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THE AGENDA
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• DISABILITIES ISSUES
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<h2 class="modttlred">
DISABILITIES
</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>
"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination.... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities."
</p>
<p>
<cite>
-- Barack Obama, April 11, 2008
</cite>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Barack Obama and Joe Biden have a comprehensive agenda to empower individuals with disabilities in order to equalize opportunities for all Americans.
</p>
<p>
In addition to reclaiming America's global leadership on this issue by becoming a signatory to -- and having the Senate ratify -- the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the plan has four parts, designed to provide lifelong support and resources to Americans with disabilities. They are as follows:
</p>
<p>
First, provide Americans with disabilities with the
<strong>
educational opportunities they need to succeed
</strong>
by funding
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Disability
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<h2>
Progress
</h2>
<p>
<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Joe-Biden-Announces-Kareem-Dale-As-Special-Assistant-to-the-President-for-Disability-Policy/">
Appointed Kareem Dale
</a>
as the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
</p>
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.recovery.gov/">
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
</a>
included a number of provisions of particular concern to people with disabilities.
</p>
<ul>
<li>
The Act included $500 million to help the Social Security Administration reduce its backlog in processing disability applications.
</li>
<li>
The Act supplied $12.2 billion in funding to Act, supporting early intervention for children with disabilities and universal screening, improving college opportunities for high school graduates with disabilities, and making college more affordable. Obama and Biden will also authorize a comprehensive study of students with disabilities and issues relating to transition to work and higher education.
</p>
<p>
Second,
<strong>
end discrimination and promote equal opportunity
</strong>
by restoring the Americans with Disabilities Act, increasing funding for enforcement, supporting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, ensuring affordable, accessible health care for all and improving mental health care.
</p>
<p>
Third,
<strong>
increase the employment rate
</strong>
of workers with disabilities by effectively implementing regulations that require the federal government and its contractors to employ people with disabilities, providing private-sector employers with resources to accommodate employees with disabilities, and encouraging those employers to use existing tax benefits to hire more workers with disabilities and supporting small businesses owned by people with disabilities.
</p>
<p>
And fourth,
<strong>
support independent, community-based living
</strong>
for Americans with disabilities by enforcing the Community Choice Act, which would allow Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in their community rather than having to live in a nursing home or other institution, creating a voluntary, budget-neutral national insurance program to help adults who have or develop functional disabilities to remain independent and in their communities, and streamline the Social Security approval process .
</p>
<h4>
Autism
</h4>
<p>
President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to supporting Americans with Autism Spectrum Disorders (“ASD”), their families, and their communities. There are a few key elements to their support, which are as follows:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
First, President Obama and Vice President Biden support increased funding for autism research, treatment, screenings, public awareness, and support services. There must be research of the treatments for, and the causes of, ASD.
</li>
<li>
Second, President Obama and Vice President Biden support improving life-long services for people with ASD for treatments, interventions and services for both children and adults with ASD.
</li>
<li>
Third, President Obama and Vice President Biden support funding the Combating Autism Act and working with Congress, parents and ASD experts to determine how to further improve federal and state programs for ASD.
</li>
<li>
Fourth, President Obama and Vice President Biden support universal screening of all infants and re-screening for all two-year-olds, the age at which some conditions, including ASD, begin to appear. These screenings will be safe and secure, and available for every American that wants them. Screening is essential so that disabilities can be identified early enough for those children and families to get the supports and services they need.
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Act (IDEA);
</li>
<li>
The Act also provided $87 billion to states to bolster their Medicaid programs during the downturn; and,
</li>
<li>
The Act provided over $500 million in funding for vocational rehabilitation services to help with job training, education and placement.
</li>
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<p>
The President
<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/09/A-debt-of-gratitude-to-so-many-tireless-advocates/">
issued an Executive Order
</a>
repealing the Bush-Era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.
</p>
<p>
The President
<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-from-the-Presidents-signing-statements-on-HR-146-the-Omnibus-Public-Lands-Management-Act/">
signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act
</a>
, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
<br />
 
</p>
<p>
The President will work to nurture a society that values the contributions of all of our citizens and residents, including the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities. While people with disabilities are integrated into society as never before, we must do more.
</p>
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<div class="main">
<h3>
Strengthen Access to and Improving the Quality of Health Care
</h3>
<p>
President Obama has placed comprehensive health reform at the top of his domestic policy agenda. This means providing all Americans with stable and reliable access to quality and affordable health care. He will work with Congress to build on what works—including strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, programs that are of particular importance to people with disabilities.
</p>
<h3>
Promote Access to Community Living Services
</h3>
<p>
Too many people who need assistance with activities of every day life are faced with a difficult choice. They can move into a nursing home and face safety and quality of care problems or risk injury or death by staying in the community without adequate services to take care of personal needs. The President believes that more can be done to encourage states to shift more of their services away from institutions and into the community, which is both cost effective and humane.
</p>
<h3>
Protect Civil Rights
</h3>
<p>
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark law that has done much to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. However, President Obama will push for more consistent and effective enforcement of ADA, which can do more to prevent discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications.
</p>
<h3>
Expand Educational Opportunities
</h3>
<p>
President Obama supports educational opportunities for people with disabilities and will expand funding for programs like the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) that ensure all Americans have access to the tools to succeed.
</p>
<h3>
Increase Access to Employment
</h3>
<p>
President Obama is committed to expanding access to employment by having the federal government lead by example in hiring people with disabilities; enforcing existing laws; providing technical assistance and information on accommodations for people with disabilities; removing barriers to work; and increasing employment opportunities for people receiving public benefits.
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<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/family/">
Family
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl09_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/fiscal/">
Fiscal
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl10_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/foreign_policy/">
Foreign Policy
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl11_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/health_care/">
Health Care
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl12_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/homeland_security/">
Homeland Security
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl13_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/immigration/">
Immigration
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl14_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/iraq/">
Iraq
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl15_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/poverty/">
Poverty
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl16_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/rural/">
Rural
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl17_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/seniors_and_social_security/">

