Bob Kerrey: “it is with pleasure that I join Senators Moynihan, Roth, Kennedy and Jeffords on their significant initiative to expand…”

“it is with pleasure that I join Senators Moynihan, Roth, Kennedy and Jeffords on their significant initiative to expand work opportunities for Americans with disabilities. As Americans, we value the opportunity to support ourselves and our families to the best of our abilities. In fact, we refer to this right and this responsibility as the American dream. But today, millions of Americans who want to work remain on various forms of public assistance, because they can't access the supports they need to begin and continue working. People with disabilities face unique barriers to self-sufficiency. Many of them need certain types of health services, such as home health care and personal care services, in order to work--yet these services are rarely available under employer-sponsored health insurance. Many of them find private health insurance unavailable or unaffordable. Some need vocational rehabilitation services and help finding employment. Others need assistive technology in order to do their job. Currently, health care coverage and other services are linked to two cash programs--Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income. So people with disabilities must choose whether they want to reach self-sufficiency and risk losing their health coverage and other supportive services, or retain their health insurance but remain dependent on these safety-net programs.”