CRPD Ratification: We Don't Need Perfect, Just Progress

Having read the papers this morning, I learned that the House breaks Thursday so the Democrats can have their annual retreat (Republicans had theirs a few weeks ago.). Then both Senators and House Representatives go home and don't come back to Washington, D.C. until February 26th. According to the Secretary of the Treasury, Jack Lew, the government loses its authority (i.e., flexibility to shift money around and pay bills) to spend money on February 27th. With every day that passes more and more time will be spent on the fall mid-term elections. The statistics look very good for the Republicans to retain the House and to make gains, and perhaps, take over leadership in the Senate. 

These seemingly random facts make a point. There will never be the right or perfect time to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  We have been told that substantial efforts have been made to develop a fully bipartisan resolution on the CRPD. They have not succeeded to date. There will always be competition for political space. Those who support the CRPD outnumber those who oppose the CRPD in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. So why not proceed to a mark up with a known majority? We need progress. It will help us sustain momentum and grow it.

Contact Senator Menendez (202.224.4744; Twitter: @Senator Menendez). Ask about the status of ratification negotiations and suggest that he proceed to a mark up.

Thank you.

Common Grounder