The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional conference committee - appointed to negotiate a border security compromise and avoid another partial government shutdown when funding for about one-fourth of the government expires on February 15 - continues to debate.
Autism CARES 2019
The Autism CARES Act - which has expanded research and coordination, increased public awareness and surveillance, and expanded interdisciplinary health professional training, including LENDs, to identify and support children and youth with Autism and their families - will sunset (expire) inSeptember 2019 without a successful reauthorization. Bills to reauthorize the Act were introduced on February 7th(HR. 1058, S.427).
Contact your Congressional Delegation and make sure they are engaged in the reauthorization.
Invite your Congressmembers to be a co-sponsor of Autism CARES, or thank them for their involvement.
Use this easy form to send an educational email to your members about the importance of Autism CARES legislation.
Call your members of Congress at 202-224-3121, and advocate as a private citizen for the bill's reauthorization.
Sample Script: I am [Name] from [State]. I have seen the impact of Autism CARES and the lives changed because of this important legislation. I urge you to co-sponsor reauthorization. Thank you.
Post your support to social media.
Tag your members of Congress. Tag us at @AUCDnews on twitter and @AUCDnetwork on Facebook.Include the hashtags #AutismCARES and #LEND.
Sample Twitter post: #AutismCARES provides critically needed research, #LEND professional training, and system improvement for families with #autism and related #disabilities. @RepXYZ @Senator1 @Senator2 - please reauthorize and support families! @AUCDnews
Employment
The Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (S.260 and H. 863) gained a new co-sponsor, Rep. DeSaulnier [D-CA-11]. The bill would assist employers providing employment under special certificates issued under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to transform their business and program models to support individuals with disabilities to transition to competitive integrated employment, and would phase out the use of 14(c) certificates. AUCD's support for the bill can be found here.
Action Steps:
Educate your Congressional delegation about the bill and encourage advocates to ask members to co-sponsor this important legislation.
Our partners at the Leadership Conference Education Fund, along with 14 civil rights and education groups, sent a letter to the education chiefs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, urging them to review their state accountability plans to protect the civil rights of children under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The letter urges states to make amendments to protect the civil rights of students and provide safeguards to ensure children have safe, healthy and inclusive schools.
Action Step:
Read the letter and connect with education leaders in your state to address the issues.
Race for 2020
The following notable candidates have filed to run for president with the Federal Election Commission or announced exploratory committees.
Amy Klobuchar (D), U.S. Senator from Minnesota, announced on February 19, 2019
Corey Booker (D), U.S. Senator from New Jersey, announced on February 1, 2019
Pete Buttigieg (D), Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, announced on January 23, 2019
Kamala Harris (D), U.S. Senator from California, announced on January 21, 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand (D), U.S. Senator from New York, announced on January 15, 2019
Julian Castro (D), former U.S. Secretary of HUD, announced on January 12, 2019
Tulsi Gabbard (D), U.S. Representative from Hawaii, announced on January 11, 2019
Elizabeth Warren (D), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, announced on December 31, 2018
John Delaney (D), former U.S. Representative from Maryland, filed on August 10, 2017
Action Steps:
Check out the campaign website of each candidate (links above); use the sites to ask questions about disability policy.
Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All
Couples with Disabilities and the Marriage Penalty
Liz chats with Teresa Moore and John Britton, a couple who have been together for eighteen years and both have disabilities, about the risks that getting married carry for people with disabilities.
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
