For Immediate Release
Date: January 16, 2004

Manchester - General Wes Clark announced his agenda for people with disabilities at the Disability Policy Town Hall Meeting in Bedford, NH. The goal of the plan is to protect every American's opportunity to work, compete, and participate in public life.

"For all the progress that has been made, the sad fact is that today we are no longer moving forward, we are falling behind," said General Clark. "George W. Bush has tried to dismantle the Americans with Disabilities Act. He has appointed anti-ADA judges, tried to turn Medicaid into block grants for states, under-funded IDEA and tried to cut benefits for 1.5 million disabled veterans."

"These issues are not just disability issues, they're family issues and they're American issues. As long as one person in this country can't get a job, or live in their community, and access our public facilities, we all lose out," added General Clark.

The proposals are based on basic American values: independence, freedom, choice, and opportunity. As part of our core civil rights, General Clark will safeguard the rights and choices of people with disabilities by pursuing policies based on three principles:

• Protect rights and liberties
• Make health care work for disabled Americans
• Expand opportunity

"I will never let the federal government transform Medicaid into block grants to states. That is why my first major policy initiative - my Job Creation Plan - includes $40 billion for states and local governments to help pay for important Medicaid programs.

"I know that right here in New Hampshire, for example, one of these programs - the Katie Beckett Program - might be cut. That is absolutely unacceptable. Katie Beckett and programs like it are crucial - and as President, I'm going to protect them," said Clark. Nearly one in five Americans is living with a disability. General Clark will provide a higher standard of leadership for disabled Americans by strengthening the Americans with Disabilities Act, expanding health care for disabled Americans, and creating greater economic opportunities.