The death of George Floyd, 46, after a police officer knelt on his neck during his arrest in Minneapolis last Monday has led to protests and demonstrations around the country. The disability community's connections to and intersection with all parts of the civil and human rights community are essential to who we are and lead us to stand together and speak out against injustice and inequality in all its forms.
Plain Language:
Racism hurts our country. People are protesting and speaking out for change.
What this means to you:
We all have a role in addressing racism and making needed changes. The injustice and inequality experienced by black Americans is a human rights, civil rights, and disability rights issue. The disability community will work for change.
Studies suggest that black are more likely to experience fatale encounters with police than white men and those rates are even higher for black men with mental health issues. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6080222/
Black residents are more likely to be stopped by police than white or Hispanic residents and studies suggest police are twice as likely to threaten or use force against black residents than white or Hispanic residents.Source: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2018/10/12/policing/
Prohibits lethal force unless necessary and only after required use of reasonable alternatives have been exhausted and encourages states to adopt similar laws or policies.
Police must try to calm everyone involved down and safely control them without using violence before using any weapons
Additional bills are expected this week to address a variety of policy changes Including:
Establishing policy that prohibits law enforcement officers from performing maneuvers that restrict the flow of oxygen or blood to the brain such as chokeholds, knee-to neck, and similar restraints.
Establish policy that eliminates qualified immunity, a defense that shields officials from being sued, and has been interpreted by courts so broadly that it may allow officers to engage in unconstitutional acts with impunity.
Contact your congressional delegation by Email or call the Capitol Switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and advocate for justice.
Sample Script:
"Hi, my name is _____ and I am calling because _______ (personal impact of police brutality)______.I am from _______(university program name/city and state).I have experience with ___________.I care about____________."
Congress and the administration are responding to the COVID-19 crisis in a variety of ways. It is important that the various relief and safety efforts meet the needs of people with disabilities. Your education to members of Congress about the impact on people with disabilities is important during this time.
Free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured. Increased paid leave. Enhanced Unemployment Insurance to people unable to work. Increased funding for food security programs.
Allows state Medicaid programs to pay for direct support professionals to assist disabled individuals in the hospital
$13.5 billion available for formula grants to States, which will then distribute 90 percent of funds to local educational agencies to meet needs of all students, including students with disabilities
$85 million for Centers for Independent Living
$50 million for Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Extension of Money Follows the Person and Spousal Impoverishment through November 30, 2020
Waives nutrition requirements for Older Americans Act (OAA) meal programs during the public health emergency related to COVID-19 to ensure seniors can get meals in case certain food options are not available
Home and Community Based Services investment to support wages, services, leave, and related critical needs to support access to home and community- based services.
$10,000,000 for Developmental Disabilities Act Programs
$10 Billion additional for nutrition services and increased flexibility to support greater access for people with disabilities
Requirement for CDC Field Study Pertaining to Health Inequities
Specifically: "the impact of disability status on health care access and disease outcomes"
What happened last week:
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (HR 7010) was signed into law on Friday, June 4. The law extends the time business have to spend the funds from an eight-week period to 24 weeks.
Senate leadership has not yet expressed an interest in considering "Package 4" legislation. It may be the case that Senate action may come in July or later. Senators continue to work introducing legislation that indicates their priorities to be included in the next package.
Plain Language:
Congress is working on bills to support people during COVID-19. They need to hear from you about the needs of people with disabilities.
What this means to you:
More than 105 million Americans - or about 4 in 10 adults - are at greater risk if infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), including older adults, people with disabilities and those with underlying health conditions. The front-line workers and family caregivers who support these individuals also face increased risks, requiring additional resources and supports to protect their health and well-being.
Action steps:
Read AUCD's resources to continue your work during the pandemic
Email or call the Capitol Switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators.
You can use thiseasy toolto find your members of Congress
International Disability Rights
U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Office of International Disability Rights Act (S.3880). The bill would:
establish an Office of International Disability Rights within the U.S. Department of State
create an Ambassador-at-Large for Disability Rights
require the State Department and other agencies that provide foreign assistance to integrate disability inclusion and policies into their programming.
Companion legislation (H.R.3373) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV-1) and Don Young (R-AK).
Plain Language:
Bills that requires disability inclusion in the work the government does is in front of the House and the Senate.
Action Steps:
Contact your Representatives and Senators to share your views and ask that they consider cosponsoring these bills.
Public Health Loan Repayment
The Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act (S. 3737) - introduced by Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) - would reauthorize and strengthen the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible individuals who work in a local, state, or tribal public health department for two consecutive years. Under the proposal, an individual could receive up to $35,000 in repayment assistance for each year of service. A related bill, "Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Act," (H.R. 6578) has been introduced by Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Michael Burgess (R-TX).
Bills that would provide money to help people who work in public health jobs pay back student loans are in front of the House and the Senate.
What this means to you:
Local, state and tribal public health departments may be able to hire staff because of some loan forgiveness
Action Steps:
Contact your Representatives and Senators to share your views and ask that they consider cosponsoring these bills.
Our partners at NACCHO have an online form you can use to contact your members
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
On June 3rd, the Nomination of Julie Hocker to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy was considered in Executive Session of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The committee voted to move the nomination favorably to the Senate by a vote of12 to 11 (along party lines). We do not have a date for the full vote by the Senate, but it is likely within the current Congressional work period.
Plain Language:
The Senate is going to consider Julie Hocker for a new job in government in the Department of Labor.
What this means to you:
This is a presidential political appointed position. It would leave a leadership vacancy at the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Our partners at American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) have announced POWER: the Disability Vote, a national, non-partisan disability & election virtual summit on Monday & Tuesday, June 22 and 23, from noon to 3:45 pm ET.
Both days will include panels, presentations, and a national call-to-action to mobilize disability voters and allies.
Registration is free and you are able to register for one or both days.
AUCD Policy Talk
"The current COVID-19 health crisis - along with unprecedented levels of unemployment, income loss, and uncertainty - has made it clear that programs like General Assistance are more critical than ever." Jennifer Wolf from Pennsylvania Health Access Network analyzes the impact of General Assistance for many, including #PWD, on this week's #AUCDPolicyTalk.
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