Dear President Biden and Congressional Leaders: The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, Title 49, Section 41705 of the U.S. Code, prohibits commercial airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. The act itself, however, does not have any provision to protect the rights of those who, because of their disabilities and for safety reasons, cannot sit in a standard airline passenger seat and must remain seated in their personal wheelchairs like myself. These individuals are prevented from traveling any way except by land vehicles, trains, or ships. This constitutes a blatant infringement on their civil rights and access to affordable and expedient transportation. We, the undersigned, propose that every commercial aircraft have one to two removable passenger seat(s), in the front row of every aircraft, with a 4-point air cargo system underneath (identical to the system used in the U.S. Air Force cargo transport aircraft) to fasten each wheelchair securely to the floor of the cabin. An additional safety belt will be required around the waist of each wheelchair user to secure them in their seats. This proposed setup will guarantee the accessibility and safety of every passenger on board. Such implemented change is an economically sound investment for air carriers. The large and growing market of people with disabilities has $175 billion in discretionary spending, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Additionally, The New York Times reported that spending by travelers with disabilities exceeds $13.6 billion annually. I know that I personally spend approximately $5,000/ year on vacations. We estimate that this amount will increase significantly once individual aircraft become more wheelchair accessible. Please amend the Air Carrier Act of 1986 and push the Federal Aviation Administration to require airlines to designate wheelchair accessible spaces on every commercial aircraft. Thank you for your support, All Wheels Up https://www.allwheelsup.org/

The word democracy does not appear in The Constitution nor does it appear in The Declaration of independence. America is NOT nor was it ever intended to be a Democracy. We cannot spread Democracy by war all over the world if we are not a Democracy! All too often in our political system we fight with left and right, it's time we all stand in unity as a Republic, the way our forefathers intended...one nation under God

Our tagline at SODAC is "off the streets and on their feet." Our goal is to provide street children and vulnerable children with rehabilitation, support and resettlement services. Right now our activities are primarily in Kampala, Uganda. We have a home and center where children from all over the slums come and participate in our activities and have a chance to enjoy life as a child. Our activities include educating them, giving the shelter, teaching them how to sing dance, acrobatics and other activities that we can participate in as a family and across African Countries. Currently there are 16 boys who live and sleep in the home. There are more than 50 other children who come from the streets and slums that we help. These are children who lives on the streets with no one to take care of them and with no one to cater for his/her welfare, such children are abandoned, rejected and neglected and society considers him/her as a detriment to the community or dangerous to society. Such children might be victims of war, natural disaster, and domestic violence, parents died of HIV/AIDS or absolute poverty in the family.

Hospitals have a responsibility to the public to make sure that doctors are practicing good medicine, through the process of fair and unbiased peer review. However, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte abused this process to discriminate against Dr. Ron Virmani, who is a U.S. citizen, because he was born in India. On September 1, 1995, they kicked him out of the hospital after a very secretive sham internal peer review, labeling 24 of his patient charts "problematic". An expert of North Carolina Medical Board stated that Dr. Virmani met the standard of care. Dr. Virmani lost his ob-gyn career and his professional standing. He and his family suffered tremendously for 16 long years and still continue to suffer.

In Washington, DC, our nation's capital, we have no voting member of Congress, and our local taxes and laws are subject to the control of Congress. This violates every principle of democracy and it is un-American.

Government power can take away a person’s freedom, privacy, livelihood, and even life.  The people entrusted with that power must be held to a higher standard—not protected by a lower one.  Civil-rights violations are not paperwork errors.  They include unlawful arrests and detention, excessive force, torture, illegal surveillance, retaliation against protesters and journalists, evidence fabrication, and deliberate denial of constitutional protections.  When officials commit these acts and later obtain another badge, government contract, security clearance, or sensitive position, the system exposes the public to the same danger again.  I previously held a Top Secret–Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance while supporting national-security programs.  Clearance holders can lose eligibility for dishonesty, criminal conduct, poor judgment, or unwillingness to follow rules because those behaviors demonstrate that they cannot be trusted.  An official who intentionally violates someone’s constitutional rights has demonstrated those same disqualifying traits in the most direct way possible.  Federal law already makes willful deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law a crime.  But conviction does not consistently create a permanent, government-wide prohibition against holding another position of authority or trust.  Losing one job is meaningless if the offender can simply move to another agency, contractor, police department, correctional facility, or sensitive government position.  This proposal applies only after a criminal conviction and allows eligibility to be restored if that conviction is overturned and the person is acquitted or the charges are dismissed.  It protects due process while protecting the public from proven abusers.  A government that returns coercive power to convicted civil-rights violators is telling victims that their rights matter less than an offender’s career.  Constitutional rights must carry real consequences when government officials deliberately violate them.  If you cannot be trusted with another person’s constitutional rights, you cannot be trusted with the nation’s secrets, weapons, surveillance systems, detention authority, or public power. 

