The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination as Associate Justice to the Supreme Court to the full Senate. The vote was split along party lines, 12-0, with all 12 Republican Senators on the Committee voting to advance her nomination. All 10 Democratic Senators boycotted the vote, and instead placed pictures of people who benefit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in their seats to highlight the upcoming Supreme Court case on the constitutionality of the ACA. The full Senate began its deliberations on Judge Barrett's nomination on Friday and will hold a final vote today. She is expected to be confirmed.
Plain language:
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move forward with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. She will most likely be voted to the Supreme Court by the full Senate today. AUCD does not support her nomination because she has said she would make a ruling to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.
What this means to you:
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is likely to be confirmed to the Supreme Court today and it is very possible that the Affordable Care Act will be repealed. Millions of people with disabilities and their families would lose health care access and protections if the ACA is repealed.
Action Steps:
Read AUCD's statement opposing the nomination of Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Watch the Community Call hosted by AUCD with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on the importance of the Affordable Care Act for the disability community and all Americans.
Learn more about the process of picking a Supreme Court Justice with our Plain Language guide.
Learn about the upcoming Supreme Court Case on the ACA, California v. Texas.
Read the Amicus Brief on the case from the disability community, including AUCD.
Learn more about how the Affordable Care Act benefits individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in this post by The Arc.
Read the full Action Alert from AUCD for more details on how to contact your Senators and what to say when you do.
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 this easy tool to find your Senators, including local office numbers.
COVID-19
Negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill continued to no avail last week between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. While both the Republican and Democratic negotiators reported progress, the negotiations continue to stall around liability shields from coronavirus-related lawsuits and financial aid for state and local governments. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has not participated in negotiations thus far, plans to call a second vote on the ‘skinny' relief bill that failed in the Senate earlier this month. It is unlikely that any COVID-19 relief bills will pass before Election Day.
Plain language:
Speaker Pelosi and the White House continue to talk about COVID-19 relief, but it is extremely unlikely that Congress will pass any additional COVID-19 relief before the November 3rd election.
What this means to you:
It is unlikely that Congress will pass a COVID-19 relief bill that includes funding to help people with disabilities and the people who support them. You can call or email Congress to tell them about how COVID-19 has changed your life, for example your housing, services, health, school, or work. Every call and email matters.
Action steps:
Read the Action Alert from AUCD for more details on how to contact your members of Congress and what to say when you do.
Email or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators and Representatives.
You can use this easy tool to find your members of Congress.
When talking about the critical need for HCBS dollars you may wish to share the study, COVID-19 Mortality Risk in Down Syndrome: Results From a Cohort Study Of 8 Million Adults, that found that people with Down syndrome have 10 times the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to those without Down syndrome. This data shows how important it is that people can be in their homes and communities and not in congregant settings where the risk of COVID infection is significantly higher.
Presidential Campaign 2020
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden participated in the second and final Presidential Debate on Thursday. The debate was moderated by Kristen Welker, a White House Correspondent with NBC, and held at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Of note, The Commission on Presidential Debates changed the debate rules in advance to allow each candidate to speak for two minutes uninterrupted for each of the six debate themes. This was the final debate before the election on November 3rd.
Action steps:
Watch the Second Presidential Debate.
Learn more about Republican nominee Donald Trump's platform:
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd! Early and absentee voting are underway, and many states have closed registration. If we're going to make an impact in every election, we have to be registered to vote and have a plan to vote. Now is the time to decide if you will vote by mail, drop box, or in-person, and to make a plan. Many states have started early voting, both in-person and mail-in, so make your voting plan today!
Many disability organizations provide voting information in multiple accessible formats, such as ASL, plain language, and screen-reader friendly text. Check out these partners for accessible voting resources:
SABE GoVoter: both material and a survey to take about your 2020 voting experience
Sign Vote: access to important information related to the 2020 Election in ASL
This week on AUCD Policy Talk, we share posts by two leaders in the AUCD network:
‘It's time to save healthcare - again.': Rylin Rodgers, AUCD Director of Public Policy, shares what the Affordable Care Act means for her, her family, and all Americans, and why we need to save it from repeal efforts.
On this week's vintage #TWL, Liz talks with Neil Romano, Chairman of the National Council On Disability (NDC), about the role of the Council and its impact on people with disabilities. For more information on NDC, visit www.ndc.gov.
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
U.S. Supreme Court
COVID-19
Voting 2020
Policy Talk
