James M. Jeffords: “I say on behalf of all the Senators on the committee and those that have signed on, we now have 62 cosponsors to that…”

“I say on behalf of all the Senators on the committee and those that have signed on, we now have 62 cosponsors to that bill. This is an incredible step forward for people with disabilities who desire to work. I do not think there are very many who don't desire to work. They have been placed in this incredibly terrible position of, if you go to work, you lose your health care and you lose your SDI benefits or other benefits that you have to help you live. You just cannot do it except under very unusual circumstances. Thus, we have finally opened the door, after many years. The Senator worked on all these issues, too, starting with the bill that we have been talking about, special education, back in 1976, when we passed what is called IDEA. That opened the first big door, and that is to get an education. Without an education, you do not have any hope of being able to be employed.”