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Congressional Recess
All members of Congress remain in their home communities as part of the District Work Period (April 12-26). This is not a vacation; members will be in their home districts to connect with constituents like you. This is an important time to advocate locally on the issues you care about most. While schedules are likely full for this work period, programs are encouraged to invite members to visit your centers during upcoming district work periods:
May 24-31
June 28-July 8
All of August
Action Steps:
- Use this Congressional recess to connect with your member of Congress face-to-face
- Ask for a constituent meeting
- Attend a public event
Budget
Congress is in the midst of the budget and appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2020, which starts October 1, 2019. House leaders have not yet moved a bill to set federal spending limits. Hearing directly from constituents about why and how program funding impacts their district is the most important way to impact appropriations, or how much money programs receive.
Action Step:
Educate the Congressional Delegation of your state or territory about requested appropriations to support the programs you care about. Simply email sharing AUCD's language and ask.
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) in September 2019 without a successful reauthorization. Bills to reauthorize the Act have been introduced and need co-sponsors (HR. 1058, S. 427). Currently 14 Senators and 48 Representatives have joined as co-sponsors.
Moving the bill before expiration in September will require action. Congressmen and Co-Sponsors Smith and Doyle have requested that the Energy & Commerce Committee consider H.R. 1058 in April during Autism Acceptance Month.
Action Steps:
• This week contact your Representative (202-224-3121) and ask them to support the request that the Energy & Commerce Committee consider H.R. 1058 in April during Autism Acceptance Month.
o 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 ask the Energy & Commerce Committee consider H.R. 1058 in April during Autism Acceptance Month. Thank you
• Contact your Congressional delegation and make sure they are engaged in the reauthorization.
o Invite your Congressmembers to be a co-sponsor of Autism CARES or thank them for their involvement.
Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019
The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019 ((H.R. 2035; S. 995)
reauthorizes the program through FY 2024 at $200 million over five years. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and in the Senate by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).The Lifespan Respite Care Program (LRCP): The U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) provides competitive grants to state agencies working with Aging and Disability Resource Centers/No Wrong Door Systems and state respite coalitions. The program's purpose is to make quality respite available to family caregivers regardless of care recipient's age or disability through coordinated State Lifespan Respite Systems.
Action Step:
• Contact you members of Congress and share the opportunity to cosponsor and support the Bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019 (H.R. 2035; S. 995).
Campaign 2020
The following notable candidates are running for president. Your voice is needed to ensure that disability policy is part of the campaign.
Action Steps:
- For candidates who are currently in office, share and elevate their position on key disability legislation as noted below. Tip: You can and should ask them to support bills of importance.
- Check out the campaign website of each candidate (links below); use the sites to ask questions about disability policy.
Bill Weld (R), Former Governor of Massachusetts
Eric Swalwell (D), U.S. Representative from California
Tim Ryan (D), U.S. Representative from Ohio
· Co-sponsor of the Autism CARES 2019
Beto O'Rourke (D), former U.S. Representative from Texas
Jay Inslee (D), Governor of Washington state
Bernie Sanders (I), U.S. Senator from Vermont
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Amy Klobuchar (D), U.S. Senator from Minnesota
· Co-sponsor of the Autism CARES 2019
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Corey Booker (D), U.S. Senator from New Jersey
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Pete Buttigieg (D), Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Kamala Harris (D), U.S. Senator from California
· Co-sponsor of the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand (D), U.S. Senator from New York
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Julian Castro (D), former U.S. Secretary of HUD
Tulsi Gabbard (D), U.S. Representative from Hawaii
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Elizabeth Warren (D), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
· Co-sponsor of the Disability Integration Act of 2019
Andrew Yang (D), entrepreneur and venture capitalist
John Delaney (D), former U.S. Representative from Maryland
Donald Trump (R), sitting President
Tuesdays with Liz: Chris Smith Explains the ‘Sunset Provision' and Talks Advocacy
Congressman Chris Smith provides an overview of what a 'sunset provision' is and how it relates to the Autism CARES Act. He also shares with Liz why the advocacy she and other disability advocates do is so important in helping ensure disability issues and policy receive attention in the halls of Congress.
Share your voice in support of Autism CARES 2019. Call the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224 3121 to ask your Representative to support re-authorization via HR 1058 and both of your Senators to support re-authorization via S 427.
For more from AUCD, follow @AUCDNews and like AUCD on Facebook
For updates from our Executive Director Andy Imparato, follow @AndyAUCD.
For definitions of terms used in In Brief, please see AUCD's Glossary of Legislative Terms
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