Handicapped Access to East Front Capitol Steps

Handicapped Access to East Front Capitol Steps

Sen. Chuck Grassley issued the following comment in response to the announcement by the Architect of the U.S. Capitol that make structural changes will be made to the steps of the East front of the building to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs.

In September 1989, Sen. Grassley won Senate passage of an amendment to the Americans with Disabilities Act to apply the new law to the U.S. Senate. The Grassley amendment was deleted during conference negotiations on the legislation. Six years later, in 1995, Congress passed and the President signed a bill advanced by Grassley to apply to the Congress for the first time all existing employment and civil rights laws.

Here is Sen. Grassley's comment.

"A young handicapped visitor from Iowa made a tremendous, positive impact on behalf of all the handicapped Americans who will visit the U.S. Senate. This improvement will allow those with disabilities to more easily participate in important outdoor meetings with their senators on the East front steps of the Capitol."