The House and Senate continue to negotiate the budget and appropriations for the federal government in anticipation of the current Continuing Resolution expiring on Friday, December 11th, 2020. The House passed a set of appropriations bills totaling $1.3 trillion in July (H.R.7617). The Senate released their own proposed funding measures in early November, but have not formally introduced any legislation. Negotiations continue between the Democratic-led House and the Republican-led Senate with the goal of a large, omnibus bill to fund the government through the full Fiscal Year 2021 (ends September 30, 2021). However, recent snags have made another Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government into the new year increasingly likely. Either a full-funding omnibus bill or a CR will most likely include short-term extensions for programs such as Money Follows the Person, Independence at Home, and Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Protections.
The federal government only has funding until December 11th. 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. Congress is trying to pass a bill that will fund the government until September 30th, 2021, but they might only agree to enough money for a few months.
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 stays 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.
Action steps:
It is helpful to raise the needs for funding during your #AUCD2020 Hill meetings. When you educate members of Congress and staff about the impact of your work, you are sharing how appropriations support people with disabilities and systems in every state.
Steps to prepare for the conversations:
Learn more about the House-passed Appropriations bill:
Check out a timeline of appropriations actions for Fiscal Year 2021 from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
COVID-19 Relief
Both the recent swell of COVID-19 cases and the impending expiration dates of several economic relief measures have resulted in new energy for a COVID-19 relief package both on Capitol Hill and across the country. Last week, a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers released a proposal for a $908 billion Bipartisan COVID Emergency Relief Framework that has since gained the support of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) maintains that the price-tag of the bipartisan effort is too high, and has instead re-circulated the $500 billion ‘skinny' relief bill previously voted down in the Senate (S.A.2652). With time running out, it is increasingly unlikely that Congress will be able to pass a relief bill before the December recess.
Comparison of topics directly impacting people with disabilities:
Five-year shield from coronavirus related lawsuits.
Short-term federal protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits.
No liability waivers under ADA and other civil rights legislation.
Education
$90 billion in funding for schools, none tied to IDEA.
$105 billion in funding for schools, none tied to IDEA.
$82 billion in funding for schools, none tied to IDEA.
$12 billion in funding specifically for IDEA.
Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Investment to support wages, services, leave, and related critical needs to support access.
None.
None.
$20 billion in funding for HCBS.
Developmental
Disabilities network
$10 million for Developmental Disabilities Act Programs (UCEDDS, P&As, DD Councils).
None.
None.
$30 million for Developmental Disabilities Act Programs (UCEDDS, P&As, DD Councils).
Other
$10 billion for nutrition services and increased flexibility to support greater access for people with disabilities.
Requirement for CDC Field Study Pertaining to Health Inequities, including "the impact of disability status on health care access and disease outcomes."
$26 billion to be split between nutrition services and agriculture.
Plain language:
Congress is trying to pass another COVID-19 relief package before going on their holiday break.
What it 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:
Educate your members of Congress and their staff about how important it is the COVID- relief meets the needs of people with disability and their families.
President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, and their staffs are working to be ready to start work on January 20, 2020. Part of getting ready is choosing people to hire for jobs across the government.
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.
With two COVID-19 vaccines likely to be approved within the month, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved a plan for the first phase, dubbed ‘1a', of a COVID-19 vaccine allocation framework. The populations set to receive the initial rounds of COVID-19 vaccination include:
Health care personnel: paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials;
Long-term care facility residents: adults who reside in facilities that provide a variety of services, including medical and personal care, to persons who are unable to live independently.
States are now working on finalizing their individual plans to distribute COVID-19 vaccine within the adopted framework with the goal of beginning vaccination within 48-hours of a COVID-19 vaccine's approval. The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application from Pfizer-BioNTech for their COVID-19 vaccine will be considered for approval on December 10, 2020, and the EUA application from Moderna will be considered on December 17, 2020.
Plain language:
The first COVID-19 vaccine might be approved this week. The first people to get the COVID-19 vaccine will be healthcare workers and adults living in long-term care settings, such as a nursing home or group home.
What this means to you:
A vaccine to protect people against COVID-19 might be available soon. The government is working to make sure it is safe. Adults with disabilities who live in long-term care settings will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine sooner than adults with disabilities who live in the community, but every adult will be able to get a vaccine at some point.
Action Steps:
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines that have applied for EUA:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced over $54.7 million in Capital Advance and Project Rental Assistance grants to expand the supply of affordable rental housing for extremely low-income adults with disabilities. HUD has chosen 15 organizations to develop permanent rental housing through the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program and to provide rental assistance.
Plain language:
The government is working to make more accessible affordable housing options in the community for people with disabilities.
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) within the Health Resources and Services Administration has published a Draft Blueprint of bureau goals to better support children with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families. The Draft Blueprint outlines interagency changes to promote health equity, access to services and supports, family/child well-being and quality of life, and financing of services. MCHB has collected public comments in response to the Draft and will publish a final Blueprint.
Plain language:
The federal government is trying to improve how it supports children with special health care needs and their families.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to uphold a previous order blocking the public charge rule in several states across the country. The contentious public charge rule, introduced in 2019 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), applies to persons seeking to immigrate to the United States who are likely to require government subsidies such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), long-term Medicaid, or housing assistance. The 9th Circuit concluded that the rule causes financial harm to states and would not promote self-sufficiency, as argued by the Trump Administration. The rule remains in effect in several states, and its future remains uncertain.
Plain language:
The public charge rule has been blocked in several states. Public charge means someone moving to the United States who could depend on the government for support. The rule allows the government not to let people from other countries who may be public charges become United States citizens.
What it means to you:
The public charge rule can discriminate against people with disabilities who want to become United States citizens.
The #AUCD2020 Conference begins today, Monday, December 7th! 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), Senator Patty Murray (Washington), and more!
Date and time: Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 12:00-1:15 pm EST
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 December 31st, 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
"Most importantly, I got to hear about the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities: what works for them, what needs to be improved, and how to support the development of a society where ALL members are valued and allowed to share their gifts and thrive."
This week on #AUCDPolicyTalk, Emily Stevens, a Doctoral Audiology Candidate at The Ohio State University and former LEND Trainee, shares how her experience attending the AUCD Annual Conference in 2019 has motivated her to continue advocating for the rights and needs of the disability community.
On this week's vintage #TWL, Liz sits down with AUCD Storytelling Committee Co-chair Dina Johnson to talk about why storytelling is so important in the disability community. Share your story with AUCD today!
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
Appropriations
COVID-19 Relief
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
AUCD Policy Talk
