On February 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) will host a webinar on the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. While the proposals in this budget are not expected to be enacted by Congress, the President’s budget reflects the priorities of the Administration, some of which can be carried out through other means such administrative rule-making. In this webinar, experts will discuss what the Trump budget would do and how it would affect people across the country now and into the future. Speakers will be Tamara Fucile, Director of Government Affairs and Senior Advisor, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; and Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs.
Monthly Archives: February 2020
Public Online Meeting of RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council to Take Place This Week
The RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council will hold its second meeting on February 11 and 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. The virtual meeting is open to the public and can be accessed on the Council’s webpage. This council was established under the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act of 2018. Nancy Murray, President of The Arc of Greater Pittsburg at Achieva, and James Cheely, President of The Arc of Barren County, Kentucky were selected to be members of the Family Caregiver Advisory Council. The council is charged with assisting the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the development of a National Family Caregiving Strategy.
Medicaid: CMS Releases New Block Grant Guidance
On January 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance allowing states to cap their federal Medicaid funding for the low-income adult population in exchange for greater flexibility to limit coverage. States would be allowed to restrict eligibility, provide limited health care benefits, reduce access to prescription drugs, impose burdensome work requirements, and make other changes that are detrimental to Medicaid beneficiaries. This guidance does not appear to directly impact the portion of the Medicaid program that funds home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). However, many people with disabilities, including people with I/DD, are part of the Medicaid expansion population and could be directly impacted. Read The Arc’s statement.
Employment/Family Support: House Committee Holds Hearing on Paid Leave
On January 28, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing titled “Legislative Proposals for Paid Family and Medical Leave.” Witnesses were Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY); Joan Lunden, former host of Good Morning America and women’s health and wellness advocate; Kemi Role, Director of Work Equity at the National Employment Law Project; Sharon Terman, Director of Work and Family Policy at Legal Aid at Work of California; Hadley Heath Manning, Director of Policy at Independent Women’s Forum and Independent Women’s Voice; Rebecca Hamilton, Co-CEO of W.S. Badger; and Vicki Shabo, Senior Fellow for Paid Leave Policy and Strategy at New America. Visit the Committee website for more information or to access video of the hearing. For more on ensuring that paid leave works for people with disabilities, visit thearc.org/paidleave.
Housing: House Committee to Hold Hearing on Fair Housing Rule
On February 5 at 2:00 p.m., the House Committee of Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will hold a hearing titled “A Threat to America’s Children: The Trump Administration’s Proposal to Gut Fair Housing Accountability.” This is part of a series of hearings exploring the impact the Administration’s regulatory policies on children. Witnesses will be Ms. Ateira Griffin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, BOND, Inc – Building Our Nation’s Daughters; Ms. Ellen Lee, Director of Community and Economic Development, City of New Orleans; Dr. Megan Sandel, Principal Investigator, Children’s Healthwatch, Boston Medical Center; and Mr. Jorge Andres Soto, Director of Public Policy, National Fair Housing Alliance. Visit the Committee website for more information or to access live video on the day of the hearing.
Input for National Family Caregiver Strategy Due February 7
The Administration on Community Living (ACL) is seeking public input for the development of a national strategy on family caregiving. Advocates are encouraged to comments on issues relating to caregiving, such as paid leave, tax credits, and respite options. Please see the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ sample comments. Submit your comments here by February 7.