Action Alert
Protect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities: Oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s Confirmation
Urge Congress to Pass the EMPOWER Care Act
Major Events Ahead
Social Security – Senate Committee to Hold Hearing on Nomination of SSA Commissioner
On October 2, the Senate Committee on Finance will hold a hearing on the Nomination of Andrew M. Saul, of New York, to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the term expiring January 19, 2019. Visit the Committee web site for more information or to access live video on the day of the hearing.
Major Recent Events
Tax – House Approves Tax Cut Package
On September 28, the House of Representatives approved a package of three tax bills (H.R. 6760, H.R. 6757, H.R. 6756), collectively referred to as “Tax Reform 2.0” by a vote of 220-191. The centerpiece of the package, H.R. 6760, makes permanent the individual tax cuts from last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are presently set to expire in 2025. The Tax Policy Center estimates that tax revenues would fall by $3.2 trillion over a 10-year period under H.R. 6760, on top of the $1.9 trillion that last year’s tax law is already expected to cost. The Senate is not expected to take up the measure prior to the mid-term elections. The Arc opposes Tax Reform 2.0 as it sharply reduces federal revenue, extends tax cuts that primarily benefit wealthy individuals, and will create greater pressure to cut critical programs for people with disabilities. Read more from CCD here.
Budget & Appropriations – FY 2019 L-HHS-ED Funding Bill Signed into Law
On September 28, President Trump signed into law a measure that funds the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (L-HHS-ED) for fiscal year (FY) 2019 that begins on October 1. The measure also includes funding for the Department of Defense and a continuing resolution for other federal agencies until December 7. The package had been approved by the House on September 26. Most of The Arc’s priority programs were level funded or received slight increases and controversial policy riders have been removed. Additionally, $300,000 was added to fund the Caregiving Advisory Council established under the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and $5 million was added to fund Care Corps, a network of volunteer caregivers. The House is expected to vote on the package this week. Funding levels for The Arc’s priority programs can be found here.
Social Security – House Committee Holds Hearing on SSA’s Information Technology
On September 27, the House Ways and Means Committee Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing on the “State of Social Security’s Information Technology.” Witnesses were Rajive Mathur, Deputy Commissioner of Systems and Chief Information Officer, Social Security Administration; Gale Stallworth Stone, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration; and Carol C. Harris, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, Government Accountability Office. Visit the Committee web site to review testimony and archived video.
