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Press Candidate Survey Jim Oberstar
8th Congressional District - DFL
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?
Throughout
my service in Congress, I have championed and supported numerous
initiatives to safeguard and expand the rights, services and
community participation of people with disabilities in Minnesota.
One of my proudest legislative accomplishments was the work of our
House Transportation Committee to consider and approve the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. I firmly believe that the
transportation provisions in the ADA were the key linchpin to expand economic
and social opportunities for people with disabilities. Our efforts to
increase employment opportunities and eliminate the barriers in
public accommodations would mean very little if we did not also make the
essential improvements in our transportation systems to ensure
that those with disabilities could get to the jobs and have opportunities
to shop, dine and attend cultural and sporting events. While we
have made great progress for people with disabilities to participate more
fully in society, it is clear that many barriers continue to exist,
and I will continue to be an effective advocate in Congress to
work to fulfill the promise of the ADA.
In America, there are approximately 54 million children and adults
living with a disability, and it is imperative for Congress to
understand and address the numerous challenges that this large and diverse
community encounters every day. In the area of health care, we must ensure
that all people with disabilities throughout the life span have
access to health care, and I am greatly troubled that President Bush and
his Republican allies in Congress advanced harmful reductions in
Medicaid and Medicare. I strongly opposed the Deficit Reduction
Act of 2005, and believe strongly that we must restore funding for services
and programs that serve people with disabilities. We can fund these
necessary programs when we end the misguided war in Iraq that costs
our nation $1.25 billion every week.
The Minnesota disabled community can take great pride for your superb
advocacy that has produced numerous state and federal legislative
accomplishments, and I am very pleased to have supported your efforts.
Much work remains in the areas of prevention (make our communities
safer, end the war in Iraq) education and workforce (fully fund
IDEA, reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act); health care (access to
affordable treatment, technologies and medications including mental
health parity); and eliminate the accessibility challenges that
remain in housing and transportation. Working together, let’s fulfill
the promise and potential for every disabled American. ![]()
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