Senator Barack Obama Statement on the Community Choice Act:

January 15, 2008 -- Washington, DC -- Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) released the following statement in advance of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Health Subcommittee hearing on “Medicaid's Critical Role for Americans with Disabilities.” The hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

“There remain severe shortcomings in our country’s efforts to break down the barriers that exclude people with disabilities and deprive them of true equality of opportunity and independence.

The United States must lead the world in empowering people with disabilities to take full advantage of their talents and become independent, integrated members of society. We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone can live independently as full citizens in their communities.

For that reason, I support the passage of the Community Choice Act of 2007, which would allow Medicaid-eligible Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in their community, rather than having to live in a nursing home or other institution. This legislation is vitally important to the independence, community integration, and equality of hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities.”

The Community Choice Act of 2007 was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL). Senator Obama is a cosponsor of the legislation.

Source: Senator Barack Obama