Happy Thanksgiving
Month: November 2020
Capitol Insider for the Week of November 23
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Contact your members of Congress and urge them to:
Major Recent Events
Keeping All Students Safe Act Reintroduced
On November 19, the Keeping All Students Safe Act was reintroduced in the House and Senate. The bill is sponsored by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA); Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT); House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA); Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA); and Representative Donald McEachin (D-VA).
This bill would prohibit physical restraint that is life-threatening or restricts breathing, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and seclusion in schools that receive federal funding. Physical restraint would only be allowed when a student’s behavior poses an imminent danger to self or others. The bill also requires states to ensure schools have appropriately trained personnel and prohibits individualized education programs or behavior intervention plans from including provisions allowing the use of restraint or seclusion, among other provisions. See the bill text here, the fact sheet here, and the press release here.
The Arc strongly supports this legislation.
Announcements
Education Department Unveils COVID Relief Spending Portal
On November 20, the Department of Education launched an online portal showing the amounts of CARES Act funding awarded and spent by state education agencies, school districts, and institutions of higher education (IHE). The portal provides advocates information regarding the amount of funding that remains available for each school district or IHE. Find the portal here.
The Arc is fighting for the human and civil rights of people with I/DD and their right to live and be included in their communities. Our success depends on support from advocates like you. Donate today!
Capitol Insider for the Week of November 16
| Take Action Now It’s Time for the Senate to Act! Tell Congress to Include the Disability Community in COVID-19 Relief Bills #WeAreEssential |
| Major Recent Events Biden Defeats Trump, Democrats Retain House Majority, Senate Majority Undetermined On November 3, the United States held elections for President, 35 Senators, and all members of the House of Representatives. According to all major networks, former Vice President Joe Biden is the projected or apparent winner with at least 290 electoral votes, compared to incumbent President Donald Trump’s 232. A minimum of 270 electoral votes is required to win. Additionally, most networks have called Georgia’s 16 electoral votes for Vice President Biden. All major networks project that Democrats will retain control of the House of Representatives with a smaller majority than they have in the current Congress. Senate Republicans will control at least 50 seats while Senate Democrats will control at least 48 (including 2 Independents in their caucus). Control of both of Georgia’s Senate seats will be determined by a run-off election on January 5, because Georgia law requires candidates to receive more than 50% of the vote in order to win. Republicans need only win one of the two seats to retain their majority. Democrats must win both seats to create a tie. If both parties control 50 seats, Democrats will become the majority party by virtue of the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote. Most newly elected members of Congress will take office on January 3. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20. See The Arc’s Statement. Senate Appropriations Committee Releases Draft FY 2021 Appropriations Bills On November 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its draft appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2021. Most of The Arc’s priority programs receive level funding. However, some programs receive significant increases, including Lifespan Respite Care Act (16%), Special Olympics Education Programs (12%), and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (16.9%). The House and Senate will need to reconcile the considerable differences in their spending bills to avoid another continuing resolution. Funding levels for The Arc’s priority programs can be found here. |
| The Arc is fighting for the human and civil rights of people with I/DD and their right to live and be included in their communities. Our success depends on support from advocates like you. Donate today! |
Justice Department Enters Agreement to Resolve Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
Today, the Justice Department entered into a settlement agreement with the Commissioner of the Revenue for Caroline County, Virginia, in his official capacity, to resolve a lawsuit brought under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lawsuit alleged that a former Commissioner of the Revenue discriminated against an employee with a respiratory impairment by denying her request for reasonable accommodations without an interactive process and then terminating her. Under the agreement, the employee will receive $75,000 in back pay and compensatory damages; the defendant and the county human resources manager will attend a presentation on title I of the ADA; and, if the defendant has enough employees to be a covered entity during the agreement’s term, the defendant will revise reasonable accommodations policies, provide training on the ADA, and file periodic reports with the department on the agreement’s implementation.
For more information on the ADA or this settlement agreement, please visit ADA.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 800-514-0383).