    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [December 17, 1999]
    [Pages 2310-2312]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
    Act of 1999
    December 17, 1999

        Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 1180, the ``Ticket to Work
    and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.'' This landmark legislation
    will remove barriers that have placed many individuals with disabilities
    in the untenable position of choosing between health care coverage and
    work. It also improves and expands vocational rehabilitation and
    employment service options for this talented, but as yet not fully
    tapped, workforce.
        This new law represents one of the most important legislative
    advances for people with disabilities since the enactment of the
    Americans with Disabilities Act. I have urged its passage for 2 years
    and was proud to include full funding for it in my FY 2000 Budget. The
    enactment of this law well illustrates what we can accomplish when we
    work together on a bipartisan basis to expand employment opportunities
    and affordable health-care options.
        The Act will ensure that individuals with disabilities have a
    greater opportunity to participate in the workforce and in the American
    Dream. It offers new ways for the Federal Government to partner with the
    States and the private sector to help people with disabilities to work
    and to keep their health care coverage. Most significantly, H.R. 1180:
        Expands States' ability to provide a Medicaid ``buy-in'' to
                individuals with disabilities who return to work.
        Creates a new Medicaid demonstration to assess the
                effectiveness of providing Medicaid coverage to people whose
                condition has not yet deteriorated enough to prevent work,
                but who need health care to prevent or forestall that level
                of deterioration. This provision will allow States to help
                those individuals with diseases such as muscular dystrophy,
                Parkinson's Disease, diabetes, and HIV.

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        Lengthens from 4 years to 8-\1/2\ years the period for which
                Social Security disability beneficiaries who return to work
                can continue to receive reduced-cost Medicare coverage.
        Provides grants to States to design and administer
                infrastructures to provide services that support working
                individuals with disabilities.
        Provides Social Security disability beneficiaries a choice
                of providers for employment-related services.
        Authorizes the Social Security Administration to test new
                and innovative ways to enable individuals with disabilities
                to return to work and make economic independence a reality.
        Enables individuals with disabilities to reestablish
                eligibility for Social Security disability benefits on an
                expedited basis if their attempts to return to work prove to
                be unsuccessful. These individuals will be able to request
                reinstatement of benefits without having to file a new
                disability benefits application--thereby reducing the risk
                of returning to work.
        These provisions give people who want to work a chance to do so by
    ensuring access to health care insurance and modernizing the employment
    services system for people with disabilities. Together, these provisions
    affirm the basic principle manifested in the Americans with Disabilities
    Act: that all Americans should have the same opportunity to be
    productive citizens.
        The Act also contains several provisions to extend expiring tax
    laws. These provisions continue incentives for the advancement of
    several national priorities and reaffirm our commitment to help American
    families and businesses. Most importantly, the bill extends the research
    and experimentation tax credit for 5 years, encouraging companies to
    undertake new multi-year research activities. This crucial tax credit
    will help innovative American companies build on my Administration's
    impressive economic achievements and will lead to new products and
    technologies to improve people's lives. In addition, H.R. 1180 extends
    for 3 years the provision that allows America's middle-income taxpayers
    full use of important personal tax credits--such as the child credit,
    the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning credits, and the child and
    dependent care credits--without limitation by the alternative minimum
    tax. This also will allow tens of millions more taxpayers to forgo
    performing complex calculations.
        The Act extends a provision that will help improve school facilities
    in low-income communities by providing no-interest loans to school
    districts in needy areas for rehabilitation and repairs, educational
    equipment, curriculum development, and teacher training.
        The Act will provide more economic opportunity to Puerto Rico by
    extending application of the research and experimentation tax credit to
    such activity undertaken in Puerto Rico, as I proposed. In response to
    another of my proposals, H.R. 1180 also will provide a greater transfer
    of excise tax revenue on rum not made in the States to Puerto Rico and
    the Virgin Islands for 2-\1/2\ years to provide aid that the islands
    urgently need.
        Furthermore, H.R. 1180 extends through 2001 critical tax provisions
    to:
        Encourage employers to pay for their workers' continuing
                education.
        Help disadvantaged people, including welfare recipients,
                find jobs.
        Encourage businesses to clean up polluted ``brownfields''.
        Stimulate low- and no-emission production of power.
        Assist first-time home buyers in purchasing a home in the
                District of Columbia.
        It is unfortunate, however, that the revenue losses resulting from
    these provisions were not fully offset.
        I am pleased that H.R. 1180 will do much to improve the lives of
    people with disabilities and will extend important tax provisions. I am
    deeply disappointed, however, that the bill includes a provision for a
    special allowance adjustment for student loans. This provision will
    expose the Federal Government, rather than lenders, to substantial
    financial risk due to the difference between Treasury and commercial
    paper borrowing rates, and will provide unnecessary and costly new
    benefits to the student loan industry with no benefit whatsoever to
    students.
        My Administration has a deep and long-standing commitment to promote
    and increase the independence of individuals with disabilities. I would
    like to thank each individual who has been involved in the challenging
    work of developing this landmark legislation. Special thanks should be
    given to the congressional leaders,

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    who have contributed so much to the passage of H.R. 1180, particularly
    Senators Jeffords, Kennedy, Roth, and
    Moynihan, as well as Representatives
    Dingell, Archer,
    Rangel, Stark, Waxman, Thomas, Matsui,
    Bliley, Shaw,
    Bilirakis, Nancy Johnson, Cardin, Sherrod
    Brown, and Lazio. I
    also want to acknowledge the efforts of Alexis Herman, Secretary of
    Labor; Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security; and Donna
    Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human
    Services; as well as Tony Coelho and other
    members of my Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities.
    These individuals, as well as many others throughout my Administration,
    worked tirelessly to bring this legislation forward.
        Many individuals with disabilities want to work and become
    independent, and many can work if they receive the critical support they
    need. For too long, the fear of losing health and cash benefits and the
    inability to obtain rehabilitation and employment services has prevented
    such individuals' work efforts. As a Nation, we are best served when all
    our citizens have the opportunity to contribute their talents, energy,
    and ideas to the workplace. I am pleased to sign into law today this
    important step to empower more Americans with disabilities to take their
    rightful places in our Nation's workforce.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    December 17, 1999.

    Note: H.R. 1180, approved December 17, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
    170.