Nancy L. Johnson: “Mr. Speaker, this is truly a red letter day for disabled Americans, and I congratulate the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr.…”

“Mr. Speaker, this is truly a red letter day for disabled Americans, and I congratulate the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Bunning) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Kennelly) on this bipartisan legislation that is going to change so many lives. They worked together and closely with the disabled community to put together a bill that will begin to break down the barriers to work and personal fulfillment that are now so ingrained in our Social Security disability program. I am also pleased that the House has made passage of this bill a priority during this session. Mr. Speaker, it is our job to be sure that every American has the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities they have to fulfill their potential in our free society. It is our job to break down barriers in old laws so that people can create their futures. The current system has had very limited success in helping people, indeed even allowing people, to take the steps they desperately want to take to change their lives. Currently, less than 5 percent of beneficiaries return to work because the program barriers are so insurmountable, and this in spite of... one of the greatest of these barriers is lack of access to affordable health care once a person returns to work.”