WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for uniform laws and regulations governing availability and access to parking on federal property by the nation's millions of physically impaired citizens, the Congress has enacted legislation that makes handicapped parking more readily available to people with severe physical impairments, while also encouraging the states to further expand the parking privileges of their residents and nonresidents with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The Americans With Disabilities Act grants exemptions to federal agencies regarding handicapped parking guidelines that the states are mandated to follow; and

WHEREAS, The Congress has recently enacted legislation revoking its exemptions to the laws it enacts. In that spirit, our nation's legislative leaders should review current federal laws and regulations relating to handicapped parking, including the Architectural Barriers Act and the Rehabilitation Act, with an eye to directing federal agencies to also abide by these parking laws and regulations which govern the lives of the American people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby memorializes the Congress of the United States to review current federal laws and regulations including the Architectural Barriers Act and the Rehabilitation Act pertaining to handicapped parking on federal property in an attempt to strengthen their enforcement and remove any exemptions to these laws and regulations presently enjoyed by federal agencies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to all of the members of the Rhode Island delegation to the United States Congress.