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Senate Proceeding on Nov 17th, 2009 :: 2:00:20 to 2:10:45
Total video length: 1 hours 32 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

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Previous speech:

Barbara Mikulski

2:00:16 to 2:00:37( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: be the final vote on veterans af construc thank you, the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. ms. mikulski: mr. president, first of all, i have -- i seek recognition to offer 10

Barbara Mikulski

2:00:20 to 2:10:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Barbara Mikulski

Barbara Mikulski

2:00:38 to 2:00:58( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders, and i ask unanimous consent that these that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. mikulski: madam president,

Barbara Mikulski

2:00:59 to 2:01:19( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: i also rise and ask unanimous consent -- the presiding officer: please suspen we need quiet in the chamber. ms. mikulski: madam president, i ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for the purposes of introducing very poignant bill. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. mikulski: thank you, madam

Barbara Mikulski

2:01:20 to 2:01:42( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: president. madam president, today i rise to introduce legislation that i'm calling "rose's law." it ban by listening to the people in my own state, by a mother telling me a compelling story about her own daughter, her family's efforts to give her daughter an opportunity for an

Barbara Mikulski

2:01:43 to 2:02:07( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: education and to be treated with respect and with dignity, and at the same time, the advocacy of not only she and her husband but of herntire family, including testifying at the maryland general assembly. as a result of their effort, i'm introducing the bill which i'll tell you about in a minute, but i want to tell you about the family.

Barbara Mikulski

2:02:08 to 2:02:33( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: i want to tell you about the mac marcellinos, parents with four children, nick, mad i lynn, giamatti and rosa. they're in the gallery now watching this and i wish you could have been with me a n. my office as i met with them -- their mother and talked with the family. last year at a round table on

Barbara Mikulski

2:02:36 to 2:02:57( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: special ed, i met ninna macrellino -- the presiding officer: may we please he order in the chamber. may we please have quiet so the gentlelady from maryland may conclude her statement. ms. mikulski: at the round table, her mother nina told me about her daughter rosa and the

Barbara Mikulski

2:02:58 to 2:03:18( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: fact that rosa had been labeled at her school some years ago as mentally retarded and the stigma, the pain, the anguish that it caused both she and her husband, her brother and the sters as well as this little girl.

Barbara Mikulski

2:03:19 to 2:03:39( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: the mother and father reached ou to the professional communities begin to change the law. they then reached tout a member of the maryland general assembly assembly, a wonderful representative named ted sofocles. and he introduced in the general

Barbara Mikulski

2:03:40 to 2:04:01( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: asystemmably of maryland legislation that would change the word "mentally retarded" and substitute it with the phrase "intellectual disability" and that's what i stand on the senate floor today at the request of the family in behalf of this little girl, in behalf of all the children of the

Barbara Mikulski

2:04:02 to 2:04:23( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: united states of america who are labeled, stigmatized, and bear a burden the rest of their life because of the language we use in the law books. my law sumly today changes the phrase "mentally retarded" to "intellectually disabled." we do did in health, education,

Barbara Mikulski

2:04:24 to 2:04:46( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: and labor policy without in any way leg nifl impinging upon either the educational or other benefits that these children are entitled to. the presiding officer: senators, could we please take our conversations outside the chamber. ms. mikulski: when it came

Barbara Mikulski

2:04:47 to 2:05:07( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: time to bring the bill before the general assembly, the family was there, and who spoke up for rosa? well, her mom and dad have been speaking up for her. her brother nick andad i lynn and -- and madeleine and giamatti, her his certificates, have been speaking up for her. this wonderful young boy, nick,

Barbara Mikulski

2:05:08 to 2:05:32( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: at that time 13. this is what he said to the maryland general assembly: "what you call people is how you treat them. what you call people is how you treat them." what you call my sist is how you will treat her. if you believe she's -- quote --

