Harkin Champions International Disability Rights
September, 2004

Funding approved in Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee

WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that several disability-related provisions have been approved by the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill must still pass the full committee and the Senate to become law.

“As the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I believe America should be at the forefront of promoting disability rights in our foreign policy and assistance efforts. This subcommittee bill takes a giant step in the right direction,” said Harkin. “We must ensure that people with disabilities are included in all foreign programs funded by the United States. And when we are examining a country’s record, we must take into consideration the rights of individuals with mental and physical disabilities.”

Harkin initiatives provided in the bill and report include:

The creation of the $5 Million Fund for Inclusion, Leadership and Human Rights of People with Disabilities administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the Department of State. The fund would provide grants to non-profit organizations to promote disability rights in developing countries. The fund would also create a fellowship program for individuals from the U.S. to travel abroad to work on inclusion of individuals with disabilities. The Committee also included a Disability Advisor at both the Department of State and USAID and an international conference in disability rights within this fund.

A requirement that USAID grantees will specify how the program will address the needs of people with disabilities.

Continued funding for the Office of Women in Development’s efforts to ensure that non-governmental organizations include women with disabilities in their programs and activities.

Directive to the Millennium Challenge Corporation to support data collection on disability issues to better measure a country’s record on disability rights.

Harkin is a longstanding advocate for individuals with disabilities in the U.S. and works tirelessly to expand attention to disability rights in foreign policy and development assistance.

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