AUCD Legislative News InBrief

December 17, 2007

Appropriations 

House and Senate Appropriators put together a new omnibus appropriations bill that was made public early today.  Negotiators moved priorities around, made huge cuts to NIH, Education programs, and the Centers for Disease Control and then shaved 1.7 percent off the final figures to try to get to the President's overall budget total that he demanded.  This was necessary because the previous bill was vetoed by the president and another omnibus bill was threatened to be vetoed because it provided more money for programs than was proposed by the President.  Although many discretionary programs are cut in the new bill, AUCD is very pleased to report that the UCEDD and LEND programs would still see a significant increase over current funding levels.  The UCEDDs are slated for a $3.7 million increase over FY 07 and the LEND programs would see a significant percentage increase for activities authorized under the Combating Autism Act.  Below is a table with FY 08 funding in the final omnibus bill for selected programs important to the AUCD network.  The figures in the omnibus column are totals after the 1.747% across the board cut is applied. 

 

Program	FY 07 Final	President's Budget	House	Senate  Committee	FY08 Omnibus	Difference over FY 07
UCEDDs	33.2	33.2	33.2	38.7	36.9	+3.7
DD Councils	71.7	71.7	76.7	77.3	72.5	+0.7
P&As	38.7	38.7	38.7	42.7	39.0	+0.3
PNS/Family Support	11.4	11.4	11.4	15.4	14.2	+2.7
Family Support Clearinghouse and TA	New	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0
Help America Vote Act	15.7	15.7	36.7	16.7	17.4	+1.7
MCH Block Grant	693.0	693.0	750.0	673.0	666.0	-26.8
Autism and related DD	0.0	0.0	30.0*	37.0**	36.4	+36.4
CDC Center on Birth Defects/DD	124.5	124.5	NA	128.7	NA
NIH	28,931.0	28,621.0	29,650.0	29,899.9	29.229.0	+329.0
NICHD	1,252.8	1,264.9	1,273.9	1,282.2	1,254.7	+2.0
Lifespan Respite Care Act	New law	0.0	10.0	0.0	NA
SSBG	1,700.0	1,700.0	1,700.0	1,700.0	1,700.0	0.0
IDEA
Part B State Grants	10,782.9	10,491.9	11,342.4	11,240.0	11,042.3	+259.3
Part B Preschool Grants	380.7	380.7	380.7	380.7	374.1	-6.6
Part C Infants and Toddlers	436.4	423.1	436.4	450.0	435.6	-0.7
State Personnel development	0.0	0.0	0.0	46.0	22.6	+22.6
TA and Dissemination	48.9	48.9	48.9	48.9	48.0	-0.8
Deaf-blindness teacher training	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Personnel Preparation	89.7	89.7	89.7	89.7	88.2	-1.6
Technology and Media	38.4	25.1	36.9	40.0	39.3	+0.8
Rehabilitation and Disability Research
VR State Grants	2,837.2	2,874.0	2,874.0	2,874.0	2,874.0	+36.9
Supported Employment	29.7	0.0	29.7	29.7	29.181	-0.5
NIDRR	106.7	106.7	106.7	106.7	105.7	-0.5
Assistive Technology	30.5	26.1	30.5	32.0	29.9	-0.5
Higher Education
Demonstration in Disabilities	6.8	0.0	6.8	6.8	6.7	-0.1
Institute of Education Sciences
Research in Special Education	71.8	71.8	71.8	71.8	70.8	-1.2
Special Education Studies & Evaluation	9.9	9.6	9.9	9.6	9.4	-0.4

 

The next step is for the House to consider the bill as early as this evening with the Senate taking up the bill as early as tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 11.  The President is expected to sign the bill although the Administration still continues to grumble that there is not enough money in the emergency spending bill for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The emergency funding bill is tied to the omnibus bill, a tactic to get the President to sign the bill.  Currently there is $31 billion for the war efforts.  The Senate is expected to increase that figure to $70 billion during consideration. The emergency funding bill also includes funds veteran assistance, the WIC program, heating assistance and other domestic emergency assistance.  If the President does not sign the bill, the other option still on the table is a year long continuing resolution. The whole process is expected to be completed by the end of the week when Congress also plans to adjourn for the year.

 

Once the process is complete, AUCD will provide a more thorough analysis of the final funding picture for disability programs.

 

Medicare

Congress may consider a scaled down version of a Medicare package this week to prevent a scheduled 10 percent cut in physician payments starting in January.  Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) is insisting that any package offered this week must pass by unanimous consent.  The package could consist of a one year fix paid for by eliminating dual payments for medical education under Medicare Advantage plans and a "stabilization fund" under Medicare Part D.  Chairman Baucus (D-MT) indicated late last week that it looks less likely the Medicare package will contain new policy.  Disability advocates are working to include language to prevent two new Rules to go into effect regarding the Medicaid Rehabilitation Option and reimbursement for school-based administrative costs. This moratorium was originally included in the vetoed SCHIP bill.  It is uncertain whether this will be included in the Medicare package.   

SCHIP     

Last week President Bush issued a second veto on legislation to reauthorize SCHIP.   On the following day, House leaders scheduled an override vote for Jan. 23.  Democratic leaders delayed sending the bill to the White House for several weeks while they continued talking with House Republicans in hopes of winning enough support to override a veto.  That effort ultimately failed.  It appears likely that Congress will next consider a short-term extension, possibly until September of next year, along with additional stop-gap funding.  It is estimated that approximately $800 million is needed to ensure children currently covered through the program will not lose coverage next year.   

 

Newborn Screening

The Senate unanimously passed the Newborn Screening and Saving Lives Act (S. 1858) on December 13.   The bill establishes grant programs to provide education and outreach on newborn screening, provides coordinated follow-up care once newborn screening has been conducted and reauthorizes existing programs.

 

Hate Crimes

The Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act was stripped during final conference negotiations on the bill to authorize the Department of Defense.  The House had passed a freestanding version of the bill on May 3 by a vote of 237-180.  On September 7, the Senate voted 60-39 to end a filibuster and add the bill to the Defense bill as an amendment.  The bill would have added disability to the list of protected classes under the federal hate crimes statute and provided states with more funds to prosecute hate crimes.  Bill sponsors have already stated their readiness to push for the bill again when Congress returns from the holiday recess. However, it may be even more difficult to move the bill in an election year.