[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20545-20546]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2004

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Assistive 
Technology Act of 2004, which passed the Senate last week by unanimous 
consent on September 30, 2004. I thank Senator Gregg for his commitment 
to this very important issue and to my colleagues who have spent 
several months working on this bill.
  The Assistive Technology Act is legislation that helps those 
individuals with disabilities receive the necessary equipment, devices, 
and services that allow them to live independently, improve their 
education, or assist with employment opportunities. This program is 
open to all ages, so it may help the smallest child receive equipment 
that will help him or her in the classroom or older adults who may need 
a device to adapt their workspace so they continue on the job.
  Many States, such as Ohio, offer many different services to 
individuals with disabilities. Successful programs--equipment exchange 
programs and demonstration centers, for example--help ensure that the 
individual needing assistance is receiving the appropriate equipment to 
address the obstacle he or she is trying to overcome. Programs like 
these and the financial loan program help provide everyone in need with 
the opportunity to receive

[[Page 20546]]

and purchase the technology and devices necessary to lead productive 
lives.
  This legislation is very important to the millions of individuals 
with disabilities living in the United States. Again, I thank Senator 
Gregg and my colleagues on the HELP Committee for working on this 
issue. I look forward to working with my colleagues on other 
legislation that will address the needs of individuals with 
disabilities.
  I ask unanimous consent the text of three letters from groups 
supporting the Assistive Technology Act be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Dear Chairman Gregg and Senator Harkin: On behalf of the 
     National Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs 
     (ATAP), I am writing to indicate our support for the Senate's 
     passage of HR 4278, a bill to reauthorize the Assistive 
     Technology Act. We understand it will be ``hotlined'' today.
       Thank you for your work to bring this process to this 
     point. The bill allows AT programs to continue so that people 
     with disabilities can access assistive technology devices and 
     services. We hope to work with you to make sure that the bill 
     is adequately funded in future appropriations bills so that 
     we can fully realize all of the goals of the bill.
       If you have questions or need additional information, 
     please contact Jane West at 202-289-3903 or [email protected].
           Sincerely,
                                                     Deborah Buck,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

       Dear Mr. DeWine: On behalf of the Association of University 
     Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) I would like to thank you for 
     your leadership and remarkable bi-partisan work on HR 4278, 
     the reauthorization of the Assistive Technology Act. The bill 
     will assist people with disabilities throughout our country 
     who will be able to work more effectively, learn at school 
     and more fully participate in their communities, thanks to 
     their increased access to assistive technologies.
       We appreciate the hard work that has gone into every phase 
     of the process of developing and negotiating this vital 
     legislation. We are especially pleased that the bill clearly 
     delineates the authorization of appropriations so that state 
     grants will have defined and equitable minimum allotment 
     levels. We also appreciate the fact that the bill provides 
     flexibility to states to design locally responsive programs 
     while still assuring a focus on activities that will get 
     assistive technology into the hands of the people that need 
     it. We are pleased, as well, that the bill has enhanced 
     provisions for Research and Development efforts.
       The network of University Centers for Excellence in 
     Developmental Disabilities represented by AUCD urge you to 
     pass HR 4278 now, and we look forward to working with you as 
     you continue to work to ensure that the future holds nothing 
     but enhancements of the programs and services authorized by 
     this legislation.
       Thank you for your support of people with disabilities and 
     families who will now see increased benefits from the vast 
     technological advances the 21st century will bring. And thank 
     you again for your bipartisan work and your leadership.
           Sincerely,
                                             George Jesien, Ph.D.,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

     Hon. Mike DeWine,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator DeWine: On behalf of the National Association 
     of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) we would like to 
     thank you for your leadership on assistive technology and 
     moving forward with the process of reauthorizing the 
     Assistive Technology Act of 1998. The substitute bill before 
     the Senate ``Improving Access to Assistive Technology for 
     Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004'' represents a true 
     bipartisan piece of legislation.
       The bill is a step forward for the protection and advocacy 
     system. The bill makes the following changes that we support: 
     Establishes a grant to the American Indian Consortium for a 
     Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) 
     program; establishes a line item to fund the PAAT program; 
     enables a PAAT program to retain earned income for an 
     additional fiscal year beyond current law and regulation; 
     included language to continue needed training and technical 
     assistance for the PAAT program.
       All of these changes to current law will help make the PAAT 
     program consistent with other protection and advocacy 
     programs. We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of 
     you and the staff who have endeavored to improve this program 
     for people with disabilities.
       Regrettably, the bill did not contain recommended language 
     to include a provision which would enable the minimum 
     allotments for states and territories to rise when the 
     program receives an appropriations increase.
       Thank you very much for working in a bipartisan manner to 
     move this legislation. We look forward to working with you to 
     enact this into law this year. If you would like additional 
     information or have questions, please contact myself or Nadia 
     Facey, Public Policy Analyst, at 202-408-9514.
           Sincerely,
     Maureen Fitzgerald,
       President, Board of Directors.
     Curtis L. Decker,
       Executive Director.

       

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