123STA T . 3 675PROCL A M AT I O N8 3 9 9 —JU L Y 2 4, 2 0 09 MyAdmin i stra ti o n h asm e t these c ha l len g es head - on .W eha v e la u nched the ‘ ‘ Y ear o fC ommunity L iving ’ ’ tohel p people w ith disa b il- ities live wherever they choose. We have nearly doubled the funding for the I ndividuals with D isabilities E ducation Act. I was proud to sign the groundbrea k ing Christopher and Dana R eeve P aralysis Act and the Children’s H ealth Insurance Reauthori z ation Act , which provides health insurance to millions of additional children. I also lifted the ban on stem cell research. T hese measures demonstrate our commitment to leveling the playing field for every person with a disability. My Ad- ministration will not rest on these accomplishments, and we will con- tinue to focus on improving the lives of people with disabilities. I en- courage S tates, localities, and communities across the country to cul- tivate an environment in which the 54 million Americans living with a disability are valued and respected. Americans have repeatedly affirmed the importance of protecting the human rights and dignity of every member of this great country. Through the steps we have taken, we will continue to build on the ADA and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to promoting, pro- tecting, and ensuring the full en j oyment of all human rights and funda- mental freedoms by people with disabilities. NO W, THERE F ORE, I, B ARAC K OBAMA, President of the U nited States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim J uly 26 , 2 0 0 9 , as the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I call on Americans across our country to celebrate the progress we have made in protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities and to recognize the step forward we make with the signing of the United Na- tions Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Inspired by the advances of the last 1 9 years, let us commit to greater achieve- ments in the years ahead. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n839 9o fJu l y24, 2 0 09 Nation a lK o re an W ar V eteran sA r m isti c e D a y,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Fifty-si x years after the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom, Americans remain grateful for the courage and sacrifice of our Korean War veterans. More than 600,000 United States and allied combatants lost their lives in Korea during the 3 years of bitter warfare that ended on July 2 7 , 1953. Many were also injured, taken as pris- oners of war, and missing in action. These dedicated servicemen and women, under the banner of the United Nations, fought to secure the blessings of freedom and democracy on the Korean Peninsula, and they deserve our unending respect and gratitude.
