At Harkin International Disability Employment Summit, Senator Hassan Highlights Importance of Employment Opportunities for Individuals who Experience Disabilities

Sen. Hassan (left) speaks at the Harkin Summit alongside former Sen. Tom Harkin (right).

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today addressed the Harkin International Disability Employment Summit, where she highlighted the importance of employment opportunities for individuals who experience disabilities.

“Fully including all people – regardless of their personal circumstances – is critical to the strength of our people and our society, and I am proud to represent a state that has a long history and tradition of inclusiveness.” Senator Hassan said. “During my time as Governor, I worked with members of both parties, advocates, and members of our state’s business community to end a practice in our state where employers could pay employees who experience disabilities a subminimum wage. I am proud to stand with advocates from around the world fighting to include people who experience disabilities, and I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the support they need.”

Led by retired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, the Harkin Summit on Global Disability Employment brought together 260 government, business, civil society, and disability leaders from 40 countries to discuss best practices and ideas around disability employment.

Senator Hassan has long fought to ensure that individuals who experience disabilities receive the support they need to be fully included in our society, including at home, in school, and at work. Senator Hassan helped introduce the bipartisan RISE Act in an effort to ease the burden of transitioning to college life for students who experience disabilities, and fought to include several key provisions in the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation to improve aircraft accessibility for people with disabilities.

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