Veterans Groups Recognize Disabilities Treaty Will Not Help

By Lisa Correnti | November 11, 2013

“The CRPD does not advance the national interests of the United States and infringes on our rights as a sovereign nation,” wrote Pete Hegseth in a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is being considered again in the Senate. Last year ratification failed by 5 votes.

Hegseth, CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, addressed the use of disabled veterans for political gain as “appalling.”

“The proponents of CRPD have used disabled American veterans to illustrate hypothetical benefits abroad, while failing to show actual and concrete benefits. This approach is nothing short of shaming lawmakers to vote a certain way by blatantly exploiting our country’s love of veterans. Veterans deserve better. We did not fight to defend our country to serve as props in an effort to undermine.”

AMVETS, a group that previously supported CRPD, also penned a letter to the committee withdrawing their support after further examination of the treaty.

“AMVETS does not believe that passage of the CRPD would have any measurable, positive effects on veterans with disabilities travelling or serving abroad,” wrote Diane Zamalto, AMVETS Legislative Director.

In the Foreign Relations committee hearing last week experts warned that ratification could expand abortion rights and infringe on parents rights to make decisions for their disabled children.

A second hearing is scheduled for November 21.

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter