PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECLARES
SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007 AS “DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY”
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 8, 2007 – The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) today applauded the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for unanimously passing House Resolution 191 recognizing Saturday, May 12, 2007 as “Disability Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania. Rep. Tina Pickett (R- Bradford, Sullivan, and Susquehanna) is the prime sponsor of the resolution.
“People with disabilities are an asset to their communities, an asset to the state, and indeed an asset to our country,” said Pickett. “I am honored to sponsor House Resolution 191 that establishes May 12 as Disability Awareness Day in Pennsylvania.”
There are nearly 1.8 million Pennsylvanians with a disability, representing 16 percent of the Commonwealth’s population, according to the 2005 U.S. Census American Communities Survey.
“The PA SILC wishes to express its appreciation to Rep. Pickett for sponsoring the resolution to create Disability Awareness Day and applauds the House for its tremendous support,” said Corey L. Rowley, Executive Director of the PA SILC.
“This day is about more than recognizing the talents, skills and dedication that people with disabilities provide as a vital part of our workforce and community. It is an opportunity for governments to evaluate public policies, businesses to examine hiring practices, and individuals to reflect on personal perceptions as each relates to people with disabilities.
The following representatives are co-sponsors of HR 191:
Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware)
Rep. David G. Argall (R- Berks, Schuylkill)
Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga, Bradford)
Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Chester, Delaware)
Rep. John Bear (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (D-Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland)
Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre, Mifflin)
Rep. Karen Beyer (R-Lehigh, Northampton)
Rep. Vincent A. Biancucci (D-Beaver)
Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia, Luzerne, Wyoming)
Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer)
Rep. Ronald Buxton (D-Dauphin)
Rep. Tom Caltagirone (D-Berks)
Rep. Steven Cappelli (R-Lycoming)
Rep. Marty Causer (R-Cameron, McKean, Potter)
Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks)
Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre)
Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks)
Rep. Tom Creighton (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Craig Dally (R-Northampton)
Rep. Eugene DePasquale (D-York)
Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks)
Rep. Robert Donatucci (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. John Evans (R-Erie, Crawford)
Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming)
Rep. Florindo Fabrizio (D-Erie)
Rep. Russ Fairchild (R-Snyder, Union)
Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon)
Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Northampton)
Rep. Will Gabig (R-Cumberland)
Rep. John Galloway (D-Bucks)
Rep. Rick Geist (R-Blair)
Rep. Camille “Bud” George (D-Clearfield)
Rep. Jaret Gibbons (D-Beaver, Butler, Lawrence)
Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York)
Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon)
Rep. Neal Goodman (D-Schuylkill)
Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh, Northampton)
Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin)
Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-Chester)
Rep. Art Hershey (R-Chester)
Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-Berks, Montgomery, Chester)
Rep. Dave Hickernell (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Harold James (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Bill Keller (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (D-Delaware)
Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny)
Rep. Deberah Kula (D-Fayette, Westmoreland)
Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery)
Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette)
Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)
Rep. Jennifer Mann (D-Lehigh)
Rep. Carl Mantz (R-Berks, Lehigh)
Rep. Joseph Markosek (D-Allegheny, Westmoreland)
Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D-Chester)
Rep. Fred McIlhattan (R-Clarion, Armstrong)
Rep. David Millard (R-Columbia)
Rep. Jay Moyer (R-Montgomery)
Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne)
Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery)
Rep. Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny)
Rep. Jerry Nailor (R-Cumberland)
Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia)
Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks)
Rep. John Pallone (D-Westmoreland, Armstrong)
Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin)
Rep. Scott Perry (R-York, Cumberland)
Rep. Thomas Petrone (D-Allegheny)
Rep. Merle Phillips (R-Northumberland, Snyder)
Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong, Indiana)
Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks)
Rep. Sean Ramaley (D-Beaver, Allegheny)
Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren, Forest, McKean)
Rep. Ron Raymond (R-Delaware)
Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny)
Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana)
Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks, Lehigh)
Rep. James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks)
Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester)
Rep. Carole Rubley (R-Chester, Montgomery)
Rep. Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence, Beaver)
Rep. Dante Santoni (D-Berks)
Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester)
Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie)
Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair)
Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer, Butler)
Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon)
Rep. Tom Tangretti (D-Westmoreland)
Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia)
Rep. Katie True (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery)
Rep. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny)
Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks)
Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny)
Rep. Jesse White (D-Washington, Allegheny, Beaver)
Rep. Edward Wojnaroski Sr. (D-Cambria)
Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-Philadelphia)
ABOUT PA SILC
The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) is a nonprofit, cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization dedicated to securing public policies that ensure civil rights for people with disabilities by supporting the independent living philosophy.
The PA SILC was established in 1987 to comply with the federal "Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986" (P.L.99-506), which requires states to create a consumer-controlled advisory committee to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's Independent Living Program. In 1992, the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments gave SILC co-signing authority on the federally-mandated State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).
In compliance with state and federal law, a majority of the voting PA SILC members are persons with disabilities and are appointed by the Governor. Additional representatives are from Centers for Independent Living, person with a disability or independent living organizations, and various state agencies.
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