WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, have introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of The Arc of the United States—one of the nation’s most influential organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Founded in 1950 by parents determined to keep their children out of institutions and fought instead for their children’s place in family and community life, The Arc has grown into a network of nearly 600 state and local chapters across 47 states. For three-quarters of a century, it has shaped federal policy, expanded opportunity, and strengthened a core American principle: that every individual deserves the chance to live a full, self-directed life.

From its pivotal role in PARC v. Pennsylvania, which helped lay the foundation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to its leadership in securing the Americans with Disabilities Act, expanding Medicaid home- and community-based services, and advancing essential civil rights protections, The Arc’s history reflects—and helped define—the evolution of our nation’s commitment to equality, independence, and inclusion.

“For 75 years, The Arc has been a steady compass for this nation—challenging us to rise to our ideals and expanding the circle of belonging,” said Fitzpatrick. “Their leadership has changed laws, expectations, and lives. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, their partnership strengthens our mission every single day. This resolution is not merely recognition—it is a call to action and a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to continue working to ensure that dignity, independence, and equal opportunity are not aspirations, but guarantees for every single American.”

“For 75 years, The Arc has been an unrelenting force for the rights, dignity, and respect of Americans with disabilities. It is because of their work that we have seen so much progress, including the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other foundational protections we have today. I’m proud to recognize The Arc for their 75 years of fighting for accessibility and equality for individuals with disabilities and will continue to be a partner in that work,” said Dingell.

Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, shared: “Seventy-five years ago, a group of parents refused to accept that their children with disabilities should be sent to live all their days in institutions. They built The Arc so their children could grow up at home with their families, just like everyone else. I think of those families every time I see a student learning with non-disabled classmates, an employee with a disability earning a paycheck, or a family getting support that keeps them stable and together. Because The Arc fought for it, people live at home and in the community instead of in institutions. Students with disabilities have the right to a public education rather than being shut out or separated. Medicaid and SSI help people shape meaningful lives with the support they need. And the ADA made civil rights real in daily life, from curb cuts to captions that many of us use. Disability is in every family, every community, every political party. In a year when disabled Americans are looking for steady leadership on their rights and services, I'm grateful to Representative Brian Fitzpatrick for recognizing this legacy and affirming that inclusion is a shared value. We will keep working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as we always have, honoring the millions who came before us and pushing disability rights forward for millions more.”

Read the full resolution here.

A Record of Bipartisan Disability Leadership

As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, Congressman Fitzpatrick has been a driving force in expanding opportunity, strengthening autonomy, and modernizing federal systems to better serve individuals with disabilities. His bipartisan legislative portfolio reflects a consistent commitment to removing structural barriers and advancing economic and educational freedom:

• ABLE Employment Flexibility Act – enabling employers to make tax-free contributions to ABLE accounts, helping workers with disabilities build long-term financial stability.
• Pell Grant Flexibility Act – ensuring students with disabilities can pursue higher education at a pace that meets their needs without risking financial aid.
• SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act – updating outdated SSI asset limits for the first time in more than four decades to protect savings and reduce poverty among people with disabilities.

These reforms reflect Fitzpatrick’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that dignity, independence, and economic mobility are within reach for every American—principles deeply aligned with The Arc’s 75-year mission.

Background

The Arc of the United States was founded in 1950 by parents who refused to accept that their children with intellectual disabilities should be separated from family and community. Their advocacy paved the way for some of the most consequential civil rights and education advances in modern American history, including:

• PARC v. Pennsylvania (1971):
  Established the right to free public education for students with intellectual disabilities, setting the stage for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990):
  A landmark civil rights law prohibiting discrimination and guaranteeing equal access in employment, transportation, and public life.
• Expansion of Medicaid and home- and community-based services (HCBS):
  Provided millions of individuals with disabilities the ability to live and participate in their communities rather than institutions.

Today, Arc continues to advocate for independence, economic opportunity, and full inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across their lifespan.