<h4>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_hlNav" href="/Issues/">
ISSUES
</a>
</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/civil_rights/">
Civil Rights
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/defense/">
Defense
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/disabilities/">
Disabilities
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/economy/">
Economy
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/education/">
Education
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/energy_and_environment/">
Energy & Environment
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/ethics/">
Ethics
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/family/">
Family
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl09_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/fiscal/">
Fiscal Responsibility
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl10_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/foreign_policy/">
Foreign Policy
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl11_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/health_care/">
Health Care
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl12_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/homeland_security/">
Homeland Security
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl13_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/immigration/">
Immigration
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl14_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/poverty/">
Poverty
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl15_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/rural/">
Rural
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl16_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/seniors_and_social_security/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl18_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/service/">
Service
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl19_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/taxes/">
Taxes
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl20_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/technology/">
Technology
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl21_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/urban_policy/">
Urban Policy
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl22_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/veterans/">
Veterans
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl23_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/women/">
Women
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl24_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/additional/">

<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl17_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/service/">
Service
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl18_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/taxes/">
Taxes
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl19_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/technology/">
Technology
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl20_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/urban_policy/">
Urban Policy
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl21_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/veterans/">
Veterans
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl22_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/women/">
Women
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl01_rptNavigationItems_ctl23_hlSubNav" href="/agenda/additional/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_hlNav" href="/administration/">
THE ADMINISTRATION
</a>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/administration/president_obama/">
President Barack Obama
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/administration/vice_president_biden/">
Vice President Joe Biden
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/administration/michelle_obama/">
First Lady Michelle Obama
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/administration/jill_biden/">
Dr. Jill Biden
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/administration/cabinet/">
The Cabinet
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/administration/staff/">
White House Staff
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/administration/eop/">

<h4>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_hlNav" href="/administration/">
THE ADMINISTRATION
</a>
</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/administration/president_obama/">
President Barack Obama
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/administration/vice_president_biden/">
Vice President Joe Biden
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/administration/michelle_obama/">
First Lady Michelle Obama
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/administration/jill_biden/">
Dr. Jill Biden
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/administration/cabinet/">
The Cabinet
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/administration/staff/">
White House Staff
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl02_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/administration/eop/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_hlNav" href="/about/">
ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
</a>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/about/history/">
History
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/about/presidents/">
Presidents
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/about/first_ladies/">
First Ladies
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/about/vp_residence/">

<h4>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_hlNav" href="/about/">
ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
</a>
</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/about/history/">
History
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/about/presidents/">
Presidents
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/about/first_ladies/">
First Ladies
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/about/vp_residence/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/about/eeob/">

<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/about/eeob/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/about/oval_office/">
The Oval Office
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/about/camp_david/">
Camp David
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/about/air_force_one/">
Air Force One
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl09_hlSubNav" href="/about/fellows/">
White House Fellows
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl10_hlSubNav" href="/about/internships/">
White House Internships
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl11_hlSubNav" href="/about/white_house_101/">
White House 101
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl12_hlSubNav" href="/about/tours_and_events/">

<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/about/oval_office/">
The Oval Office
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/about/camp_david/">
Camp David
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/about/air_force_one/">
Air Force One
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl09_hlSubNav" href="/about/fellows/">
White House Fellows
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl10_hlSubNav" href="/about/Internships/">
White House Internships
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl11_hlSubNav" href="/about/white_house_101/">
White House 101
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl03_rptNavigationItems_ctl12_hlSubNav" href="/about/tours_and_events/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_hlNav" href="/our_government/">
OUR GOVERNMENT
</a>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/executive_branch/">
The Executive Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/legislative_branch/">
The Legislative Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/judicial_branch/">
The Judicial Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/the_constitution/">
The Constitution
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/federal_agencies_and_commissions/">

<h4>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_hlNav" href="/our_government/">
OUR GOVERNMENT
</a>
</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl01_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/executive_branch/">
The Executive Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl02_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/legislative_branch/">
The Legislative Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl03_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/judicial_branch/">
The Judicial Branch
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl04_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/the_constitution/">
The Constitution
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl05_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/federal_agencies_and_commissions/">

<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/elections_and_voting/">
Elections & Voting
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/state_and_local_government/">
State & Local Government
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="ctl11_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/resources/">

<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl06_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/elections_and_voting/">
Elections & Voting
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl07_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/state_and_local_government/">
State & Local Government
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a id="_3499733a4a37_rptNavigation_ctl04_rptNavigationItems_ctl08_hlSubNav" href="/our_government/resources/">
Español español
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