    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 19, 1999]
    [Page 813]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Legislation To Improve Work Incentives for Persons
    With Disabilities
    May 19, 1999

        I commend the House Commerce Committee for its overwhelming
    bipartisan support for the ``Work Incentives Improvement Act'' today. By
    unanimously endorsing this legislation, the committee has taken an
    important step towards removing significant barriers to work for one of
    our Nation's most significant untapped resources--millions of people
    with disabilities. The committee's action, under the leadership of
    Chairman Bliley and Congressman Dingell, parallels the overwhelmingly bipartisan support that
    the Roth/Moynihan/Jeffords/Kennedy version of this legislation received
    from the Senate Finance Committee.
        Americans with disabilities can and do bring tremendous energy and
    talent to the American workforce, but the unemployment rate for all
    working-age adults with disabilities is nearly 75 percent. One of the
    most glaring problems is that people with disabilities frequently become
    ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare if they go back to work. This puts
    people with disabilities in the untenable position of choosing between
    health care coverage and work. The ``Work Incentives Improvement Act''
    would improve job opportunities for people with disabilities by
    increasing access to health care and employment services.
        Justin Dart, one of the foremost
    leaders of the disability community, has said that the ``Work Incentives
    Improvement Act'' is ``one of the boldest since the landmark passage of
    the Americans with Disabilities Act.'' As I indicated in my State of the
    Union Address, I could not agree more with him. I urge Speaker
    Hastert and Majority Leader Lott to move promptly to schedule votes on this important
    and long overdue legislation.