POLICY; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

SEC. 121. POLICY; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Findings; Purpose; Policy.— Section 100 (29 U.S.C. 720) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking “purpose” and inserting “policy”; and (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: “(a) (1) Congress finds that— “(A) work— “(i) is a valued activity, both for individuals and society, and “(ii) fulfills the need of an individual to be productive, promotes independence, enhances self-esteem, and allows for participation in the mainstream of life in America; 106 STAT. 4366 “(B) as a group, individuals with disabilities experience staggering levels of unemployment and poverty; “(C) individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, have demonstrated their ability to achieve gainful employment in integrated settings if appropriate services and supports are provided; “(D) reasons for the significant number of individuals with disabilities not working, or working at a level not commensurate with their abilities and capabilities, include— “(i) discrimination; “(ii) lack of accessible and available transportation; “(iii) fear of losing health coverage under the medicare and medicaid programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. and 1396 et seq.) or fear of losing existing private health insurance; and “(iv) lack of education, training, and supports to meet job qualification standards necessary to enter or retain or advance in employment; “(E) enforcement of title V and of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) holds the promise of ending discrimination for individuals with disabilities; and “(F) the provision of vocational rehabilitation services can enable individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, to pursue meaningful careers by securing gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities. “(2) The purpose of this title is to assist States in operating a comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable program of vocational rehabilitation that is designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities, so that such individuals may prepare for and engage in gainful employment. “(3) It is the policy of the United States that such a program shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the following principles: “(A) Individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, are generally presumed to be capable of engaging in gainful employment and the provision of individualized vocational rehabilitation services can improve their ability to become gainfully employed. “(B) Individuals with disabilities must be provided the opportunities to obtain gainful employment in integrated settings. “(C) Individuals with disabilities must be active participants in their own rehabilitation programs, including making meaningful and informed choices about the selection of their vocational goals and objectives and the vocational rehabilitation services they receive. “(D) Families and natural supports can play an important role in the success of a vocational rehabilitation program, if the individual with a disability requests, desires, or needs such supports. “(E) Qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors, other qualified rehabilitation personnel, and other qualified personnel 106 STAT. 4367facilitate the accomplishment of the employment goals and objectives of an individual. “(F) Individuals with disabilities and their advocates are full partners in the vocational rehabilitation program and must be involved on a regular basis and in a meaningful manner with respect to policy development and implementation. “(G) Accountability measures must facilitate and not impede the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the program, including providing vocational rehabilitation services to, among others, individuals with the most severe disabilities.”. (b) Reauthorization.—Section 100 (29 U.S.C. 720) is amended— (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: “(b) (1) For the purpose of making grants to States under part B (other than grants under section 112) to assist States in meeting the costs of vocational rehabilitation services provided in accordance with State plans under section 101, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1993 through 1997, except that the amount to be appropriated for a fiscal year shall not be less than the amount of the appropriation under this subsection for the immediately preceding fiscal year, plus the amount of the Consumer Price Index addition determined under subsection (c) for the immediately preceding fiscal year. “(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part C such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1993 through 1997”; (2) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(2), by striking “authorized to be appropriated under subsection (b)(1) for the subsequent fiscal year is the amount authorized to be” each place the term appears and inserting “to be appropriated under subsection (b) for the subsequent fiscal year shall be at least the amount”; and (3) in subsection (d)(1)(B)— (A) by striking “1992” the first place the term appears and inserting “1997”; and (B) by striking “or the amount authorized to be appropriated for such program for fiscal year 1992, whichever is higher,”. (c) Table of Contents.—The table of contents relating to the Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 100 and inserting the following: “Sec. 100. Declaration of policy; authorization of appropriations.”.