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Records of the Office of Political Affairs (Clinton Administration)
Minyon Moore's Files
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FOIA Number: 2007-0143-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Political Affairs
Series/Staff Member:
Minyon Moore
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
20653
FolderID:
Folder Title:
Disability
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
28
4
11
3
219-6001
ext. 147
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ANNIVERSARY EVENT
LIST OF ATTENDEES
Presidential Task Force Members:
Chair, Secretary Alexis Herman, Department of Labor
Vice Chair Tony Coelho
Secretary Donna Shalala, Department of Health and Human Services
Administrator Aida Alvarez, Small Business Administration
Commissioner Kenneth Apfel, Social Security Administration
Director Janice Lachance, Office of Personnel Management
Acting Chairman Paul Igasaki, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Chairwoman Marca Bristo, National Council on Disability
Assistant Secretary Eva Plaza, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Leaders in the Disability Community:
Paul Marchand, Director of Governmental Affairs for the ARC and Chair of the
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
James Brady, President of the National Brain Injury Association
Gina McDonald, President of the National Council on Independent Living
John Kemp, CEO of Very Special Arts
Justin Dart, Jr.
Oral Miller, Executive Director of the American Council for the Blind
Gordon Mansfield, CEO of the Paralyzed Veterans Association
Alan Reich, CEO of the National Organization on Disability
Nancy Bloch, National Association of the Deaf
Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Peter Thomas, Chair, Patients Bill of Rights
Jennifer Dexter, National Easter Seals Society
A20 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1998
S
NATIONA
Survey Finds No Job Gains for Disabled
By BARBARA VOBEJDA
ties are not participating as fully in
About one third felt the law had
Washington Post Staff Writer
American life as we should be," said
improved their lives, while nearly 60
Alan A. Reich, president of the Na-
percent said it had made no differ-
Less than one third of adults with
tional Organization on Disability.
ence.
disabilities are employed, a figure
"There's a long way to go."
The survey of 1,000 adults fol-
that has not improved over the past
At the same time, the survey found
lowed up on two others conducted by
decade, according to a survey re-
that persons with disabilities feel that
Harris for the National Organization
leased today by the National Organi-
society is making progress in improv-
on Disability, in 1994 and 1986.
zation on Disability.
ing access to public facilities and
Reich said it was not clear why the
The survey, conducted by Louis
transportation, quality of life and
proportion of disabled Americans
Harris & Associates, found that 29
public attitudes toward disabled
who are employed had declined. The
percent of disabled persons are em-
Americans.
survey found that 72 percent of the
ployed full or part time, compared
The report comes eight years after
unemployed said they would prefer
with 79 percent of nondisabled
the passage of the Americans With
to be working, but that 44 percent
Americans aged 18 through 64. In
Disabilities Act, which prohibits dis-
said they were completely unable to
1986, 33 percent of the disabled were
crimination on the basis of disability
work because of their disabilities.
employed.
in the workplace, housing, retail
The low employment rate contrib-
The survey also found that disa-
stores and other places that serve the
utes to a high incidence of poverty.
bled Americans are less likely to
public. The survey found that just
Thirty-four percent of adults with
socialize with friends, go to restau-
over half of disabled adults had heard
disabilities live in a household with
rants and attend movies than those
of the landmark civil rights legisla-
an annual income of less than
without disabilities.
tion, an increase since 1994, when
$15,000, compared with 13 percent
"In general, people with disabili-
just 40 percent knew of the law.
of nondisabled adults.
Dec-02-93 07:08A
Disabi lity
P.01
ADAPT
action news bulletin
The Honorable Bill Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20000
July 13, 1998
Dear President Clinton:
Two representatives from ADAPT met with you at the White House on September
10, 1997. The issue of home and community services was a major topic of discussion
at this meeting.
During this meeting, you directed your staff to work on initiatives that would change
the institutional bias of the long term service system. Almost one year has gone by
since that meeting and the institutional bias of the long term care system continues
virtually unchanged.