Barbara Mikulski

2:05:33 to 2:05:54( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: "retarded" it stigma, it invites bullying and it also invites the slammed doors of being treated with respect and dignity. nick's words are far more eloquent that day than mine are today. i want to salute nick for standing think we need to stand up for all bec language, we believe that it

Barbara Mikulski

2:05:55 to 2:06:16( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: will be the start of new attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities. hopefully people will associate new words with the very able and valuable people that go to school, work, play soccer, or live next door. eunice shriver believed in this when she created the special olympics. she knew that special-needs

Barbara Mikulski

2:06:17 to 2:06:38( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: children need special attention, but they can do very special things. and look what she started. this bill has gotten the unanimous support in the legislative body. it passed in annapolis. in a few -- and a few weeks before this bill swept through the general assembly, did i have the opportunity to talk to

Barbara Mikulski

2:06:39 to 2:06:59( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: rosa's mom, nina. i promised her then that if that bill passed the maryland legislature, i would bring it to the floor of the united states senate. well, it passed unanimously. gornor o'malley has signed it. and today i stand before you introducing the legislation. it makes nominal changes to

Barbara Mikulski

2:07:00 to 2:07:21( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: policy in federal education, health, and labor law. it simply substitutes "intellectual disability" for "mental retardation." an individual with an intellectual disability. this bill, as i'm sure all who might be concerned, will not expand nor diminish services, rights, or educational opportunity.

Barbara Mikulski

2:07:22 to 2:07:43( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: we vetted it with legal counsel. we reached out to the very wonderful advocacy groups in this field, and they all concur that this legislation would be acceptable. the senate has done this before with this population. in the 1960's congress passed legislation where we took --

Barbara Mikulski

2:07:44 to 2:08:04( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: madam president, i'm almost embarrassed to say it -- our law once referred to boyce and girls as "feebleminded." we thought we were being advanced when we changed it to mentally retarded. now 40 years later let's take another big step and change it to intellectual disability. this bill makes language used in

Barbara Mikulski

2:08:05 to 2:08:26( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: the federal government consistent. the president's committee on mental retardation was changed by executive order so it is now the committee on individuals with intellectual the c.d.c. uses "intellectual disability." the world health organization uses "intellectual disability."

Barbara Mikulski

2:08:27 to 2:08:48( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: so it means that my law in the federal government should use entirely the word "intellectual disability." i've always said that the best ideas come from the people. rosa's law is the perfect exampl of effective citizen advocacy. a family that pulled together for their own and in pulling together they're pulling us all

Barbara Mikulski

2:08:49 to 2:09:09( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: along to a new way o thinking. i want to recognize the marcellino family who is with me in the gallery and the namesake of the law rosa's law, is behind me. she is also up there today. i also want to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues. it was indeed an honor to

Barbara Mikulski

2:09:10 to 2:09:30( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: represent this family. i belve that in our country people have a right to be heard and we listen. they have a right to represented, which i've tried to do. and now let's try to change the law. itas also a pleasure to work with senators harkin and enzi, the chair and ranking member of the "help" committee.

Barbara Mikulski

2:09:31 to 2:09:52( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: i have their wholehearted support in working together. and, madam president, this is going to be a bipartisan bill. it's going to be a nonpartisan bill. we're going to hats at the door and move ahead and tip our hat to these boys and girls. this bill is driven by a passion nor social justice and compassion for the human condition.

Barbara Mikulski

2:09:53 to 2:10:13( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: we've done a lot to come out of the dark ages of institutionalization and exclusion when it comes to people with intellectual disabilities. i urge in a step further: help sponsor theegislation that i offer on a bipartisan basis. help me pass the law and know

Barbara Mikulski

2:10:14 to 2:10:36( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Mikulski: that eve and every one of us see abovencc make a difference. and when we work together, we can make change. madam president, i yield the floor and look forward to working with my colleagues in moving this bill forward in our legislative process. and i note the quorum the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

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