STATEMENT OF SENATOR BOB DOLE
FIRST MEETING OF ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES
DECEMBER 20, 1993
ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER
WICHITA, KS

* I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO BE PART OF KETCH'S LEADERSHIP EFFORT. AS I AM SURE FOLKS HERE KNOW WELL, BUSINESS IS WHERE THE JOBS ARE, BUT I BELIEVE TOO OFTEN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE NOT WORKED TOGETHER AS CLOSELY AS THEY MIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THIS COMMITTEE CAN STRENGTHEN THAT PARTNERSHIP, IT WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT.

* AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW, I AM A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF KETCH AND ITS EFFORTS -- BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1970S -- SO I WAS DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO PART OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

* I ALSO SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THIS REGARD, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED FOR A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TO REVAMP THE NATION'S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THERE IS SOME VERY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT DESPITE THE EXCELLENT WORK OF STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PERSONNEL THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD.

* I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

* THANK YOU.