New year, new look! Your weekly policy news has a new look. In an effort to bring you policy news every week in plain language, AUCD felt it was time to make the title "InBrief" more accessible. So we now bring you Disability Policy News! You will find plain language sections for each policy update, what it might mean to you, and our suggested action steps. We hope you find this even more helpful to bring federal policy news to you weekly. Please share any feedback you have on our new look!
Congressional Updates
We are now at the halfway point of the 116th Congress. Looking ahead to 2020, many policy actions will continue to keep the House and Senate busy: Impeachment trial, fiscal year 2021 appropriations, campaign 2020 election races, and more.
Plain Language:
We are in the middle of the 116th Congress.
What this means to you:
There is still time to foster and develop relationships with your members of Congress.
Let your members of Congress know what is important to work on for 2020. Use AUCD's tool to contact Congress today.
Budget and Appropriations
President Trump signed the Congress-approved spending package to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2020. Now is a great time to wish your members of Congress a Happy New Year and send a thank you for funding programs that are important to the disability community. AUCD will begin FY21 appropriations ask and advocacy soon. Stay tuned!
Plain Language:
The President signed the budget for 2020 to fund the government.
What this means to you:
Many programs that impact the disability community and your centers received level funding and some even saw increases in funding.
Reach out to your Members of Congress to thank them for their hard work in finalizing appropriations and the commitment to funding programs related to disability.
Campaign 2020
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced last week he is ending his campaign for president.
Next week, January 14th, CNN and the Des Moines Register will host a debate, to be held at Drake University. Currently, the following five candidates have qualified: Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Sanders, and Warren.
Disability Policy Seminar
Registration is now open for the Disability Policy Seminar and the AUCD Emerging Leaders Policy Forum. Learn more information about the events.
You do need to register for both events if you plan to attend the Sunday AUCD Policy Forum before DPS.
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Public Policy Fellowship, a 1yr intensive immersion experience in Washington DC for emerging leaders in the area of inclusive community supports for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities is accepting application Read the guidelines and application.
AUCD Policy Talk
Happy #ADA30! Check out our new Policy Talk blog on what the ADA means to an AUCD emerging leader. As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, what does the ADA mean to you? Share your story on AUCD Policy Talk!
Former Executive Director of AUCD, Andy Imparato, speaks with Liz about what he accomplished during his time here, how he sees the future of Tuesdays with Liz, and what's up next. Beginning February 3rd, Andy start his new role as Executive Director of Disability Rights California (https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pr...). Best of luck, Andy!
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.