Now, with this legislation, we will finally link civil rights clearly with health care. It isn't civil and it isn't right to send a person to work without the health care they need and deserve. Millions of disabled men and women in this country want to work and are able to work. But they have been denied the opportunity to work because they lack access to needed health care. As a result, the nation has been denied their talents and their contributions to our communities.
Current laws are an anachronism.
Modern medicine and modern technology make it easier than ever before for disabled persons to have productive lives and careers. Current laws are often a greater obstacle to that goal than their disability itself. It's ridiculous that we punish disabled persons who dare to take a job by penalizing them financially, by taking away their health insurance lifeline, and by placing other unfair obstacles in their path. Currently, there are approximately 9 million working-age adults who receive disability benefits, many of whom could take jobs if they could keep their governmentally financed health benefits. A national survey earlier this year showed that, while 76 percent of people with disabilities wanted to work, nearly 75 percent are unemployed.