Governor Dean Endorses Coelho's Call For Action
for Disability Rights, Employment

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press Office, 802-651-3200

SEATTLE--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, MD, today became the first Presidential candidate to endorse former Congressman Tony Coelho's five-point agenda for dismantling barriers to work for people with disabilities. Mr. Coelho, who represented California from 1979 to 1989 and served as Minority Whip, shared his priorities in an address at the New York Law School on October 24th.

"Tony Coelho was a disability rights hero in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he championed the Americans with Disabilities Act. As one of the authors of the ADA, Tony channeled his experience into making America a better place that fulfills its promise to the one in five people with disabilities," Gov. Dean noted.

1. Mr. Coelho has called on the Presidential candidates to endorse the following five plank agenda:
2. appoint federal judges who will respect the Americans with Disabilities Act as originally passed by Congress;
3. reverse the damage done to the ADA by ideologically-driven court decisions;
4. boost employment for people with disabilities through changes in federal contracting, affirmative action, and small business policies;
5. increase federal employment of people with disabilities by 100,000 as required under the Executive Order promulgated by President Clinton;
6. and, reform Federal programs so that disabled people have incentives to seek work rather than stay at home.

"Tony has outlined the correct agenda for ensuring the rights and opportunities of a substantial number of Americans, and this will be a priority during a Dean administration," Dean said. "His points complement and reflect the commitment that I made on the ADA's 13th anniversary this past July 26, when I became the first candidate in this race to release a comprehensive disability rights platform."

Governor Dean's platform can be found at: Dean for America web site.

"In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. His son, however, has stood watch while the Supreme Court has whittled away at the laws protections. Worse yet, George W. Bush has appointed a number of judges who have worked to undermine the ADA. This President has given us every reason to believe the only hope we have for making America a better place for the 54 million men, women and children who have disabilities is to elect a Democrat who will take these concerns seriously," said Dean.

"We need a President who will address the real needs of Americans with disabilities. Sadly, this President has given us every reason to believe the only hope we have for making America a better place for the 54 million men, women and children who have disabilities is to elect a Democrat who will take these concerns seriously," Dean concluded.

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