It is time to send a message to the White House: transmit the CRPD treaty to the Senate immediately! The CRPD Committee, an 18 member international committee that oversees implementation of the treaty, is holding elections for nine of its members in September at the UN. The U.S. must ratify in order to nominate a U.S. citizen to serve on the Committee and / or to vote for the nine open seats.
Who to Contact:
- Email the White House, or call the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111 (TTY / TTD: 202-456-6213)
- Email Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy
Message: If the White House supports ratification of the CRPD, the treaty must be sent to the Senate now!
I am calling / writing to ask you to send the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the Senate now.
- We believe that the Obama Administration strongly supports the CRPD.
- The CRPD has bipartisan support in the Senate.
Time is of the essence. Elections for the CRPD Committee that guides the implementation of the treaty occur this September:
- The U.S. must ratify the treaty before September in order to participate.
- The opportunity to have a U.S. citizen join the Committee will not arise again until 2015.
- Not participating in the CRPD Committee election will continue to lessen the value of the U.S. leadership on disability rights.
Our understanding is that the Administration’s treaty package is complete.
- The disability community is ready to advocate for this treaty package and rally our senators’ support for swift ratification.
The United States cannot forego this important opportunity to affirm its leadership on disability rights and help advance a more accessible world for all Americans with disabilities.
