Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Major Congressional Events Update


FROM NRCA—
Update: Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
The House Appropriations Committee adopted the FY 2010 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education on Friday. The bill contains funding for entitlement programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and SSI. The House bill appropriates $163 billion for discretionary programs such as IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation. No action has yet occurred on a Senate bill.

Update: Departments of Transportation and HUD
The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies bill. It includes a $100 billion increase for the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program.

Update: Employment
Last Thursday, the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee held a hearing on reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. WIA authorizes the workforce development program and Title IV is the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Officials from the Departments of Labor and Education provided testimony as well as other employment community stakeholders testified about ways to improve access and services for people with disabilities.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The provision of passing a bill for 2010 of 163 million for discretionary programs. Also, the bill to include 100 million for transportation and housing in urban development for people with disabilities. Is good news for there is such a demand of improvement in the transportation for people with disabilities. This continues to be a ongoing concern as well as housing. The bill 811 being considered for supported housing for persons with disabilities is very much needed. I am enlightened to see some movement in seeing our tax dolllars go to good use. The three populations of most concern to me are "children, people with disabilities and the elderly". We need to continue to strive towards lobbying for further funding and regulating acts to protect the rights of the mentioned groups.

Tina Casares
REHS 6300