Dear Policy Watchers: 


Someone remarked that “short workweeks always take the longest.” Well, it was a very long week for Washington DC, especially for people waiting for the House to pass disaster relief. It’s a bit ironic that on the eve of Atlantic Hurricane season, Congress is holding up disaster relief. Representative John Rose became the third House Republican lawmaker to object to the Senate-passed disaster relief bill, which means passage will be delayed until it's taken up in a roll call vote next week. The relief bill was initially stalled last Friday by Rep. Chip Roy after the House tried to move the measure via unanimous consent, and it was again blocked on Tuesday when Rep. Thomas Massie objected. President Trump supports the bill and says he intends to sign it when it reaches his desk, likely shortly after the House reconvenes for roll call votes Monday. 


Here are some more notes from DC: 

Action Needed: Office of Disability Employment Policy seeks feedback on 14(c) programs. 

DD Councils and disability advocates have made significant progress towards phasing out Section 14(c) programs and establishing the legal right of people with disabilities to work in integrated and competitive employment. I hope you will weigh in to let ODEP know how your council feels about 14(c) in your state. Whether your state has already eliminated 14(c) or if you are still working on it, it is important for advocates to educate ODEP about how providers can successfully transition out of 14(c) and why competitive and integrated employment is critical to community living. Several advocacy groups are sending out action alerts. You can see Center for Public Representation’s alert here.  Their alert provides great ideas to get you started on a comment.  


Click here for the link https://14cdialogue.ideascale.com/ to the official notice and website to submit comments.  


New NCD report on forced institutionalization after disaster. 

Just in time for the start of hurricane season, the National Council on Disability, released a report last Friday that examined available data from several major storms and disasters and found that people with disabilities are frequently institutionalized during and after disasters due to conflicting federal guidance; a lack of equal access to emergency and disaster-related programs and services; and a lack of compliance with federal law. This report is a sober look into involuntary institutionalization and the lack of coordinated emergency response that exacerbates the problem. The report recommendations are mirrored in the NACDD endorsed  Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act (REAADI Act)  and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA). Both bills are expected to be introduced in the next few weeks.

 

To read the report, click https://ncd.gov/publications/2019/preserving-our-freedom 


 

Save the date! 2019 Quarterly Meeting, June 11, 2-3pm Eastern. 
Please mark your calendars to join me for our quarterly policy call on June 11.  We’ll cover federal issues and have a special state spotlight on the crisis of care giving.  I’m excited to announce that Joseph M. Macbeth, Executive Director, NADSP will be our guest speaker.  

 

Have a great weekend! 
 

Erin Prangley 

Director, Policy 
NACDD