Major Events Last Week

Economic RecoverySenators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) crafted a compromise substitute amendment for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (S.1). According to the Senate Democratic leadership, the substitute will garner sufficient Republican support to overcome a filibuster (or endless debate). The following disability-related program increases remain in the substitute bill:* $87 billion over two years in the federal share of Medicaid spending (FMAP);* $13 billion for IDEA state grant program;* $500 million for the vocational rehabilitation state grant;
* $110 million for independent living;* $500 million for IDEA Part C early intervention;* $2.25 billion for the HOME (housing) program;* $100 million for lead paint abatement; * $400 million for the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX);* $16.7 billion for a $300 one-time payment to Social Security beneficiaries, including people with disabilities and retirees, beneficiaries receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and disabled veterans;* $750 million for a new National Computer Center for the Social Security Administration (SSA); and* $140 million for information technology for SSA. The substitute eliminates funding to make Section 811 Supportive Housing units more energy efficient. The Senate bill does not include an extension of moratoria on seven Medicaid regulations until July 1.Health CareThe House of Representatives passed and President Obama signed into law (P.L. 111-3) legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The law provides funding to expand the program to an additional 4.5 million children. Obama AdministrationEric H. Holder, Jr. was sworn in as Attorney General on Feb. 3, the day after the Senate confirmed him. Tom Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, pulled out of the nomination process for Secretary of Health and Human Services amid questions over his failure to pay about $140,000 in back taxes and interest. No official alternate nomination has been announced. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a vote on Hilda Solis' nomination as Secretary of Labor minutes before it was scheduled to take place. The delay came after a published report that Solis' husband had recently settled outstanding tax liens against his auto repair business. EmploymentThe unemployment rate of people with disabilities is 13.2 percent according to the federal Department of Labor. The survey that the Department uses to determine the official unemployment rates includes questions about disability for the first time. The DPC has posted a Q & A fact sheet to help make sense of the new rate at:http://www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=1481
TransportationAmtrak submitted to Congress its detailed report on accessibility and compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Amtrak was required in the 2008 reauthorization to develop a report and plan for meeting the ADA deadline of having all their stations accessible by 2010. Amtrak did not provide a plan as required, but instead requested that the deadline be extended to September 30 2015 and called on Congress to provide significant funding to support the station accessibility improvements. TechnologyA bill to postpone the digital television (DTV) transition date passed in the House. The House passed the DTV Delay Act (S. 328) to extend the February 17th digital switch over until June 12th. This four month extension is intended to help transition the remaining 3 million households that are still unprepared for the analog to digital TV switch. The bill also extends the last day consumers can use the converter box coupons from March 31st to July 31, 2009. The $650 million available for additional converter box coupons remains in the Senate's version of the stimulus bill that is tentatively scheduled for a vote tomorrow. Major Events Ahead
Economic Recovery Today the Senate will vote on a motion to limit debate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (S.1). Sixty votes are needed and it is expected that it will pass. If so, the Senate will vote on final passage of the legislation tomorrow. A House-Senate Conference Committee will then begin to resolve differences between the House and Senate bills. The goal is to complete Conference Committee deliberations and vote on final passage in both chambers by the President's Day recess which begins on February 13th. Many believe reaching that goal is highly unlikely. Health CareOn Tuesday the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) will hold a hearing on "Budget Options for Health Programs." For more information see:http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/hearingstate.htmlOn Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship, chaired by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), will hold a hearing on "Competitive Bidding for Durable Medical Equipment." For more information see:http://www.house.gov/smbiz/EmploymentOn Thursday, the House Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee is holding a hearing on "New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act." Among the witnesses will be Steve Wooderson, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator. For more information see: http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/02/new-innovations-and-best-pract.shtml
Announcements
Information and Social Networking ResourceUnited Cerebral Palsy and UCP of New York City have made available My Child Without Limits, a comprehensive informational and social networking resource for caregivers of children ages 0-5 with developmental disabilities, and the professionals who work with them. The Web site currently includes information on developmental milestones, early intervention, education planning, family suport services, special needs planning, assistive technology, common treatments and therapies, and alternative treaments and therapies. See: http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.orgEmploymentThe Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) just released two new fact sheets. Making Workplace Accommodations: Reasonable Cost, Big Benefits and Employee Assistance Programs for a New Generation of Employees: Defining the Next Generation have been posted on ODEP's Web page at http://www.dol.gov/odep