The workgroup established after the September 10th meeting co-chaired by Sally
Richardson, Medicaid Director and Bob Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Disability, Aging, and Long Term Care has been embarrassingly ineffective. The
minor policy changes they have made do not begin to address the enormity of this
problem.
Recently HCFA sent out a small grant proposal to the states that has absolutely no
relation to what ADAPT had in mind when the "Date Certain" concept was
discussed with staff. The concept of "Date Certain" was to select a date, when in
6-10 states, ALL individuals in Medicaid funded nursing homes and other
institutions were to be given "the choice" of using that money for home and
community services. The proposal sent out by HCFA has absolutely no resemblance
to what we had agreed upon except for using the "Date Certain" rubric.
Does the problem lie in your commitment or your staff's unwillingness to execute
that commitment?
Nancy Ann Min DeParle, HCFA Administrator has gone back on her commitment to
continue the working relationship ADAPT had with the former Administrator and
she refuses to answer our letters. Does Ms DeParle's lack of responsiveness
represent your Administration's commitment to the issue?
Dec-02-93 07:09A
P.02
Delay tactics and paternalistic, token gestures are all the disability community has
been fed since the September 10th meeting.
Our questions to you are simple: Will you make deinstitutionlizing people with
disabilities, old and young, a priority for your Administration?
Will you make a major budget initiative for home and community services in your
next budget? Will you initiate a REAL "date certain" project?
At the September 10th meeting you exhibited a knowledge of the political problems
associated with tackling this issue. ADAPT also recognizes the complexity of the
problem.
You, as President, need to show the same leadership in the area of long term
services that you are showing in the areas of child care, race and Social Security.
Until long term services is raised politically as an issue your Administration is
committed to, Congress will not act and people with disabilities will continue to be
warehoused in nursing homes and other institutions.
ADAPT wants to work with your Administration to change the institutional bias of
the long term care system. However, our goal is attendant service not lip service.
Please respond by August 13, 1998.
M.W. For an Institution Free America, Stiphance Bob Kafka
Ange Auberger
Stephanie Thomas
Mike Oxford
Organizet
Organizer
Organizer
Organizer
ADAPT
P.O. Box 9598
Denver, Colorado 80209
303/333-6698
512/442-0252
Bell To has clearability
D.P.C
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 28, 1998
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ANNIVERSARY EVENT
DATE:
July 29, 1998
LOCATION:
Roosevelt Room
TIME:
1:15-1:30 pm
FROM:
Minyon Moore, Bruce Reed, and Gene Sperling
I.
PURPOSE
To sign an Executive Memorandum directing federal agencies to increase public outreach
and education about important requirements within the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the Medicaid buy-in option within the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This event is
also an opportunity to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the historic Americans with
Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and to further your
commitment to the Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities that you
created this spring.
II.
BACKGROUND
While the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it possible for millions of Americans to
participate more fully in society, the unemployment rate among the 30 million working-
age adults with disabilities continues to be significantly higher than that of the general
population. For this reason, you signed an executive order in March establishing the
Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities. With Secretary Herman serving
as Chair and Tony Coelho serving as Vice-Chair, the Task Force is charged with
recommending policies to help increase the employment rate of adults with disabilities.
Although the Task Force will not issue its first formal report until November, it already
has identified actions that the Administration can take to begin reducing barriers to work.
You will issue an Executive Memorandum tomorrow to direct these actions.
The Executive Memorandum will direct relevant agencies to take appropriate actions to
expand public education and outreach about regulations within the ADA and the
Medicaid buy-in option within the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Specifically, you will:
Direct the Attorney General, the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to
expand public education about the requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 to employers, employees, and others whose rights may be
affected -- including, in particular, small businesses and under-served populations.
Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to inform governors, state
legislators, state Medicaid directors, consumer organizations, and others about the
new Medicaid buy-in option enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
This new option provides Medicaid coverage for individuals with disabilities who,
because of their earnings, would not qualify for Medicaid under current law.
