In an environment where the U.S. government makes every effort to help all its citizens - and especially the most disadvantaged in our society - one large segment of our population seems to have been left behind. People with severe disabilities need many more jobs, and the U.S. government has an important role to play in helping to create those job opportunities. The ONE PERCENT COALITION is committed to the achievable goal of helping at least one percent (94,000) of individuals receiving SSI and SSDI - the most severely disabled Americans - find competitive employment.

To achieve this goal, we support a new legislative effort to create incentives for businesses to employ individuals with severe disabilities at a cost savings to American taxpayers. Congress has already tested similar incentive programs on a limited scale. Beginning in 1991, and again in 2004, the National Defense Authorization Act made some contracts and subcontracts eligible for credit toward small disadvantaged business contract goals with companies that employed significant numbers of people with severe disabilities as part of the Mentor/Protégé program and on a demonstration project basis.

Since 1990 and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the employment rate of people with any disability remains at 30%; for individuals with severe disabilities, the employment rate has actually worsened. Going beyond individual employment, most people are disturbed to learn that disabled-owned businesses do not qualify for small and disadvantaged business status on government contracts or subcontracts under current law. America is losing out on great talent.

Beyond our moral obligation to do everything we can to help our fellow citizens find meaningful employment as well as the empowerment and dignity that comes from economic self-sufficiency, incentives to employ severely disabled people will have significantly positive benefits for the federal budget. If just one percent (approximately 94,000) of the people now receiving federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments and related health benefits were, instead, to become gainfully and competitively employed, the projected ten-year cost savings to the federal treasury and American taxpayer would be more than $45 billion dollars.

The ONE PERCENT COALITION is committed to generating opportunities for workers with severe disabilities to participate in all contracts across the federal government. By providing a procurement advantage to companies that hire severely disabled individuals, Congress can help more severely disabled workers find jobs, and the dignity and purpose that go with them. It is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

For more information, contact John D. Kemp at (202) 466-6550 or Pat Jonas (316) 688-1888.