Final passage of a bill to prevent discrimination against the disabled moved Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to tears Friday as he dedicated it to his late brother-in-law and his fight against polio.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, blasted the bill - and was one of only six senators who voted against it. He was one of only two senators who voted against it when the Senate first considered the bill earlier this year.Just before the final vote to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the Americans with Disabilities Act - which Hatch co-sponsored - he gave a short, emotional speech to dedicate it to his late brother-in-law, Raymond Hansen.
"I want to pay tribute to my brother-in-law, who contracted both types of polio as a college student undergraduate.
"This young man went through unholy hell. But he finished his baccalaureate degree and then went on and got a master's degree in electrical engineering, and worked right up to the day he died going into an iron lung every night in order to survive," Hatch said, sometimes wiping away tears.
"I personally carried him in my arms all the way through the Los Angeles Temple of my faith. He was probably without question, other than my own brother who was killed in World War II, the greatest inspiration of dogged determination to do what is right and make his life worthwhile of anybody in my life."
Hatch added, "This is a banner day. This is a major achievement. And I believe it is a very, very important day in the lives of all Americans who have to be proud that in this great country of freedom we're going to the furthest lengths we can to make sure that everybody has equality."
After the bill's passage, Hatch kissed and shook hands with cheering disabled people who were celebrating in the halls of the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Garn again explained his long opposition to the bill.
"My main concern with this act is that it goes too far in its attempt to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability. I feel its impact on small business could prove devastating," he said.
"My vote against this conference report, like my vote against the original Senate bill, was not a vote against the disabled, rather a vote against a bad bill."
Garn added, "After today's vote, a host of senators approached me on the floor to say, `Gee, I wish I had the courage to vote against the bill. It is a bad bill.' Unfortunately, it is the appearance of the bill we are voting on rather than substance.
"I predict it won't be too many years before this proves to be one of the better votes that I have cast."