning a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in political science at UC Berkeley, in 1975, Roberts was appointed the Director of the California Department of Rehabilitation. In 1983, he cofounded the World Institute on Disability, an organization committed to eliminating the barriers to full social integration for persons with disabilities.

Mr. Edward Verne Roberts died from natural causes on March 14, 1995, leaving behind a legacy as the modern father of the disability rights movement. Roberts' efforts helped to reduce barriers, increase access, and improve the lives for persons with disabilities across this Nation and world. It is with these contributions in mind that this resolution calls for the establishment of ``Ed Roberts Day.''

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsor of the resolution and chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Mr. George Miller, for his leadership in bringing this important resolution to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Resolution 1759, which supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day.''

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 1759, which supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day'' for his tireless work as a leader and champion in the disability rights community.

Born January 23, 1939, Edward Verne Roberts contracted polio at the age of 14 in 1953. Despite spending most of his adolescence in an iron lung, he graduated high school and was admitted into the University of California at Berkeley, where he became the first severely disabled person to attend that university.

This feat is all the more amazing when you consider the obstacles that were thrown in Ed's way. A high school administrator threatened to deny him a diploma because he had not completed driver's education and physical education requirements. College administrators told him they had tried to educate students with disabilities before and it did not work. The director of campus housing was afraid that they could not accommodate his needs, offering him a room in the empty wing of the campus hospital. Ed accepted only on the condition that it was considered dormitory space.

During his time at UC Berkeley and after he left college, Ed worked with other students with disabilities to push for curb cuts so that parts of the university could be accessible to disabled persons. He formed the Physical Disabled Student Program to help facilitate and ease the transition for other students with disabilities to attend college.

In 1972, he established the first Center for Independent Living in order to support and assist disabled persons in gaining independence. The center's philosophy was, and it continues to be, based on three main points:

First, comprehensive programs with a wide variety of services, such as employment and assistive technology, are the most effective at meeting the needs of persons with disabilities;

Second, people with disabilities know best how to meet the needs of others with disabilities; and

Third, the strongest and most vibrant communities are those that include and embrace all people, including disabled persons.

Today, most independent living centers across the country use this model as a basis for their work with individuals with disabilities. To celebrate this fact, Ed is known as the ``Father of the Independent Living Movement.''

Mr. Speaker, Ed Roberts was a pioneer in the disability community until his death in 1995. Today, we honor him and acknowledge his work to reduce barriers, increase access, and improve the lives of all persons with disabilities. So I rise in support of House Resolution 1759, which supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in seven votes on the floor of the House of Representatives today due to a family medical issue.

The first vote was H.R. 5546--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the ``Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The second vote was H. Res. 1759--Expressing support for designation of January 23rd as ``Ed Roberts Day.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The third vote was S. Con. Res. 72--A concurrent resolution recognizing the 45th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The fourth vote was H.R. 6205--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the ``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The fifth vote was H. Res. 1764--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2965--Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on that question.

The sixth vote was H. Res. 1761--Congratulating Auburn University quarterback and College Park, Georgia, native Cameron Newton on winning the 2010 Heisman Trophy for being the most outstanding college football player in the United States. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The seventh vote was H. Res. 1743--Congratulating Gerda Weissmann Klein on being selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent on December 15, 2011. If I was present, I would have voted on the following: H.R. 5446--rollcall No. 631--``yea''; H. Res. 1759--rollcall No. 632--``yea''; S. Con. Res. 72--rollcall No. 633--``yea''; H.R. 6205--rollcall No. 634--``yea''; H. Res. 1764--rollcall No. 635-- ``yea''; H. Res. 1761--rollcall No. 636--``yea''; H. Res. 1743-- rollcall No. 637--``yea''; H.R. 2965--rollcall No. 638--``yea.''