 Appropriations
On Monday, February 7, 2022, the House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) introduced the short-term Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act, which continues federal government funding through March 11, 2022 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations. The House and Senate have voted to approve the short-term continuing resolution (CR). CR’s continue annual program funding at the same levels as the prior FY and is separate from the emergency funding.Funding for AUCD programs and most programs that impact people with disabilities is included in the Labor, Health, Human Services and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill. The House passed the LHHS bill on July 29, 2021 (H.R. 4502). The Senate LHHS bill (S. 3062) is still in draft form. On February 9th, Leadership in the House of Representatives and Senate announced they had reached a bi-partisan bi-cameral deal on how to finish the process for FY 2022.
AUCD has signed onto the following letters asking Congress to finish the appropriations bills for FY 2022 and to not pass a full year CR.
Plain language:
- Congress is working to fund programs that impact people with disabilities.
What it means to you:
- Appropriations is the act of setting aside money for a specific program. These programs are critical to ensuring people with disabilities receive a quality education, can be employed and receive services and supports in the community. It is important that programs with and for people with disabilities receive increased funding including AUCD’s centers and programs.
Action steps:
- Call and educate your Members of Congress about the importance of increased funding in FY 22 for programs for persons with disabilities. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDE A Act (H.R. 6532) (S.3544)
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Jared Huffman (D-CA), and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act (H.R. 6532) (S.3544).
The bipartisan bill would provide increased funding for Section 619 (Grants to states for preschool programs serving children with disabilities ages three to five) and Part C (Grants to support states in implementing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Plain language:
- Young children with disabilities have the right to high quality education support and services.
What does this mean for you?
- The Right IDEA Act would provide more federal funding to support children with disabilities in receiving early intervention services and preschool programs.
Action Steps:
- Read Congressman DeSaulnier’s press release for more background on the introduction of the Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act.
- See other organizations that signed onto support the bill at the bottom of the press release.
- Call and educate your Members of Congress about the importance of increased funding for early intervention services and preschool programs. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
 Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing: “Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Highlighting Innovations, Maximizing Inclusive Practices and Overcoming Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities”
The Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (Senate HELP Committee) held a hearing on Tuesday, February 8th on the “Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Highlighting Innovations, Maximizing Inclusive Practices and Overcoming Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities.
The hearing examined existing barriers to employment for people with disabilities. The hearing noted that people with disabilities are over-represented in essential jobs, putting people with disabilities in situations where they are more at-risk to be impacted by COVID-19. The hearing also noted that 1 in 4 people have a disability and more and more people are starting to identify as having a disability due to Long COVID. Many people with disabilities lost their jobs throughout the continuing pandemic. The poverty rate for people with disabilities was reported to be 26%.
Witnesses for the hearing included:
- Dr. Lisa Schur, Professor, Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University Director, Program for Disability Research
- Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer of Microsoft
- Francis A. Kineavy, Disability Advocate
- Brian Dennis, Workforce Program Coordinator of Disability Services, Iowa Workforce Development
AUCD’s, the National Disability Rights Network’s (NDRN), and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) submitted a statement for the record for the hearing.
Plain language:
- There are many challenges that make it hard for people with disabilities to find and keep work.
What does this mean for us:
- Policies need to be improved to support people with disabilities in being able to find keep jobs for real wages in the community.
Action items:
 Released Discussion Draft of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act)On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, a d iscussion draft of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) has been released by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ranking Member, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC).
The PREVENT Pandemics Act works to create a stronger public health preparedness and response system. Some key components include improving the strategy and coordination among our public health preparedness agencies; strengthening supply chain and government stockpiles of medical products, such as masks, drugs, vaccines, and tests; responding to disparities that make public health emergencies harder on at-risk populations and communities; and improving public health communication and addressing misinformation. AUCD submitted comments to the discussion draft of the PREVENT Pandemics Act.
Plain language:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging and difficult time. We need new policies that make sure the U.S. is prepared for all future public health emergencies.
What this means for us:
- There is work being done to improve our public health emergency preparedness system. The PREVENT Pandemics Act applies lessons learned during the pandemic and looks to address the need for better policies to keep people safe and healthy.
Action steps:
- Read the discussion draft of the PREVENT Pandemics Act:
 National Disability Rights Network Published Restraint and Seclusion Federal Policy Update White PaperThe National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) published a “Restraint and Seclusion” federal policy update white paper in February 2022. The white paper summarizes steps taken by Congress and federal agencies to address the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The white paper also documents examples of the use of restraint and seclusion incidents by the Protection & Advocacy Agencies.
Plain language:
- Schools should be safe for all students, so they can learn.
What does this mean for you:
- Progress has been made to address restraint and seclusion in schools, but more needs to be done to ensure students are safe.
Action steps:
 Disability Policy Seminar 2022
We’re getting excited for this year’s Disability Policy Seminar (DPS)! DPS is a three-day event, where passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field come together and learn about key issues that affect them. DPS will take place from March 28-30, 2022. This year, there options to participate either virtually or in-person in Washington, D.C. Registration costs will be the same for both options. Registration is open.
Plain language:
- Disability Policy Seminar is a three-day event, where disability advocates and professionals can learn more about the issues that impact them. It takes place every year.
What this means for you:
- This year’s Disability Policy Seminar will have virtual and in-person options, so all participants can feel safe.
Action steps:
- Save the date! DPS will be from March 28-30, 2022. The AUCD Pre-DPS event will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
- Start talking to your centers and colleagues if you have an interest in attending virtually or in-person.
- Register and read the other updates.
 Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All
Did you know that Liz has a YouTube Channel?
'Tuesdays with Liz' is a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy. It is hosted by Liz Weintraub, a long-time disability advocate, and produced by AUCD.
You can help spread her message by:
- Subscribing to the Tuesdays with Liz YouTube Channel!
- Liking videos on the channel
- Making comments on the channel
 
For more from AUCD, follow @AUCDNews and like AUCD on Facebook
For definitions of terms, please see AUCD's List of Policy Definitions
|
