SENATOR BOB DOLE 
TALKING POINTS 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SPECIALTY NURSES 
Wednesday, March 13 

*GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH THIS DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF NURSING PROFESSIONALS. 

*I WANT TO KNOW THAT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT NURSING AND POLITICS ARE A GOOD MIX, AS SHEILA BURKE, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, IS ALSO A REGISTERED NURSE. 

*I TRUST ALL OF YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR ONE WEEK INTERNSHIP ON CAPITOL HILL. YOU COULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN A MORE EXCITING TIME TO BE IN WASHINGTON. 

*ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AMERICANS ARE CELEBRATING OUR TREMENDOUS VICTORY IN THE PERSIAN GULF. WE WILL LONG REMEMBER THE BRAVERY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN OPERATION DESERT STORM. 

*I BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNTRY CAN ONLY BE AS STRONG ABROAD AS WE ARE AT HOME. AND OUR DUTY TO THOSE WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM IS TO BUILD A COUNTRY DEDICATED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL HER CITIZENS. 

*AND WE TOOK A GREAT STEP TOWARD THAT GOAL LAST YEAR, WHEN WE PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. 

*I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INSPIRED BY THE STATE MOTTO OF KANSAS-­"TO THE STARS THROUGH DIFFICULTIES." 

*WELL, WHEN CONGRESS PASSED ADA, OUR NATION DEVOTED ITSELF TO ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH FOR THE STARS, TO DEVELOP TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL, AND TO ENTER THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY. 

*ADA NOT ONLY OUTLAWS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO ENSURES THAT WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE LIVES OF DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE. 

*THE ADA IS AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING--GIVING US BOTH A FRAMEWORK AND A MANDATE FROM WHICH TO PROCEED. *AS SPECIALTY NURSES, YOU CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT DISABILITY ISSUES. 

I HOPE THAT CONGRESS WILL BE ABLE TO RELY ON YOU, AND OTHER NURSES, TO HELP ANSWER MANY OF THE UNFOUNDED FEARS ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH ADA. 

*YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR DREAM OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECOMES A REALITY. 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SPECIALTY NURSING ORGANIZATION 
Good Afternnon. It's a pleasure to meet with this distinguished group of specialty nursing professionals. 

I hope that all of you are enjoying your one week internship on Capitol Hill. You could not have chosen a more exciting or challenging time to observe the legislative process. 

Across the country, Americans are celebrating our tremendous victory in the Persian Gulf. We will long remember the bravery of the men and women of Operation Desert Storm.
 
I believe that our country can only be as strong abroad as we are at home. And our duty to those who risked their lives for freedom is to build a country dedicated to equal opportunity for all her citizens. 

And we took a great step towards that goal last year, when we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

I have always been inspired by the state motto of Kansas -­"To the stars through difficulties." Well, when Congress passed ADA, our nation devoted itself to ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to reach for the stars, to develop to their fullest potential, and to enter the mainstream of society.
 
ADA not only outlaws discrimination against people with disabilities, but also ensures that we all have the opportunity to live lives of dignity and independence. 

As specialty nurses, you can play a critical role in educating the general public about disability issues. I hope that Congress will be able to rely on you, and other nurses, to help answer many of the unfounded fears about compliance with ADA. 

The ADA is an important beginning, giving us both a framework and a mandate from which to proceed. 

You have the knowledge, skills, and ability to help make our dream of equal opportunity for people with disabilities a reality. 

The country needs your nursing expertise --now, more than ever. With your dedication, I'm confident that when we gather next year for your luncheon, we'll be able to say that countless more Americans with disabilities have reached the stars.