Disabilities

May 1, 2008 -- This week, even as McCain was traveling the country outlining a flawed health care agenda that does little to increase access to quality, affordable health care for Americas working families, John McCain showed how out of touch he is with Americans with disabilities.

Instead of meeting with disability rights activists to explain why he refuses to co-sponsor the Community Choice Act of 2007, Senator McCain's staff allowed more than 20 activists to be arrested in front of his Senate office. [Associated Press, 4/29/08]    » read more »

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., March 31, 2008 – As disabled veterans test their mettle this week during the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, they’re finding motivation not just on the slopes, but also in each other.

Four hundred disabled veterans, 67 of them wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, said coming together for the six-day clinic is helping them push themselves even harder to achieve things they never thought possible.    » read more »

03/31/2008 - SNOWMASS, Colo. - Sixty-seven veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are among 400 disabled veterans who converged here yesterday to kick off the world’s largest disabled ski clinic.

Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield and Robert T. Reynolds, national commander of Disabled American Veterans, opened the 22nd National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic last night.

The annual six-day program, jointly sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, helps disabled veterans discover abilities many never knew they had or thought they’d lost.    » read more »

February 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation today to increase veterans' compensation through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). A bipartisan group of Veterans' Affairs Committee Members signed on as original cosponsors of this legislation, including Ranking Member Burr, and Senators Rockefeller, Murray, Obama, Sanders, Brown, Webb, Tester, Craig, and Isakson.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, DC: Last night one vote prevented the Senate from advancing an economic stimulus package that included important clean energy incentives--a key addition to the package passed by the House last week. Despite being in Washington, John McCain was the only Senator who missed the vote, thus insuring its defeat. This latest move against more clean energy comes at a time when McCain's speeches are full of pledges to increase America's use of clean energy to fight global warming.    » read more »

Creating separate system is an injustice to all disabled veterans

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2008--The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is urging the leadership of four key congressional committees to block attempts to create a separate disability system that would have the Department of Veterans Affairs compensate veterans with similar wounds differently based on their age.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Change to Win executive director Greg Tarpinian on the United States Senate’s failure to pass the economic stimulus package.

“Yesterday the obstructionist Republican minority blocked a much needed stimulus plan that would have brought help to millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet. With the economy spiraling downward and America’s working families hurting, now is not the time to short change them or the economic future.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, February 7 – The Senate late this afternoon voted 81 to 16 for an economic stimulus package that adds tax rebates for retirees and disabled veterans to a House-passed version of the bill.

“I am glad the stimulus package was substantially improved by adding help for 20 million seniors on Social Security and 250,000 veterans living on disability benefits. Including seniors and veterans will help people truly in need, and it will help the economy overall. It’s the right thing to do,” Senator Bernie Sanders said.    » read more »

Kerry Pushed for Rebate to Seniors, Women and Veterans

02/07/2008 -- WASHINGTON — Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) welcomed the Senate passage of the Senate Finance Committee’s Economic Stimulus Package today. The bill is a strong response to America’s recent economic downturn, and will strengthen America’s economy by keeping more Americans in their homes, delivering relief to 20 million seniors and lending support to 250,000 disabled veterans.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC-Following Senate passage of the economic stimulus package, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:

“The plan passed today includes key improvements over the House-passed bill. Pennsylvania’s senior citizens and disabled veterans will benefit from the compromise worked out today.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement on the passage of the Senate economic stimulus package.

“Today’s vote is a victory for working families, and a vital first step to get our economy back on track.    » read more »

New Documents Suggest Army Advised VA to Stop Counseling Soldiers on Disability Ratings

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Following the revelation today of documents indicating that a team dispatched from the Army Surgeon General’s office in Washington appeared to advise the VA to stop counseling soldiers on disability claims, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today again called on the Pentagon to conduct an investigation into the possible obstruction of VA assistance for wounded soldiers at Fort Drum, home of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division near Watertown, New York.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate's passage of the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008, H.R. 5140, which passed by a vote of 81 to 16. Yesterday, Senator Obama voted in favor of the economic stimulus package, which was initially blocked by Senate Republicans.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, DC — Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today announcing a bipartisan agreement on the economic stimulus plan:

“Two weeks ago most Senate Republicans were quick to endorse the House stimulus bill without any revisions, even though they knew it was inadequate. I said back then that the Senate had two obligations: to improve the bill and to deliver a timely, temporary and targeted bill by Presidents’ Day Weekend. Senate Democrats have kept those promises.    » read more »

Disappointed Republicans Refused to Extend Unemployment Assistance and Help Low-Income Americans with High Heating Costs

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today stated that she was pleased that Senate Republicans agreed to add senior citizens and disabled veterans to the economic stimulus package, meaning that in addition to millions of Americans they will receive rebate checks.

However, she expressed deep disappointment that the rest of the Democratic measures were not included in the bill.    » read more »