RSC Member Policy Actions

Washington, Sep 24, 2012 - Rep. Buerkle led 49 Members of Congress in a letter to Senate leadership (drafted by the RSC) regarding the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The letter urges the Senate to "oppose any efforts toward ratification" of this treaty. Many of the actions that the U.N. is calling for are already covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the U.N. actions are an infringement US sovereignty.

The Disabilities Convention will allow foreign experts to interfere with U.S. policymaking and violate the principles of U.S. sovereignty. The Convention lacks a clear definition of “disability,” inviting abuse by individuals or groups, and thereby complicating the implementation of the Disabilities Convention in the United States. It also revisits the debates regarding “reproductive health,” allowing abortion advocates and U.N. officials an opportunity to continue to push abortion as a human right. In addition, the Convention would give the government the ability to override the decisions of parents of disabled children if the government finds that its views are “in the best interests of the child.” This could strip parents of fundamental rights, including the ability to home school their child.

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Congressman Steve Scalise is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC).