Major Recent Events
Budget & Appropriations: House Passes Funding Bills to End Partial Government Shutdown
On January 18, the House passed a six-week continuing resolution (CR) by voice vote to extend temporary funding through February 28 for agencies that are not presently funded. The CR contains six spending bills that were negotiated by the House and Senate last fall: Agriculture, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, Interior-Environment, State and Foreign Ops, and Commerce-Justice-Science. The package also includes a way to pay furloughed federal employees. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will not bring any spending measure to the Senate for a vote unless the President has agreed to sign it. President Trump maintains he will not sign the measures to end the partial shutdown if they do not include $5.7 billion for the border wall with Mexico. The Arc supports promptly restoring funding for agencies funded through the Commerce-Justice-Science and Transportation-HUD appropriations packages as these agencies operate programs important to people with disabilities.
Medicaid/LTSS: Senate Approves MFP Extension
On January 17, the Senate approved H.R.259, which extends the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program until September 30. The MFP program has helped more than 88,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities move out of nursing homes and institutions. Independent evaluations have proven that MFP improves the quality of life for individuals and has reduced Medicaid and Medicare expenditures by approximately 23%. The Arc strongly supports reauthorization of MFP. Additionally, the bill extends Medicaid’s spousal impoverishment protections for home and community-based services beneficiaries until March 31. The spousal impoverishment protection allows the spouse of a Medicaid long term services and supports (LTSS) beneficiary to maintain a modest amount of income and resources for food, rent, and medication. The bill now awaits President Trump’s signature. The Arc would like to thank advocates who contacted their Members of Congress on this important issue.
Rights/LTSS: Disability Integration Act Reintroduced
On January 15, Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reintroduced the Disability Integration Act (H.R.555/S.117). The Disability Integration Act requires states to offer community-based options. Additionally, it requires states to address the need for affordable housing. ADAPT and other advocates held a briefing on the day of introduction.
Congress: New Ways and Means Committee Members Announced
Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) announced the following new members of the House Ways and Means Committee: Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), and Drew Ferguson (R-GA). Additionally, he announced the following Representatives will serve as Ranking Members on subcommittees: Devin Nunes (R-CA), Health; Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Human Resources; Mike Kelly (R-PA), Oversight; Tom Reed (R-NY), Social Security; Adrian Smith (R-NE), Tax; and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Trade.
Announcements
Education: Education Department Announces Initiative to Address Use of Restraint and Seclusion on Students With Disabilities
On January 17, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced a new initiative to address the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities. The initiative will include compliance reviews, data collection improvements, and technical assistance. The Arc welcomes this new initiative and hopes for meaningful progress in reducing the use of restraint and seclusion, including passage of the Keeping All Students Safe Act. Read The Arc’s statement.
Family Support: Study on Impact of Caregiving on Workforce Released
Harvard Business School’s Managing the Future of Work Project released a new report documenting the near-universal nature of caregiving and the economic impact on companies. The report finds that “helping employees address their personal caregiving obligations is an approach employers almost entirely overlook as a mechanism for maximizing employee productivity and minimizing turnover.” The report provides solutions for employers to address this gap.
Research & Data: CHN, LCCHR to Host Census Webinar On January 23, the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) and Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) will host a webinar titled “Census 2020: Why getting it right matters (a lot!).” Speakers include Mary Jo Hoeksema, Director of Government Affairs, Population Association of America, and Co-Director, The Census Project; Beth Lynk, Census Counts Campaign Director, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Deborah Stein, Network Director, Partnership for America’s Children; Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs; and Corrine Yu, Senior Program Director, Special Projects, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The decennial census is required by the Constitution and is conducted every 10 years. The purpose of the decennial census is to count people living in the United States. It provides the information to states in order to determine Congressional districts and it helps allocate federal funding. In this webinar, you will learn what will happen between now and 2020, how to advocate for a fair census, and what you can do to ensure an accurate census. The webinar will take place on January 23 at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Register here.
