WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of the bipartisan International Children with Disabilities Protection Act of 2023. This legislation bolsters U.S. support for children with disabilities and strengthens the ability of disability rights organizations and families to advocate for necessary reforms to protect these children.

“Children with disabilities deserve a place in society where they are respected, loved and treated with basic human dignity,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation helps protect the most vulnerable children across the world and makes certain they have the opportunities to succeed by supporting their families and helping keep them out of harmful institutions.”

“Tragically, children with disabilities around the world are frequently denied the opportunity to grow up in a loving family, receive an education, and thrive in their communities,” said Sen. Menendez. “The Committee’s passage of this legislation today brings the United States one step closer to providing critical support to organizations of persons with disabilities and families of children with disabilities—the most important and effective advocates—who fight every day for the rights of these children globally. I welcome the strong bipartisan support of my Senate colleagues in redoubling our efforts toward advancing disability rights.”

Sens. Moran and Menendez’s legislation was cosponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

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