The Question
What have you done—and
what will you do in Congress—to safeguard and expand the rights,
services and community participation of people with disabilities
in Minnesota?
Rowley's Response
As a novice candidate,
I’ve been asked by reporters what I’ve
found “fun” about politics. Frankly, I don’t think
there’s much real fun to be had in a political campaign. But
the best thing I HAVE found has been the opportunity to meet some
diverse but truly amazing people. Last year, for instance, I quickly
got to know a deaf volunteer at the State Fair DFL booth. Last week,
I was invited to attend her alma mater, the Faribault School for
the Deaf’s homecoming football game, which was quite an experience.
That school has been helping educate and train kids with hearing
disabilities since the 1880s.
Disabled persons are ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges
on a daily basis, and oftentimes their disability prevents them from
defending their rights and having their voices heard. That is simply
unacceptable. People with disabilities deserve a strong advocate
in Washington to help fight their battles and represent their interests,
and I intend to be that advocate.
As a result of the injuries
sustained by military troops fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,
we now have almost 20,000 disabled vets, many of whom will require
services and treatment for the rest of their lives. This is already
placing additional strains upon our country’s veterans and
other health services.
As a society, we have
a responsibility to help ensure disabled persons and the elderly
lead as normal a life as possible. To that end, government can
and should play an instrumental role to improve the following:
infrastructure— ramps, elevators, parking, doors; transportation – buses,
subways, planes; health care —PCAs, prescription drugs, and
access to affordable and quality care; education—increased
IDEA funding, improving facilities; and research and development—increase
stem cell funding, work towards advanced treatments and/or cures.
I believe we can do better in all of these areas through effective
policy and coordination at the local, state and federal levels. Moreover,
my extensive background in constitutional law and particular interest
in civil rights and liberties makes me uniquely qualified to represent
the disability community on a legal level.
More broadly speaking,
I recognize the failures of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act that
cut funding from critical programs serving people with disabilities
to finance senseless tax-cuts for the wealthiest few percent. But
if I’m one of fifteen Democrats needed to
retake the House of Representatives, I’m confident a Democratic
Congress will not persist with such misguided priorities. ![]()
