Dear NACDD Policy Watchers, 

Happy Friday! I’m writing you to get you up to speed on policy happenings in Washington DC that your DD Council might find interesting.  If you do not wish to receive these emails in the future, please just send me a note and I will remove you from the list. But, hopefully, I can keep you interested. And I encourage you to share this email with DD Council staff and members. There’s a lot going on! 

FY2020 Appropriations 

The House Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations Subcommittee released their spending report for Fiscal Year 2020, which starts October 1, 2019. Although ACL recommended significant cuts to DD Act programs, NACDD was successful in lobbying for increased funding levels in the House bill. Please note the numbers below are from the House legislation which still must be passed by the full House and then conferenced with the Senate legislation (Senate is holding its hearing soon). But this is very good news to share.  

o Developmental Disabilities State Councils. The Committee recommends $80,000,000 for State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, which is $4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $24,000,000 above the ACL fiscal year 2020 budget request.  

o University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDDs). The Committee recommends $41,619,000 for University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, which is $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $9,073,000 above the ACL fiscal year 2020 budget request.  

o Developmental Disabilities Protection and Advocacy The Committee recommends $43,000,000 for Developmental Disabilities Protection and Advocacy, which is $2,266,000 above the 2019 enacted level and $4,266,000 above the fiscal year 2020 budget request.  

o Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance The Committee recommends $13,000,000 for Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance, which is $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $11,950,000 above the fiscal year 2020 budget request.  

Administration for Community Living Reorganization  

Recently, ACL announced its plan to reorganize the agency for the purposes of efficiencies and uniformity. The short version is that although there has been a rearranging of deck chairs, our DD Councils will not see any immediate changes to the way we do business with ACL but we are concerned about the long term effects of some of the changes. The plan continues to have the Administration on Disability (AoD) with Julie Hocker remaining as the Commissioner. Under AoD would be 3 Offices:  

o The Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Programs (including DD Councils and UCEDDs);  

o The Office of Independent Living Programs (CILs, SILCS etc.); and  

o The Office of Disability Services and Innovation (Including the P&As, PNS, HAVA, Traumatic Brain Injury, Limb Loss)  

NACDD and our DD Act sister organizations wrote to offer feedback to the proposed reorganization which is set to take effect August 1.   

Autism CARES Act  

Can you imagine a world without the LEND Program?!?!?!?  That is what we will get if Congress does not act. The Autism CARES Act, which has expanded research and coordination, increased public awareness and surveillance, and expanded interdisciplinary health professional training, including LENDs, to identify and support children and youth with Autism and their families - will sunset (expire) on September 30, 2019, without a successful reauthorization. Bills to reauthorize the Act have been introduced and need co-sponsors (HR. 1058, S. 427). Currently 19 Senators and 63 Representatives have joined as co-sponsors. NACDD is working with Hill sponsors to try to pass this legislation without disrupting these important programs. 

AUCD has taken the lead in advocating to reauthorize the Autism CARES Act. Take a minute right now to send a message to your member of Congress by going to this link https://advocacy.aucd.org/aucd/app/onestep-write-a-letter?0&engagementId=495754 

New Leadership for the Bipartisan Disability Caucus 

We are pleased to announce that Congressman Don Young has agreed to be the new co-chair of the Bipartisan Disability Caucus (BDC), alongside co-chair Congressman Jim Langevin. The BDC serves as a bipartisan forum for members of Congress to discuss issues which impact people with disabilities. The Caucus was founded over fifteen years ago with the primary being to inform, educate and raise awareness about these issues. Don Young is a Republican Congressman in Alaska who recently won the “Friend of the Developmental Disabilities Act Programs Award” which was awarded by our very own Council on Developmental Disabilities in Alaska. He is a true advocate for those with disabilities and has done important work on issues relevant to the community. 

Hearing on Employment Expected to Focus on Disability 

On May 21, 2019 the Committee on Education and Labor will be holding a hearing on “Eliminating Barriers to Employment: Opening Doors to Opportunity”. Our position is one of support for competitive integrated employment for all persons with disabilities. Due to this position we support the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act and the full implementation of competitive integrated employment outlined in the WIOA regulations. You can watch the hearing live on the committee webpage.  

HEADs UP Act  

Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population (HEADs UP) Act (H.R. 2417). NACDD supports the HEADs UP Act that would direct the Health Services and Resources Administration to designate people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population so they can receive greater resources and access to existing medical and dental assistance programs.  

I hope this information is helpful. Please contact me if you need additional information.