504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Congress Joseph Crowley's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Congressman Joseph Crowley

Candidate for Congressional District: 7

Contact Person: Vijay Chaudhuri

Campaign Address: 84-56 Grand Avenue, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Phone: 718-639-7010

Fax: 718-565-9228

Email: Vijay@CrowleyforCongress.com

Website: www.crowleyforcongress.com

Past Endorsements:

Queens County Democratic Party
Bronx County Democratic Party
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator Charles Schumer
Members-New York Congressional Delegation
Members-New York Assembly & Senate
Members-New York City Council
SEIU 1099
AFL-CIO
United Food & Commercial Workers Union
AFSCME
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Laborers International Union of North America
International Association of Machinists
International Brotherhood of Carpenters
Plumbers Local 1
UNITE!
TWU
Airline Pilots
National Association of Air Traffic Controllers
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
International Association of Firefighters
National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters

How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

I have always incorporated people with disabilities into my campaigns, and will continue to do so.
If there is a Campaign office(s) is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes, our campaign office is wheelchair accessible.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

I have family members with learning disabilities, and have always been supportive of their studies and advancement.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?

I am willing to hire and to provide accommodations for members of my staff who have disabilities.
While in public office and/or prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?
- I am proud of my record of advancing disability rights. At the local level, I proposed a "Bill of Rights" for users of Access-a-Ride, the city's transportation service for the disabled, to ensure a more reliable and accountable system, and worked to make the Jackson Heights Post Office more accessible to the disabled.
- At the federal level, I voted for the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008, which overturned harmful Supreme Court decisions that would erode the protections for people with disabilities under the ADA. This measure, which was enacted into law, made it absolutely clear that the ADA is intended to provide broad coverage to protect anyone who faces discrimination on the basis of disability.
- I have also been working with national disability and veterans' organizations to change Federal law regarding the 5-month mandated waiting period for Social Security Disability payments, and I have questioned the Social Security Administration from my seat on the Ways and Means Committee about the need to eliminate the backlogs in handling disability casework.
- Finally, I am a strong supporter of the Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Section 811) program, and I have requested that the Appropriations Committee increase funding for this program.
Will you commit to only attend and/or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers?

I will make every possible effort to ensure that events that I host and that are organized by my office are accessible to people with disabilities.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

I have always worked to strengthen civil rights protections to all people, including persons with disabilities. I strongly supported the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which gives state and local law enforcement the tools and resources they need to prevent and prosecute hate crimes and closes the gaps in current federal hate crimes law to ensure prosecution of hate crimes based on disability.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

I pride myself on working with all interested parties on federal legislation, and my door is always open to those who wish to discuss issues with me. As any legislation dealing with disability issues comes before me in Congress, I will be happy to receive input from the community.
If you are an incumbent,
1. Is your office accessible to persons with disabilities?
  
  The U.S. House of Representatives is fully accessible to people with disabilities, and both the U.S. Capitol Building and the Rayburn House Office Building, where my office is located, have accessible entrances. TTY switchboard services and public TTY phones are available, as well as assistive listening devices, wheelchairs, and sign language interpreters. My goal is to make sure that every constituent can visit my office and partake in the democratic process.
The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Fairness Restoration Act would permit parents and guardians who successfully bring an action or proceeding which enforces IDEA to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses. Will you sponsor this legislation?

I will support this legislation when it comes before me for a vote.
The proposed Community Choice Act would allow persons with disabilities and older Americans equal access to community-based attendant supports rather than nursing home placement. Will you sponsor this legislation?

I am a supporter of this measure and will vote for it should it come up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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