Subject: This vote should be a no-brainer
From: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth <[email-masked]>
To: John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:31:43 +0000

Dear John - 

Before I was wounded, I never expected that the Americans with Disabilities Act would have such a profound impact on my life. 
 
This landmark bill - passed with bipartisan support - made our nation the world's leader in protecting individuals with disabilities from discrimination. It has also made it possible for me and thousands of other Veterans to continue living a full, mobile life.
 
Now the Senate has the chance to encourage other countries to adopt our own high standards by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
 
Tell the Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
 
http://action.tammyduckworth.com/ratify-un-convention
 
Approving this treaty should be a no-brainer. After all, it won't change U.S. law. Ratification will simply encourage other countries to meet our standards. A more accessible world is also good for our service members stationed overseas who might have family members with disabilities there with them.
 
But Republican extremists have made this non-controversial treaty into a yet another partisan vote. Even after fellow disabled Veteran and former Republican Majority Leader Bob Dole visited the floor of the Senate in his wheelchair this past December to support the bill, Senate Republicans voted it down. 
 
Fortunately, the Senate is expected to vote on the treaty again after August recess. We have an opportunity right now to encourage Senators to reject the Tea Party propaganda about this treaty, and do the right thing.
 
We have to act now. Please sign my petition urging the Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
 
http://action.tammyduckworth.com/ratify-un-convention
 
Republican extremists are hoping this issue will slide under the radar, allowing them to defeat the treaty without much notice. Let's make sure Senate Republicans know we're watching.
 
Thank you,
 
Tammy

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