June 4, 1999
Web posted at: 4:40 p.m. EDT (2040 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 4) -- Saying "mental illness is not a character flaw it is a disability," President Bill Clinton issued Friday an executive order removing the federal government's strict hiring and promotion standards for the mentally disabled.

Clinton directed "all federal agencies to provide applicants with mental illness the same opportunities as other applicants with disabilities."

President Clinton issued an executive order removing the federal government's strict hiring and promotion standards for the mentally disabled

The change in the civil service rules, according to administration officials, will ensure that people with psychiatric disabilities such as schizophrenia and paranoia are covered by the same standards that apply to people with physical and developmental disabilities.

"To stay competitive in the global economy ... we simply cannot afford to ignore the potential of millions of potential workers simply because they have a disability," Clinton said.

The White House estimates that more than 75 percent of disabled people are unemployed and hopes the new order will level the playing field, eliminate institutional barriers, and encourage the private sector to follow Clinton's lead

Andrew Sperling of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill says his group is hoping that this will not just be a top down process but build the seeds at the community level for a greater understanding of mental illness and the potential of people with mental illness.

"The last big chunk of people in this country who could keep the economy going for all of us with low inflation are the Americans with disabilities who want to work, who can work and who are not in the work force," the president said. "Every American citizen should have a selfish interest in the pursuit of this goal in the most aggressive possible way."

Clinton also urged Congress to pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act by July 26, the ninth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The measure, sponsored by Sens. Jim Jeffords (R-Vermont) and Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), would allow people with disabilities to keep their government funded health coverage after taking a private job.

"Under current law, many people with disabilities simply can't work and keep Medicare or Medicaid," Clinton said. "For many Americans, medical bills literally cost thousands of dollars beyond what is typically covered by an employer's private insurance ... their medical bills would be greater than their entire salary.

"Today, as a country it is time to say that no American should have to choose between going to work and paying the medical bills," Clinton added.

Clinton made his plea to Congress and announced his executive order Friday afternoon at an East Room awards ceremony honoring three citizens who have worked to help employee people with disabilities.

The president's actions are also intended as a prelude to Tipper Gore's White House Conference on Mental Illness next Monday.

CNN's Eileen O'Connor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Friday, June 4, 1999

• Clinton issues new employment standards for mentally disabled
• Political Play of the Week: Forbes' new ads
• Hillary Clinton confirms plans for exploratory committee
• Helms schedules hearing for Holbrooke, blames White House for delay
• Clinton appoints first openly gay ambassador
• Republicans react to Belgrade's acceptance of peace plan
• Closing out longest-running independent counsel inquiry
• Analysis: Clinton's fortunes suddenly rising with apparent Kosovo outcome
• Congressional investigators begin wading through Olympic records
• Clinton says gun controls could take years
• Social Security becoming key issue in presidential campaign
• Rivlin's departure leaves Clinton with two openings at Fed

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