Legislative News InBrief
January 29, 2007
State of the Union
President Bush tried to reach out to the
Democratically-controlled Congress during his State of the Union Address by
making health care expansion one of this top domestic policy priorities. The
health care plan has two parts: one involves tax deductions of $7,500 for
individuals and $15,000 for families to be available for purchasing health care;
the second piece is a new "Affordable Choices" state grants program, which would
be funded with up to $30 billion in existing health care funds, redirected away
from Medicare and Medicaid programs such as disproportionate share hospital
(DSH). "When it comes to health care, government has an obligation to care for
the elderly, the disabled and poor children," he said in the address. House and
Senate Democratic leaders immediately responded to the plans with skepticism.
"His proposal would do little to help the uninsured, most of whom have limited
incomes and are in low tax brackets," said John Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the
Energy and Commerce Committee.
On other domestic policy issues, Bush called on Congress to balance the budget within five years, cut the number and cost of earmarks in half and overhaul entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. He also urged Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act (PL 107-110).
Education
The day after the President's State of the Union Address,
the US Department of Education announced the Administration's recommendations
for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. AUCD staff
participated on a conference call sponsored by ED where Alexa Posny, OSEP
director, gave the highlights of the proposals that would directly affect
students with disabilities. Highlights of the proposal entitled "Building on
Results" is on the Department of Ed's website.
In related news,
following a recent meeting at the White House with President Bush and Education
Secretary Margaret Spelling, education committee chairs Sen. Edward Kennedy
(D-MA) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said they were not in a hurry to
reauthorize the law and wanted to see if the President was going to provide
sufficient funds for the law in his upcoming budget. Kennedy also plans to hold
extensive hearings on the law before drafting a plan.
The House Education and Labor Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) are sponsoring a series of joint briefings on the NCLB reauthorization. The first in the series takes place this week on the intersection of the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) and NCLB.
Health
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)
Committee is expected to mark up a bill (S. 358), sponsored by Sen. Olympia
Snowe (R-ME) Wednesday to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic
information with respect to health insurance and employment. The House Committee
on Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
will hold a hearing on Tuesday. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
(GINA) was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 16 by Rep.
Louise Slaughter (D-NY).
Voting Rights
The Consortium for
Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force issued a position statement on the
issue of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) in anticipation of federal
legislation being introduced to address the issue (see Jan. 8 In Brief). CCD's
position does not have a blanket policy either for or against paper trails. The
position of CCD is that if a paper audit trail or other means of independent
vote verification is used in any jurisdiction, then the means of vote
verification must be accessible to all individuals with disabilities at the same
time as the requirement goes into effect for all voters. Accordingly, CCD would
oppose any paper audit trail or other means of independent vote verification
requirement that does not meet this standard.
Social Security
The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on
President Bush's nominee for Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue. The
committee will likely vote on his nomination this week. If confirmed Astrue will
serve a six-year term, succeeding Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart, whose term
ended January 19.
Disability Policy Seminar
The Disability Policy Seminar,
co-sponsored by AUCD along with The Arc, UCP, NACDD, and AAIDD will be held
March 4-6. Issues that will be addressed include the NCLB, Higher Education Act,
Rehab Act, DD Act, Family Support, ADA, and appropriations for all disability
programs. A special panel is being planned at this year's Disability Policy
Seminar to discuss legislation addressing autism spectrum disorder, including
the Combating Autism Act passed last year and new legislation currently in
development. Online
registration is available with special rates for trainees, self-advocates,
and family members. The deadline to register without penalty is Feb. 8. A
preliminary program and agenda are available on the AUCD website.