[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      SENATOR DOLE'S FIRST SPEECH

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I want to take this opportunity to 
recognize the 25th anniversary of Senator Dole's first speech before 
this body. This statement on disability policy was particularly 
important and was remarkable for its time.
  Delivered on April 14, 1969, the 24th anniversary of Bob Dole's own 
disability resulting from a World War II injury, this was the first 
time to my knowledge that a Senator addressed the issue of disability 
policy from both a personal and a national policy perspective on the 
Senate floor. It was a visionary speech, discussing the broad range of 
issues affecting the disability community and recognizing autonomy, 
independence, and productivity for people with disabilities as the 
ultimate goals of disability policy.
  At a time when the general public believed that people with 
disabilities could only live desperate lives of dependence on their 
families and government, and the independent living movement was only 
beginning to build momentum, Senator Dole said in his speech that the 
daily challenge of a person with a disability is to accept and work 
with his or her functional limitations to ``become as active and 
useful, as independent, secure, and dignified as his disability 
allows.''
  Senator Dole recognized the difficult situation of the many people 
with disabilities at that time. He stated that ``only one-third of 
America's blind and less than half of the paraplegics of working age 
are employed, while only a handful of about 200,000 persons with 
cerebral palsy who are of working age are employed.'' He added that 
``far too many handicapped persons and their families bear serious 
economic problems--despite token Government pensions and income tax 
deductions for a few, and other financial aids.''
  After discussing private and public sector efforts, Senator Dole 
called for the creation of a Presidential task force or commission to 
review the various disability programs and policies. He specifically 
asked that the task force consider the following issues: expansion of 
employment, transportation, and recreation opportunities; development 
of a directory or central clearinghouse on available public and private 
assistance; removal or architectural barriers; improvement of access to 
health care; improvement of special education; increased financial 
assistance; more attention to families, and increased program 
coordination between the public and private sectors.
  Progress has been mixed since Senator Dole made his speech 25 years 
ago. On the one hand, some important laws have been passed, including 
the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing 
Amendments, and the various amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. These 
have begun to address the many problems that Senator Dole identified. 
On the other hand, the disability employment figures and other social 
indicators today are no better than they were then. Clearly, much still 
needs to be done.
  To understand how far ahead of its time Senator Dole's speech was, 
his vision of the objectives of disability policy remains true a 
quarter of a century later, and many of his same words could be made on 
the Senate floor today.
  Recognizing that this is an appropriate time to seriously consider 
how far we have gone, how far we must still go, and what changes we 
must make to improve the lives of people with disabilities, Senator 
Dole has again introduced legislation to create a bipartisan commission 
to examine our disability programs and policies. I strongly support 
this legislation and believe that we must now reconsider all aspects of 
disability policy to ensure that it is consistent with the independence 
and community integration goals of the ADA.
  I applaud Senator Dole's longstanding leadership in the area of 
disability policy. As he said in 1969, our citizens with disabilities 
``are one of our Nation's greatest unmet responsibilities and untapped 
resources. We must do better.''
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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