You also will announce your strong commitment to working with Senators Kennedy and
Jeffords to pass affordable and feasible legislation that helps people with disabilities
maintain their health care coverage and return to work. This legislation would allow
people with disabilities who return to work to keep their Medicare coverage, eliminating
a provision in current law that often requires people with disabilities to choose between
work and health insurance. The legislation also would increase the number of people
with disabilities able to buy into Medicaid by eliminating the requirement that they have
income below 250 percent of poverty and giving states additional resources and bonuses
to offer this return-to- work option. Although a prior version of the Kennedy-Jeffords bill
was not affordable -- costing $5 billion over 5 years -- we have worked hard with the
Senators' staff to bring the pricetag down to about $1 billion.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
PRE-BRIEF PARTICIPANTS
Bruce Reed
Minyon Moore
Chris Jennings
Diana Fortuna
EVENT PARTICIPANTS
YOU
Secretary Alexis Herman
Tony Coelho
*The audience will consist of approximately 40 Members of the Presidential Task Force
on Employment of Adults with Disabilities and representatives from disability advocacy
organizations.
IV.
PRESS PLAN
Closed press.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
*
Prior to your arrival, Tony Coelho will deliver welcoming remarks and introduce
Secretary Herman.
*
Secretary Herman will deliver remarks.
*
YOU will enter the room and deliver brief remarks.
*
YOU will sign the executive memorandum.
*
YOU will work a ropeline and then depart.
VI.
REMARKS
Talking points to be provided by Speechwriting.
VII. ATTACHMENTS
*
List of attendees.
ADA ANNIVERSARY EVENT ATTENDEES
1.
Paul Marchand, Director of Governmental Affairs for the ARC and Chair of the
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilites
2.
James Brady, President of the National Brain Injury Association
Mary Dixon (attendant)
3.
Gina McDonald, President National Council on Independent Living
4.
John Kemp, CEO Very Special Arts
5.
Justin Dart, Jr.
Shinya Suganuma (Attendant)
6.
Paul Edwards, President of American Council for the Blind
7.
Daniel Fisher, President of National Empowerment Center
8.
Gordon Mansfiel, CEO Paralyzed Veterans Association
9.
Alan Reich, CEO National Organization on Disability
Mary Dolan (attendant)
10.
Linda Anthony, President Pennsylvania Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities
11.
Jeanette Harvey, CEO United Cerebral Palsy Association
12.
I. King Jordan, President Gallaudet University
13.
Wade Henderson, Executive Director Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
14.
Joseph Romer, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, National Easter Seals Society
DISEXEC3, WPD
Page 1
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
SUBJECT:
OUTREACH ACTIONS TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OF
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
As we commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
("ADA"), we have much to celebrate. This landmark civil rights law is making it
possible for millions of Americans to participate more fully in society, including
employment, access to public facilities, and participation in community and leisure
activities, and to do their part to make us a stronger and better country. At the
same time, we are reminded that significant challenges remain. Far too many of
the 30 million working-age adults with disabilities are still unemployed, especially
those with significant disabilities.
To address barriers to work for people with disabilities, I issued Executive Order
13078 on March 13, 1998 establishing the Presidential Task Force on Employment
of Adults with Disabilities. The Task Force will issue in November the first in a
series of reports on what the Federal Government can do to help bring the
employment rate of adults with disabilities to a rate as close as possible to that of
the general population. The Task Force, however, already has identified important
ways to reduce barriers to work for people with disabilities, and I hereby direct you
to act on these findings.
First, although awareness of the ADA is increasing among persons with disabilities,
employers, and the general public, too many people still are not aware of their
rights and responsibilities under the ADA. There is a particular need to educate the
small business community, which employs most of the private work force and
includes the vast majority of employers.
I therefore direct the Attorney General, the Chair of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, and the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration to expand public education regarding the requirements of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to employers, employees, and others
whose rights may be affected, with special attention to small businesses and
DISEXEC3 WPD
Page 2
under-served communities, such as racial and language minorities that may not
have ready access to information that is already available.
