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

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,

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

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

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.

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

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

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 --

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

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

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 --

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."

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

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.

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.