It is important because your petition connects personal experience with broader systemic issues that affect more than just one individual case. By sharing your story, you are not only explaining your own circumstances, but also highlighting how laws, policies, and sentencing practices can shape outcomes in ways that have long-term consequences for families and communities. From the respondent’s perspective, the importance lies in several key points: First, it provides context. It helps explain who you are beyond the conviction—your role as a father, family member, and mentor, and the work you are trying to do through youth outreach and education. Second, it raises awareness of systemic concerns. Your statement points to issues like sentencing disparities, the use of cooperating witnesses, and the broader impact of drug laws. Even if someone does not agree with every interpretation, it encourages reflection on how the system operates in practice. Third, it shows accountability alongside reflection. You acknowledge responsibility for your actions while also questioning whether the punishment matches the proven conduct. That balance is often important to decision-makers because it shows you are not avoiding responsibility, but also believe fairness should be examined. Finally, it emphasizes future contribution. Your focus on mentoring at-risk youth and trying to break cycles of incarceration shows a forward-looking purpose, which matters when evaluating rehabilitation and potential community impact.

People should join this petition because sibling bonds are some of the strongest and most important relationships a child can have, especially during difficult childhoods involving foster care, neglect, or family separation. Many older siblings step into parental roles by protecting, raising, feeding, and emotionally supporting their younger brothers and sisters when adults fail to do so. Yet after adoption, those same siblings can be completely cut off from the children they helped care for, causing heartbreak and emotional trauma on both sides. Supporting this petition means supporting children’s emotional well-being, mental health, and sense of identity. It is about giving family courts the ability to recognize when sibling relationships deserve protection and ensuring that adoption does not automatically erase the bonds between brothers and sisters who love each other. Change is needed so future families do not have to suffer the pain of losing contact with siblings simply because the system failed to keep them connected.

## THE MORAL AND FISCAL CASE FOR A DISABILITY LIVING WAGE The current Social Security Disability system is built on an inherently flawed "pay-to-play" model. By basing monthly payments on prior work history and "work credits," the government effectively penalizes those who become disabled at a young age. These individuals never had the chronological opportunity to build a career or pay into the system, yet they are forced to survive on significantly less support than those injured later in life. This creates a systemic "youth penalty" that traps our most vulnerable citizens in a cycle of lifelong poverty. The financial logic of the current system is also deeply counterproductive. When disability payments fall below the actual cost of living, individuals are often forced into state-funded nursing homes or long-term care facilities. These institutions cost taxpayers significantly more than a direct living wage would. By providing a livable income, we allow people to live independently in their communities, which is not only more humane but a far more responsible use of public funds. Beyond the financial savings, a living wage provides the foundation for true autonomy. Those disabled early in life lack the 401(k)s, home equity, or personal savings that older adults may have accumulated. A guaranteed living wage levels the playing field, ensuring that a person’s ability to afford food, accessible housing, and medical necessities is based on their human dignity rather than their previous tax contributions. Providing a living wage also acts as a direct stimulus to local economies. Unlike high earners who may save or invest their income, disabled individuals living on a fixed budget spend their benefits immediately on essential local goods and services like groceries, rent, and healthcare. This keeps wealth circulating within the community and supports small businesses, turning a social safety net into an engine for local economic stability. Ultimately, America must decide if its disability program is an insurance policy for the lucky or a safety net for all. We demand that Congress eliminate the work-credit requirement for those with permanent disabilities and establish a universal benefit floor that meets the modern cost of living. It is time to end the administrative complexity of the current tiers and replace them with a simple, dignified, and livable standard for every permanently disabled American.

Signing this petition is a way to stand up for basic human rights and demand accountability where it has been repeatedly ignored. Trousdale Turner Correctional Center has a well-documented history of violence, deaths, and unsafe conditions, yet little meaningful change has been made. By adding your name, you are helping bring attention to a serious issue that affects not only those incarcerated, but also their families, staff, and the broader community. Every signature increases pressure on officials to take action, whether that means shutting the facility down or enforcing immediate reforms. Change only happens when people speak out, and your voice can help protect lives and ensure that no one is forced to live or work in such dangerous conditions.

HB211 in Louisiana would criminalize homelessness, imposing penalties and mandated “homelessness courts” instead of providing access to housing or supportive services. Such measures do not address the root causes of homelessness and further destabilize vulnerable individuals. We must prioritize housing-first solutions and comprehensive support rather than punitive policies.

Rodney Dutch has served over 28 years in prison for a robbery—yet he was recently denied parole and given four more years, despite doing everything required to rehabilitate himself. This campaign is about more than one man—it’s about fairness, accountability, and a justice system that honors rehabilitation. Under the New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, individuals are supposed to be granted parole unless there is clear evidence they pose a risk. When that standard is not applied fairly, it affects everyone. By joining this campaign, you are: *Standing up against excessive sentencing *Supporting second chances and true rehabilitation giving a voice to families impacted by long-term incarceration *Helping hold the New Jersey State Parole Board accountable to the law. Your signature is more than support—it’s a statement that justice should be fair, consistent, and humane. Together, we can push for the second chance Rodney has earned.