SENATOR BOB DOLE
REMARKS TO CONFERENCE ON U.S. ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL ISSUES OF DISABILITY
NOVEMBER 16, 1993
SD-628

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND
INTRODUCTION.

-- TWO RECENT EXAMPLES OF PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS OF DISABILITY POLICY: NATIONAL SERVICE AND CRIME

LET ME BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING THE WORLD INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL FOR SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT MEETING. IN MANY AREAS OF PUBLIC POLICY, THERE IS A "DISABILITY AWARENESS" TODAY WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR US IN CONGRESS TO DO NEW THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NATIONAL SERVICE BILL, I GOT READY AGREEMENT FOR AN AMENDMENT TO CREATE AN OUTREACH PROGRAM TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. FOR TOO LONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE BEEN JUST THE OBJECTS OF SERVICE. NO DOUBT WELL MEANT, BUT I FELT IT WAS PAST TIME THEY HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL SERVICE AND BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF CITIZEN DUTIES AS OTHER AMERICANS.

AND LAST WEEK, SEVERAL PROVISIONS WERE ADDED TO THE CRIME BILL THAT CONCERN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES -- IN FACT, THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME THE DISABLED HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN A CRIME BILL.

I SPONSORED A PROVISION IN THE CRIME BILL TO COLLECT STATISTICS ON HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE DISABLED. ANOTHER PROVISION STIFFENS SENTENCES FOR SUCH CRIMES. AND I JOINED WITH SENATORS COHEN AND HATCH TO ALLOW CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PERSONS PROVIDING HOME CARE AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES.

ALTHOUGH GENERALLY UNRECOGNIZED, ACCORDING TO THE 1986 HARRIS SURVEY OF DISABLED AMERICANS, FEAR -- FEAR OF BEING HURT, FEAR OF BEING A CRIME VICTIM -- IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DO NOT ENGAGE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES -- WHETHER GOING TO THE MOVIES OR VISITING WITH FRIENDS.

NEED FOR GREATER DISABILITY AWARENESS IN FOREIGN POLICY BUT DESPITE THESE GAINS IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF DISABILITY IN OTHER AREAS OF PUBLIC POLICY, IN FOREIGN POLICY TOO MANY PEOPLE STILL THINK PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE IRRELEVANT OR EXPENDABLE, OR BELIEVE ANY ATTEMPT -- ESPECIALLY IN POOR COUNTRIES -- TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY IS AN UNAFFORDABLE LUXURY. IN MY VIEW, THAT'S JUST PLAIN WRONG.

-- THE HUMAN RIGHTS BILL TO HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION, IN JULY I INTRODUCED "THE DISABILITY RIGHTS IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY ACT OF 1993." ITS PURPOSE IS SIMPLE -- IT REQUIRES THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

BUT THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE IS VERY POWERFUL -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IT IS AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY TO REGARD THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION AS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION.

WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN ENACTING THIS LAW BY ADDING ITS PROVISIONS AS AN AMENDMENT TO OTHER LEGISLATION. IN THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO THIS YEAR'S FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONFEREES REQUESTED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DO WHAT MY BILL ASKS. AND WE HOPE TO MAKE THIS REQUIREMENT MANDATORY IN ANOTHER BILL NEXT YEAR.

-- NEED FOR THEIR HELP IN MAKING HUMAN RIGHTS BILL WORK BUT I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THE PROMISE OF THIS LAW A REALITY. WHAT WE DO BEST IN CONGRESS IS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS BILL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE NEED YOUR GOOD IDEAS ON WHAT KINDS OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE COLLECTED AND THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT. MY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FOR DISABILITY POLICY, DR. ALEXANDER VACHON, IS HERE TODAY, AND I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH HIM.

THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.