Secretary Martinez announced that the Department has made significant progress to implement President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, an executive order to improve access to services for persons with disabilities.

"We have made good improvements, but these are just the first steps," Martinez said. "HUD will continue to work closely with our federal and local government partners - as well as people with disabilities - to help tear down the barriers to housing equality that confront many of the 54 million Americans with disabilities."

On Thursday, May 9, Secretary Martinez took part in an event with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and other cabinet officials to highlight the accomplishments made during the first year of the initiative and reaffirm the Administration's commitment to the New Freedom Initiative. The President launched the initiative last June to improve opportunities for community integration of people with disabilities.

HUD has several key initiatives to implement the President's order:

• Revising HUD's Section 8 rent subsidy program to permit people with disabilities to use vouchers to make mortgage payments to purchase their own homes.
• Implementing a pilot program in 11 states called Project Access; a joint effort between HUD and HHS, designed to ease the transition of non-elderly persons with disabilities from nursing homes into community living.
• Expanding rental choices and ensuring that housing vouchers are being used effectively by offering technical assistance to public housing authorities and non-profit organizations having difficulty in utilizing housing vouchers. Preference is given in the awarding of general-purpose vouchers to housing authorities that agree to use a specified percentage for persons with disabilities.
• Signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service to ensure that multifamily properties within the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the number one producer of low-income housing, comply with federal accessibility standards.

The President's budget for the coming fiscal year supports and expands on current efforts through additional rental vouchers for non-elderly disabled families, more housing construction for people with disabilities, and new dollars for housing assistance and support for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS.

HUD is one of six federal agencies directed by President Bush through the New Freedom Initiative to improve access to services for people with disabilities. Executive Order 13217 directs theses federal agencies including the Departments of Education, HHS, Justice, Labor and the Social Security Administration to "evaluate the policies, programs, statutes and regulations of their respective agencies to determine whether any should be revised or modified to improve the availability of community-based services for qualified individuals with disabilities" and to report back to the President with their findings. President Bush received "Delivering on the Promise" in March, a compilation of the final reports from HUD and the other individual agencies. Read HUD's New Freedom Initiative Progress Report.

Through Sunday, May 12th, everyone who cares about public service in America is invited to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for an exhibition celebrating public servants and the work they do on behalf of the American people. The exhibition is part of Public Service Recognition Week and features booths, displays, demonstrations that highlight the diverse services performed by America's public servants - and offers a good time and souvenirs for all.

The event is sponsored by the Public Employees Roundtable (www.theroundtable.org/highlights.html) and includes exhibits from more than 100 government military, law enforcement and service agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies that celebrate the innovation and quality of work performed by public employees. Visitors also can learn about public service career opportunities from the Office of Personnel Management, and learn about opportunities for public service for every American from agencies like the Peace Corps.

Marching bands, jazz combos and barbershop quartets will entertain the crowds, so the exhibition promises fun for the whole family. Kids can meet Smokey the Bear, climb aboard an F-16, and take home free buttons, coloring posters, maps and puzzles. Everyone can take home free posters from the National Endowment of the Arts; explore space technology with NASA; view computer demonstrations; receive free health screening tests; get EPA hazardous waste response equipment, and more.

The U.S. Army Military District of Washington is providing command, control and logistical support for the event site, as well as the participating soldiers, equipment and exhibits. This year's participation is dedicated to public servants who were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, service members who have given their lives fighting terrorism in Afghanistan, and the men and women who continue to combat terrorism around the world. Exhibits will include weapon systems and equipment, including the Multiple Launch Rocket System (right), AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter, M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, M1A2 SEP Abrams Tank, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter, and Stryker Interim Armored Vehicle; and Interactive opportunities - U.S. Army Recruiting Support Brigade's adventure van featuring a helicopter simulator, tank simulator and night-vision goggles, as well as a rock-climbing wall.

Directions: To get to the event, use the Smithsonian, L'Enfant Plaza, or Archives-Memorial Metro stops. From HUD/7th Street, S.W., it's a short distance to the Mall - enter between the Air & Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art.