the importance of this issue, and especially its importance at a time of economic stress when higher unemployment rates exist among folks with disabilities.

I particularly want to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member, Senator Enzi, for their leadership on this issue.

It turned out that most of the steps we took to make work easier and more productive for people with disabilities made work easier and more productive for all employees.

I want to thank you for the distribution center that you have in Windsor, CT, which has employed 40 percent of its workforce with people with disabilities.

I think affirmative action, as it was originally conceived, it was a time-limited remedy for past wrongs.

part of the problem here is the priority that law enforcement and judges give to this crime.

I want to say about this process that I think that you are entitled to an up-or-down vote by the U.S. Senate.

And I think one of the problems--if I can just interject--is that very often those background checks relate only to the State where that person is working.

It is unreported because people are embarrassed and ashamed. And they should not be, because we are all victims.

It is unconscionable and unacceptable and intolerable, in our society, that we permit so many of our senior citizens to be victims of this kind of abuse.

the priority given to this serious felony crime has to be maintained and increased

I want to join in thanking you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership and the bipartisan commitment from Senator Grassley.