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Congress Announces Framework for Deal on Omnibus Package
On December 14th, Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and Senate Ranking Member Shelby (R-AL) announced that they have a framework for an omnibus deal for Fiscal Year 2023. The details of the bill are anticipated as soon as this evening. In the interim, a new continuing resolution was passed until December 23rd, and it is expected that the final omnibus bill to fund federal programs for Fiscal Year 2023 will be most likely passed by the end of the week.
Plain Language
On December 14th, leadership in the House and the Senate announced that they had reached a deal to pass the funding bill for the rest of this fiscal year. There have not been any details announced yet. It is expected that the process could be finished by the end of the week.
Assistive Technology Reauthorization Included in the National Defense Authorization Act
Early this month, both the House of Representatives and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which funds the U.S. Department of Defense. The NDAA was passed in the House on December 8th and passed in the Senate on December 15th. The NDAA included the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (S. 2401 / H.R. 9028). The bill was sponsored by Senator Casey (D-PA), Senator Collins (R-ME), Senator Cramer (R-ND) and Senator Murkowski (R-AK) and Representative DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Representative Sempolinksi (R-NY). Chairman Scott (D-VA), Education and Labor Committee and Chairwoman Murray (D-WA), Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee worked to get the bill moved through committee and included in the NDAA. The bill provides increased grants to state programs that help connect people with disabilities to various assistive technology devices. President Biden is expected to sign the NDAA into law before the end of the year.
Plain Language
Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which funds our nation’s military and Department of Defense. The bill was sponsored by Senator Casey (D-PA), Senator Collins (R-ME), Senator Cramer (R-ND) and Senator Murkowski (R-AK) and Representative DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Representative Sempolinksi (R-NY). Senator Murray (D-WA) and Representative Scott (R-VA) worked to include the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act in the NDAA.
The 21st Century Assistive Technology Act provides more money to programs to help provide people with disabilities with assistive technology, like wheelchairs, screen-readers, hearing aids, and more. The bill is expected to become a law before the end of the year.
Action Steps
Read a statement from Senator Murray’s office. Read a statement from Representative Bobby Scott’s office. Read a statement from Senator Casey's office.
ABLE Age Adjustment Act
The ABLE Age Adjustment Act (S. 331 / H.R. 1219) was introduced by Senator Casey (D-PA) in the Senate and Representative Cárdenas (D-CA) and Representative McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) in the House of Representatives. This bill will increase the age eligibility for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46.
On June 22nd, the Senate Finance Committee marked-up the Enhancing American Retirement Now Act (EARN Act), which is a part of the larger retirement reform bill (SECURE 2.0). The ABLE Age Adjustment Act was included in the EARN Act as part of the mark-up. ABLE accounts are tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities to save money, while not disqualifying them from federal benefits like Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. AUCD recently signed on to this letter from the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination. AUCD and other partners are working to have the ABLE Age Adjustment Act included in an end of year package.
Plain Language
The ABLE Age Adjustment Act would increase the age to from 26 to 46 to open an ABLE savings account. ABLE accounts allow people to save money without risking losing federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid.
Action Steps
Learn more about ABLE accounts at the ABLE National Resource Center. Call your Members of Congress and educate them about the importance of passing legislation to create ABLE accounts for those ages 26-46 before the end of the year. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Senator Casey Releases Report on the Accessibility of Federal Technology
On December 14th, Senator Casey (D-PA) and the Majority Staff from the Senate Committee on Aging released “Unlocking the Virtual Door” a report that examines the Federal governments compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 requires the federal government to make sure required all Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This includes websites and documents.
The report found that: “The Department of Veterans Affairs has failed to consistently make its technology accessible for people with disabilities, including VA employees and veterans using VA services; Federal technology presents accessibility barriers for people with disabilities at departments and agencies across the government; Federal departments and agencies can take years to address Section 508 violations; and Insufficient oversight and enforcement of Section 508 standards have led to a lack of compliance with the law and Federal technology that is inaccessible for people with disabilities.” The report includes twelve steps that Congress and agencies can take to ensure accessibility.
Plain Language
On December 14th, Senator Casey and his staff from the Senate Committee on Aging released a report called “Unlocking the Virtual Door”, which looked at the accessibility of the Federal government. The report found that many agencies had issues with accessibility. The report included twelve steps to make information and websites accessible.
Action Steps
Read the full report from Senator Casey. Read the the two page explainer.
U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services Launches Blog Series on Discipline and Behavior Guidance
On December 8th, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) launched a new blog series that focuses on the discipline and behavior guidance previously issued by OSERS. The blog will explore issues of exclusionary discipline, informal removals, discipline disparities and more. The blog will include resources for stakeholders to help address the issue of addressing challenging behavior in schools.
Plain Language
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) started a new blog that explore the topics of discipline and guidance for students with disabilities in schools. The goal of the blog is to educate people on how to best address challenging behavior in schools.
Action Steps
Read the OSERS’ blog.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Releases Report on New COVID-19 Bivalent Boosters
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their weekly morbidity and mortality report discussing the new bivalent COVID-19 booster. The most recent report showed that about 150 million Americans are eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster and have not yet received it. Research shows that the new bivalent booster cuts the risk of hospitalization in half for most people. Additionally, for immunocompromised adults under the age of 65, the updated booster provides 73% additional protection against hospitalizations when compared to the previous booster. This new booster continues to provide much needed protection, and anyone who is eligible to receive the booster should strongly consider doing so.
Plain Language
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report on the new COVID-19 booster. The new booster provides more protection for everyone, including people with disabilities. If you are able to receive the new booster, you should strongly consider doing so.
Action Steps
Read the first report. Read the second report.
Policy related “How To” materials can be found on our website here. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the resources!
Tuesdays with Liz: 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
 
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For definitions of terms, please see AUCD's List of Policy Definitions
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