Disability Included Under Hate Crime Protections

US-- S. 909, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), included in S. 1390, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 HAS PASSED THE SENATE. It will now head to President Obama for signature.

Under this measure, federal hate crime law is expanded to cover offenses based on a victim's gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, or on a disability.

Several controversial amendments proposed to S.1390 by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and John Thune (R-SD) also passed the Senate. Senator Sessions' amendments allow the death penalty in certain cases involving hate crimes and gives the Attorney General the ability to set the criteria that determines if a hate crime has been committed. Senator Thune's amendment allows state-to-state reciprocity for concealed weapon permits.

RELATED:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/hrc-matthew-shepard-act-passes---contact-your-senators.html
http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=4361
http://www.tips-q.com/news/msm/1160317-hrc-senate-adopts-unwelcomed-amendments-matthew-shepard-hate-crimes-prevention-act
http://www.queerty.com/shock-death-penalty-officially-on-the-table-for-hate-crimes-20090721/

NRA Urging Calls to Congress to Retain VR and IL Dollars

The National Rehabilitation Association is urging its membership and other interested individuals and groups to contact their Congressional Representatives to urge support for Ovcational Rehabilitation and Independent Living money currently in the Stimulus package. The NRA's Washington Wire reports, "The Senate Conferees are: Senators Harry Reid (D.NV.); Senator Chuck Grassley (R.IA.); Senator Daniel Inouye (D.HI.); Senator Thad Cochran (R.MS.) and Senator Max Baucus (D.MT.) House Conferees include: Congressman Dave Obey (D.WI.); Congressman Henry Waxman (D.CA.); Congressman Charles Rangel (D.N.Y.); Congressman Jim Oberstar (D.MN.); Congressman JERRY Lewis (R.CA.) and Congressman David Camp (R.MN.)".
NRA further urges, "Call your Senators and Congresspersons, as well as the Senators and Congresspersons immediately listed above, who comprise the Conference Committee, and advise them that the additional funding for VR is critical to the continuation of securing and retaining employment and community living for individuals with disabilities who want to work."

To find the contact information for your representatives, visit:

• Senators: www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• Represenatives: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html

U.S. Senate Passes Children's Health Legislation

From the National Rehabilitation Association's Legislative Network (Patricia Leahy, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy):

On January 29, the U.S. Senate passed, on a roll call vote of 66-32, The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (SCHIP). The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of this legislation on January 14, 2009. The SCHIP program had been scheduled to expire on March 31 of this year. Both bills extend the program for 4-1/2 years and renew the SCHIP program.

Highlights of the bill include continuing coverage for 7 million children currently enrolled in SCHIP, plus an additional 4 million children who do not currently have insurance. The Senate version of the legislation, like its House counterpart, abolishes the five-year waiting period and allows States to offer coverage immediately to children of legal immigrants. The Senate bill will remove higher co-payments and stricter limits on the number of treatment visits, creating parity between mental health services and medical and surgical benefits provided by the plans. The Federal cigarette tax, which is currently at 39 cents a pack, is being raised to $1.00 per pack to cover the extension of SCHIP.

The bill:

• Gives States the option of providing dental coverage to some families with slightly higher incomes and provides additional money to States to recruit and enroll eligible children.
  
• Caps the Federal government’s contribution for children in families above 300 percent of the poverty level.

Both bills are headed to a Conference Committee where they will iron out the differences of the House and Senate versions. The President is expected to sign this legislation, once the Conference Report is completed and passed by both Houses of Congress.