Press Advisory
For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:
4/5/04 Gwen Gillenwater, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
(703)-525-3406, Ext 25
(703) 727-9218

Important Senate Hearing and Press Conference on long term care for millions of young and older Americans with disabilities

215 Dirksen Senate Office Building

April 7, 2004

Hundreds of Americans with disabilities are traveling to Washington D.C.
from across the United States to demonstrate their strong support for
legislation that addresses a serious problem with long-term care for
millions of young and older Americans with disabilities.

A Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at 10:00a.m. in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building will address pending legislation (Money Follows the Person, S 1394 and Medicaid Community-based Attendant Services and Supports Act, S971 and H 2032) to break new ground in improving access to Home and Community Based Services under Medicaid.

Witnesses scheduled to testify include:
The Honorable Tom Harkin, United States Senator from Iowa;
Dennis Smith, Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations in
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services,
The Honorable Carol Novak, Member, National Council on Disability, Washington, DC;
Bruce Darling, Executive Director, Center for Disability Rights,
Rochester, NY;
Jan Moss, Mother of 2 adult children with developmental disabilities,
Oklahoma City, OK;
Ray Gerke, Member, Olmstead Real Choices Consumer Task Force, Woodward, IA;
And Di Findley, Executive Director, Iowa Caregivers Association, Des Moines, IA.

Immediately following this hearing, advocates will hold a press conference to provide personal stories and answer questions from the media.

Scheduled Speakers:

Michael Oxford, President of National Council on Independent Living and Executive Director of Topeka Independent Living Resource Center

A Kansas consumer recently transitioned from nursing home care to home and community based services

Bob Kafka, ADAPT

Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley [R, IA] INVITED

Finance Committee Ranking Member Max Baucus [D, MT] INVITED

Senator Arlen Specter [R, PA] INVITED

Senator Tom Harkin [D, IA] INVITED