Several Critical Legislative Events This Week

WASHINGTON, DC— Several important legislative events are on slate this week, as reported by the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association through the ARC/UCP Capitol Insider.

Tuesday, March 24:

• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) will introduce the Community Choice Act (CCA) in both Houses of Congress. Under the CCA, people with disabilities and older people will select care options and supports in their own homes and communities. As Senators, both President Obama and Vice President Biden were CCA co-sponsors
• The House Education and Labor Committee will hold "The Importance of Early Childhood Development." For more information, please visit: http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/03/the-importance-of-early-childh.shtml
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Ensuring Affordable Coverage." Visit the following link for additional information: http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1534&Itemid=1

Wednesday, March 25:

• The Senate Finance Committee's Heath Subcommittee, Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chair, will hold "What is Health Care Quality and Who Decides?" For more information, click on http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing031809.htm
• The House Homeland Security Committee will hold "PKEMRA (Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act) Implementation: An Examination of FEMA's Preparedness and Response Mission." Details are available at: http://homeland.house.gov/about/schedule.asp
  
  
  

Obama's "Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities"

The American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) reports on the four core themes of President Barack Obama’s Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities:

1. Providing Americans with Disabilities Educational Opportunities including full federal funding for IDEA, improving college opportunities, and improving transition
2. Ending Discrimination and Promoting Equality of Opportunity for People with Disabilities by implementing the ADA Amendments Act and Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, judicial appointments, increasing enforcement funding, and by improving access to health care, including mental health care
3. Increasing the Employment Rate of Workers with Disabilities by improving federal hiring and federal contractor hiring, creating a national commission to look at Social Security work disincentives, and by promoting workplace flexibility
4. Supporting Independent, Community-based Living for Americans with Disabilities by passing Community Choice Act and CLASS Act, implementing the Olmstead decision, protecting voting rights, fixing Medicare "homebound" rules, improving access to technology, and by strengthening the VA

Early in his campaign, Barack Obama responded to an AAPD questionnaire developed and submitted with the National Council on Independent Living, ADAPT, and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered. Obama will have a full-time Assistant to the President for Disability Policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council to carry out his disability Plan.

To work with President-Elect Obama on disability-related concerns during his transition and in his administration, AAPD is creating a talent bank of interested AAPD members. Send Resumes to resumes@aapd.com.

McCain Rejects Community Choice Act

July 29, 2008

WASHINGTON— Presidential candidate John McCain (R-Arizona) DOES NOT support the Community Choice Act (CCA), legislation allowing people with disabilities to choose home-based or community care with in-home services by increasing the percentage of Medicaid that goes toward in-home care. Past Chair of the National Council on Disability (NDC; http://www.ncd.gov/) Marca Bristo says McCain has a long history of opposing the CCA. However, McCain may be preparing to “flip-flop” on the issue. Barack Obama is a co-sponsor of the Act (http://obama.senate.gov/press/080115-statement_of_se_14/).

COMMENT
Bristo says the disability community can’t afford more failed policies or eight more years of the status quo, and so do we. Bob Kafka, President of the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT; http://www.adapt.org/) says McCain should be aware of the influence the disability community has in the up-coming election. Should we trust McCain if he changes his stand on the CCA? Will he simply flip back again if he wins the election? Most importantly, can people with disabilities afford to take the chance? McCain supports the VA and veterans with disabilities, but does not offer the same support for other people with disabilities. His personal experiences may be a factor but a President should not run a country based on personal interests alone—we have seen enough of that already.

SOURCES
· http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
· http://talkradionews.com/2008/07/disabled-community-deserves-better/

RELATED
Track the Community Choice Act:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-799
Downloadable audio of McCain’s anti-CCA comments:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/09/john-mccain-blows-off-supporting-the-community-choice-act-at-town-hall-meeting/
Audio and video of the Bristo & Kafka conference call regarding CCA/McCain:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
Video of McCain speaking about the Community Choice Act:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0lBN14rTeQ
Background on the Act from the National Council on Independent Living:
http://www.ncil.org/news/communitychoiceact.html
CCA talking points from ADAPT:http://www.adapt.org/casa/talkingpts.html