Second, lack of adequate private health insurance options is a disincentive to leave
Social Security programs for work. Few private health plans cover the personal
assistance and other types of services that make it possible for many people with
disabilities to work. Recognizing this problem, I proposed and the Congress passed
a new Medicaid option last year that allows people with disabilities to buy into
Medicaid without having to receive cash assistance. A number of states have
expressed a strong interest in offering this new option and I have instructed the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with them to do so. Much more,
however, needs to be done to increase the public outreach and education activities
about these important laws and options.
I therefore direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("HHS") to continue
to take all necessary actions to inform Governors, state legislators, state Medicaid
directors, consumer organizations, employers, providers and other interested parties
about Section 4733 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Section 4733 allows
states to provide Medicaid coverage for working individuals with disabilities who,
because of their earnings, would not qualify for Medicaid under current law.
Additional guidance, letters, technical assistance, and other efforts by HHS about
the enormous benefits of this option can go a long way in encouraging states to
adopt and use this Medicaid buy-in.
This memorandum is for the internal management of the executive branch and does not create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United
States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
PRESS.FDI
Page 1
Today, in commemoration of the eighth anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), the President is signing an Executive Memorandum aimed at
increasing employment and health care options for people with disabilities. He is
also announcing the release of a letter to Medicaid Directors clarifying that the ADA
obligates states to offer appropriate community based services. Finally, to build on
these actions, the President is also announcing his commitment to work with
Senator Jeffords and Senator Kennedy to pass affordable, feasible legislation to
help people with disabilities maintain their health care coverage and return to work.
Today, the President met with his Task Force on Employment of People with
Disabilities and advocates of people with disabilities. In this meeting, the President
is:
Signing A New Presidential Memorandum to Increase Employment and Health Care
Options for People with Disabilities. While the ADA has been critically important to
people with disabilities, significant challenges remain. Since 1993, 15 million new
jobs have been created. But the unemployment rate among the 30 million
working-age adults with disabilities continues to be much higher than that of the
general population -- close to 75 percent for people with significant disabilities. The
President signed an Executive Memorandum that will direct the relevant agencies
to:
Expand Public Education About the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Although more and more Americans are becoming aware of the ADA, too
many employers and employees do not know their rights and responsibilities
under the ADA. Today, the President is directing the Attorney General, the
Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration to expand public
education about the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 to employers, employees, and others whose rights may be affected,
with special attention to small businesses and under-served populations.
Increase Information About New Medicaid Buy-in Option. Many people with
disabilities are not able to leave Social Security programs to return to work
because they will lose their health care coverage. As part of last year's
Balanced Budget Act, the President signed into law a new state option to
allow individuals with disabilities who return to work, the ability to purchase
critically necessary Medicaid coverage as their earnings increase. Today, the
President is directing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services to ensure that Governors, state legislators, and state Medicaid
directors work with consumer organizations to take advantage of this
important option.
Issuing Letter Clarifying That ADA Obligates States to Offer Appropriate
Community Based Services. Recent court cases, including Helen L. vs. DiDario,
PRESS FDI
Page 2
have ruled that the ADA requires states to provide Medicaid services in the "most
integrated setting appropriate" to people with disabilities. Today, the Health Care
Financing Administration (HCFA) is sending a letter to all State Medicaid Directors
clarifying that under these standards, if an individual living in a facility could live in
a community with the right mix of support services, reasonable steps should be
taken provided it does not fundamentally alter the state program.
Announcing Support For Policies to Improve Health Options for Working Adults
With Disabilities. The President also announced his strong commitment to work
with Senators Jeffords, Kennedy, and other Members of Congress to pass
affordable, feasible legislation that helps people with disabilities maintain their
health care coverage and return to work. The Jeffords-Kennedy proposal would
increase Medicaid options and state resources for people with disabilities. It would
also allow Americans receiving Social Security Disability Insurance to retain their
Medicare when they return to work, eliminating a provision in current law that often
requires people with disabilities to choose between work and health insurance. The
President directs the Administration to utilize all of its policy and budgetary
expertise at HHS, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House to
work towards the passage of legislation before the Congress adjourns this year.