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118th Congress Updates
On January 3rd, the 118th session of Congress began and the proposed calendars for when the Senate and House of Representatives are in session are available.
The Republicans have control over the House of Representatives, and Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) is the Speaker of the House, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) is the Minority Leader. The Democrats will continue to control the Senate, and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is the Majority Leader, and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the Minority Leader.
There have been announced some changes to committee leadership in both chambers that will impact employment, healthcare, education, and other policies impacting persons with disabilities.
Plain Language
On January 3rd, the 118th Congress started its session. The House of Representatives is led by Republicans, and the Senate is led by Democrats. Committee members have been announced and Committees have announced what they will work on this session.
Senator Casey Introduces the Better Care Better Jobs Act
On January 26th, Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act. The bill is cosponsored by Senator Wyden (D-OR), Senator Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Hassan (D-NH), and Senator Brown (D-OH). The bill will increase Medicaid funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) with a 10 percent increase in the federal match, increased funding for administrative activities, provide more benefits for direct care workers, improve oversight, make spousal impoverishment protections permanent, and will make the Money Follows the Person program permanent. The bill will improve HCBS for millions of Americans and their families, and the direct support professionals. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Plain Language
Senator Casey (D-PA) has introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act. This bill gives states more money so they can improve HCBS. The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.
Action Steps
Read the bill. Read a summary of the bill. Call your Members of Congress and educate them on the importance of home and community-based services for people with disabilities. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Its First Hearing
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Representative McMorris Rogers (R-WA-5), held its first hearing titled Lives Worth Living: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, and Combatting Discrimination Against Those with Disabilities. During the hearing, Chair McMorris Rogers urged the committee to ban the use of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) by passing the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act (H.R. 485). The bill would ban the use of QALYs in health care. QALYs are a measure used to prioritize patient care, and they put lesser value on drugs and treatments that extend the lives of people with disabilities as compared to the lives of people without disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Plain Language
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is run by Representative McMorris Rogers (R-WA-5) had their first hearing and discussed important healthcare policies. The committee discussed the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, which would prevent people with disabilities from being discriminated against in getting healthcare.
Action Steps
Learn more about QALYs in this report from the National Council on Disability. Read a summary of the hearing. Call and educate your members on the importance of removing the use of QALYs from our health care system. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121.
Senate and House of Representatives Introduce the Mentoring to Succeed Act
Senator Durbin (D-IL), Senator Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Booker (D-NJ), Representative Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Representative García (D-IL-4), and Representative Trahan (D-MA-3) have introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act. The bill provides sustainable support systems through mentorship to ensure that children who experience poverty, inadequate schooling, disability, adverse childhood experiences, or drug and alcohol use can successfully transition from high school to college and to the workforce. The bill “would strengthen investments in school-based mentorship programs to help at-risk youth develop the academic, social, and workforce skills that lead to success.” The bill provides funds to school-based mentorship programs to help students find mentors and build relationships to help them succeed in school and life.
Plain Language
Senator Durbin (D-IL), Senator Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Booker (D-NJ), Representative Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Representative García (D-IL-4), and Representative Trahan (D-MA-3) have introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act. The bill will help students with disabilities and other students to get connected to mentors that can help them transition from high school to college or to the workforce.
Action Steps
Read more about the Mentoring to Succeed Act. Call and educate your members on the importance of mentorships for students with disabilities. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Releases a Draft of the Strategic Plan for Autism Research, Services, and Policy for 2021-2023
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has released a draft of their strategic plan for 2021-2023. The IACC is a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on research and services related to autism. The IACC membership is autistic adults, family members of individuals with autism, researchers, clinicians, Federal officials, and leaders of advocacy organizations. The IACC is responsible for releasing a strategic plan that addresses research, services, supports, and public policies. Read the draft of the strategic plan.
Plain Language
The IACC is a group of autistic individuals, their families, and professionals who work with autistic individuals the helps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve policies, research, and services for people with autism. The IACC puts out a plan every two years on the best ways to support autistic individuals.
Action Steps
Read the IACC Strategic Report.
Biden Administration to End the Public Health Emergency on May 11
The Biden Administration has announced that they will be ending the Public Health Emergency (PHE) related to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11th. Declaring a PHE has allowed the healthcare system to access emergency services and increase funding to ensure that everyone in our country had access to medical care and treatment. The Biden Administration has previously stated they would give 60 days’ notice to allow the healthcare system to prepare for the switch back to funding and resources levels pre-pandemic.
Plain Language
President Biden announced the emergency that started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will be ending on May 11th. The emergency gave more money and resources to our healthcare system to respond to COVID.
Action Steps
Read the announcement regarding the Public Health Emergency. Read this resource from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Policy related “How To” materials can be found on our website here. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the resources!
Tuesdays with Liz: Did you know that Liz has a YouTube Channel?
'Tuesdays with Liz' is a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy. It is hosted by Liz Weintraub, a long-time disability advocate, and produced by AUCD.
You can help spread her message by:
- Subscribing to the Tuesdays with Liz YouTube Channel!
- Liking videos on the channel
- Making comments on the channel
 
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For definitions of terms, please see AUCD's List of Policy Definitions
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