SENATORS GILLIBRAND AND HARKIN TO HOST A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON DISABILITY RIGHTS IN IOWA
Sunday, August 11, 2019
This Sunday, August 11th, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (retired) will host a community conversation on disability rights with Iowans with disabilities, advocates, community members and moderator State Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque. Community panelists include Bill and Kyle Stumpf of Dubuque, Shelley Jaspering of Ames, and Carrie Chapman of Altoona.
The community conversation will be held at the Holiday Inn and Suites West Des Moines-Jordan Creek in West Des Moines at 10:30 a.m.
“I am honored to host this community conversation with members of the disability community and Senator Tom Harkin, a champion of disability rights and a beloved leader in Iowa,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Americans with disabilities deserve a president who will listen, learn and work to improve their quality of life, and they also deserve a seat at the decision-making table. I look forward to a robust conversation with Senator Harkin and members of the Iowa community to elevate disability rights and find solutions.”
“Too often, the needs and priorities of persons with disabilities and their families are overshadowed by the politics of convenience,” said Senator Tom Harkin (retired). I look forward to this opportunity to shine light on their priorities for the future as we approach 2020.”
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (retired) has been a leader on disability rights. As a young senator, Senator Harkin was tapped by Senator Ted Kennedy to craft legislation to protect the civil rights of the millions of Americans with physical and mental disabilities. Senator Harkin knew firsthand about the challenges facing people with disabilities from his brother, Frank, who had been deaf since an early age. What emerged from that process would later become one of the senator’s most important legislative achievements: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Senator Gillibrand has been an advocate for equality for the disability community throughout her career, supporting legislation calling for equal pay for people with disabilities, requirements for insurance coverage of in-home and community based services for the disability community and creating a paid family and medical leave program. In her campaign for president, Senator Gillibrand has pledged to fully fund special education programs, direct the Department of Justice to ensure people with disabilities receive all of the protections they are entitled to and has pledged to appoint a person with a disability to a cabinet position. Bill and Kyle Stumpf recently joined Senator Gillibrand as her guests at the Democratic debate in Detroit.
See below for event details. Please note: This event is not affiliated with The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University and should not be considered an endorsement of a candidate, implied or otherwise.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
A Community Conversation with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Tom Harkin on Disability Rights
Event: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Tom Harkin will host a community conversation on disability rights with Iowa community members, advocates, and moderator State Senator Pam Jochum. Community panelists include Bill and Kyle Stumpf of Dubuque, Shelley Jaspering of Ames, and Carrie Chapman of Altoona.
Location: Ballroom at the Holiday Inn and Suites West Des Moines-Jordan Creek, 6075 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Time: 10:30 a.m. CT / Doors open to the public at 10:00 am.
This event is ADA accessible. Public RSVP. https://www.mobilize.us/iowaforgillibrand/event/109434/
