Presidential transitions are traditionally the process where outgoing administration and career government officials try to convey years of intelligence, know-how, planning and work to the incoming administration, at the same time the incoming administration is in the process of identifying and hiring thousands of staffers. The current delay from the outgoing administration has changed the process.
President Elect Biden and his staff are working to be ready to start work on January 20, 2020.
What it means to you:
A transition creates change in federal policy that impacts the lives of people with disabilities and their families, following the transition and learning about who is working on issues you care about can help prepare us to share our expertise and voices.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard combined oral arguments for California v. Texasand Texas v. California, both of which consider the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The consolidated cases consider the ACA in two parts: first, whether the ACA's individual mandate, which requires everyone have a minimum level of health insurance, is constitutional; and second, if the individual mandate is decided to be unconstitutional, whether the entire ACA is therefore unconstitutional. The Supreme Court previously upheld the legality of the individual mandate in NFIB v. Sebeliusin 2012, and Congress eliminated the financial penalty for not following the individual mandate in 2017. Justices brought up both of these points repeatedly during oral arguments and indicated general support for the constitutionality of the seminal healthcare law. A ruling on the cases are not expected until late Spring 2021, and the ACA will remain in effect throughout deliberations.
Plain language:
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court began work on two court cases on the Affordable Care Act. They will make a decision on the cases next year that will decide if the Affordable Care Act is legal and can stay a law, or if it is illegal and must change.
What this means to you:
It is possible that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be repealed next year. Millions of people with disabilities and their families would lose health care access and protections if the ACA is taken away.
We will be sharing ways to take action and get involved throughout this process. Continue to read Disability Policy News and check the AUCD website for updates on this case and our advocacy efforts to protect the ACA.
Appropriations
Congress appears to be on track to pass an omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021) before the current funding runs out on December 11th. The Senate Appropriations Committee has released 12 bills that would fund the federal government until the end of FY2021 on September 30th, 2021. The government is currently being funded through a short-term continuing resolutions (CR) act (H.R.8337), passed on October 1st that avoided a federal shutdown by extending the funding levels of FY2020.
Funding levels related to AUCD:
FY2020 Funding
AUCD FY2021 Ask
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R.8337)
Senate-proposed funding, FY2021
LENDs
$35,245,000
$36,245,000
$35,245,000
$52,344,00
Topline
language says LEND but no LEND number
UCEDDs
$41,619,000
$43,500,000
$41,619,000
$41,619,000
TPSID
$11,800,000
$12,300,000
$11,800,000
$13,800,000
PNS
$12,250,000
$14,000,000
$12,250,000
$12,250,000
NICHD
$1,556,879,000
$1,600,000,000
$1,556,879,000
$1,657,606,000
Plain language:
Congress is working on bills to fund the government until September 30th, 2021. A funding bill needs to be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump by December 11th, or else the federal government will shut down.
A ‘shut down' is when the federal government has to close down because Congress has not passed a bill to pay for it.
What it means to you:
It is important that the federal government passes a funding bill and stay open so that people can continue to access government services. This money is spent on different programs that support education, healthcare, job training, housing, and more, including the AUCD network.
Any hope for a COVID-19 relief package after the election has since dissipated as leaders of both political parties have signaled unwillingness to compromise. Following the election last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated an interest in renewing negotiations for a COVID-19 relief package, but has since indicated he is unwilling to spend more than $500 billion. On the Democratic side, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have been unwilling to consider less than a $2 trillion relief package. The White House has not engaged in relief negotiations since the election on November 3rd. It appears increasingly unlikely that any such measure will pass before the new Congress is sworn in on January 3rd.
Plain language:
Congress might try to pass another COVID-19 relief package in December, but it is not likely.
What it means to you:
It is unlikely that Congress will pass a COVID-19 relief bill. They need to hear what is important 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 toolto find your members of Congress.
During your #AUCD2020 Conference virtual Hill visits, share AUCD's top prioritiesand your stories about the impact of COVID-19 on your life with your members of Congress.
When talking about the critical need for HCBS dollars you may wish to share the following two studies, which present data detailing the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on the disability community, and particularly for those living in congregate care settings:
Currently, there are no approved vaccines for COVID-19, but officials continue to plan for distribution. On November 12, 2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the U.S. government’s partnerships with pharmacies to distribute and administer vaccines in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be authorized or approved and recommended for use in the United States. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced last week preliminary data showed its vaccine to be 90% effective.
Plain language:
There is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, but people keep working on it.
What it means to you:
Federal, state, and local governments are working on plans to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. You may be helpful in identifying issues unique to the disability community and working to plan to address all needs.
Share needs of the disability community to ensure effective vaccine distribution.
#AUCD2020 Conference Policy Events
We are excited to share that AUCD is offering several ways to engage with federal policy efforts as part of this year's virtual #AUCD2020 Conference:
Closing Hill Plenary: Join us for a pre-recorded Closing Plenary on the final day of the Conference to hear from an array of congressional leaders and legislative champions about their disability-related priorities and policies. This year's speakers include Senator Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Representative Clark (Massachusetts), and more!
Date and time: Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 12:00 - 1:15 pm EST
Note: Due to the virtual format, we will not have a single Hill Day, but rather recommend that you schedule a meeting with your representatives between November 4th, 2020 and January 3rd, 2020.
To begin preparing for you virtual visit, watch this mock Virtual Hill Visit with AUCD Policy Director Rylin Rodgers and self-advocate Helen Nash.
For any questions that could not be answered by the Toolkit, please contact Rylin Rodgers at [email protected] or Lauren Blachowiak at [email protected].
AUCD Policy Talk
"The exact number of refugees with disabilities is unknown, as is their individual needs and challenges. However, we do know that when people face war, violence, and persecution, they are more likely to develop chronic illnesses, such as in the case of this invisible group."
This week on AUCD Policy Talk, Mustafa Rfat, a graduate student and LEND trainee at The Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University, shares his experience as a refugee with a disability and emphasizes the need for federal agencies to better support this vulnerable population.
On this week's Vintage #TWL, Liz speaks to Ohio advocate Christine Brown about Medicaid Buy-Ins and how they affect people with disabilities. Be sure to check out AUCD's additional resources on Medicaid in preparation for virtual Hill visits!
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
Presidential Transition
Appropriations
Vaccines
#AUCD2020 Conference Policy Events
