From: jfa@jfanow.org (Justice For All Moderator)

"John Kerry on ADAPT March"

Statement of Senator John F. Kerry
ADAPT
Free Our People March
U.S. Capitol
September 17, 2003

Greetings and welcome to Washington, DC. Many of you
have just completed an extraordinary journey to be here
today and I am disappointed that I could not be here to
personally add my voice of support for this cause. I
absolutely join you in spirit, my friends, because I could
not believe more deeply in the battle that we are currently
fighting together - the battle to truly free all of our
people.

Freedom. Choices. Independence. These are values
cherished by all Americans, yet, sadly, not experienced by
all Americans.

We truly are standing in an amazing moment in
time. With the ADA under one arm and Olmstead under the
other, we are equipped with the tools we need to prevail in
one of the last stands of the civil rights movement: to
ensure the American promises of freedom, choices, and
independence in the lives of people with disabilities.

The only piece missing is the political will to make it
happen. Well, I say, "No more excuses."

We must end the institutional bias that exists in our
current health care system. Of course we need quality
nursing homes, hospices, and assisted living facilities in
our country. But we need other options, too. We must
offer choices.

Senior citizens and people with disabilities do not have
real choices if there are no options. To truly make our
system work, to offer REAL choices, we must ensure access
to quality home and community care services.

That's why I am a proud original cosponsor with my
friend, Senator Tom Harkin, of the MiCASSA legislation
which gives states the financial assistance they need to
reform their long term service and support systems -
allowing states to provide REAL CHOICE and helping them to
be in compliance with Olmstead.

As you know, among other provisions, this bill would
provide people with disabilities community-based attendant
services and supports ranging from assistance with health-
related functions to those activities of daily
living such as eating, grooming, dressing, and bathing,
meal planning and preparation, managing finances, household
chores, and shopping.

This bill is not just a good notion - it should be the
law of the land. I scoff at those who would laugh at us
and say, "wishful thinking." We are bold, we are
determined, and we will not take "No" for an answer on
this because failure is not an option. It's un-
American. We must provide freedom, choices, and
independence for all and I will not rest until we do.

I am also alarmed at efforts underway by some of my
Republican colleagues to enact an "ADA notification Act,"
which would throw yet another ninety day waiting period on
top of the pile before a non-compliance enforcement action
could commence. Ninety days on top of ninety days on top
of 120 days. Pretty soon, the law just becomes
meaningless, doesn't it?

Justice delayed is justice denied. And none of this
will stand in a Kerry Administration. And you know as
President I would never appoint the likes of a Pryor or
Sutton to the bench. We must make progress in the 21st
century, not undermine individual rights.

You and your families can be certain that I will be a
President for all Americans and that I will take your fight
with me all the way to the White House. But I cannot do
it alone. I need your help. I ask for your support in
this campaign. And I would be honored to have your vote.

Please stay in touch with my campaign website,
www.johnkerry.com, where I will soon be formally announcing
my entire platform on issues of importance to Americans
with disabilities.

Once again, I apologize that I could not make it in
person for this historic ADAPT rally. I have been in touch
with the event's organizers, though, and have promised to
make myself available for a group meeting of ADAPT's top
leadership in the very near future. Until then, don't let
up the pressure. Keep your faith. Continue to press
on. Together we will win this.

# # #


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JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of the
American Association of People with Disabilities
www.aapd-dc.org www.jfanow.org

There's strength in numbers! Be a part of a national
coalition of people with disabilities and join AAPD today.
www.aapd-dc.org