>> SLIDE 1 The National Council on Independent Living presents – NCIL’s 2020 Policy Briefing July 14, 2020 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT >> SLIDE 2 Agenda - Welcome and Logistics: Tim Fuchs - NCIL priorities: Cliff Perez - Rehab Act / ILA: Ann McDaniel - Housing: Brian Peters - Healthcare & LTSS: Ami Hyten - ADA / Civil Rights: Steve Higgins, Kimberly Tissot - Transportation: Peter Johnke - Emergency Preparedness: Todd Holloway - Priorities Wrap-Up: Cliff Perez - Questions & Answers - Preparing for the Hill - Questions & Answers - Closing >> SLIDE 3 Overview of NCIL’s Legislative & Advocacy Priorities Cliff Perez, NCIL Vice-President - Rehabilitation Act / Independent Living Funding - Housing - Healthcare and Long-term Services & Supports - Civil Rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act - Transportation >> SLIDE 4 Rehab Act / IL Administration Ann McDaniel & Dan Kessler, Rehab Act / IL Funding Subcommittee Co-Chairs - NCIL is very thankful for the $85 million appropriation in the CARES Act stimulus package for CILs that receive Part C funding – these funds have made it possible for CILs to protect staff, help people with disabilities, and continue to provide IL services, including advocacy - CILs are the only entities required by federal law to transition people out of institutions – as part of the required Core IL Services – and funding is needed to provide transition services - CILs provide services to hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities every year - Systems Advocacy is a required Core Service – in addition to individual outcomes, CILs (& SILCs with the new Authority) are also about changing communities >> SLIDE 5 Rehab Act / IL Administration - FAQ on Advocacy issued by ACL seems aimed at limiting systems advocacy significantly - Most recent data on services and outcomes still not available from ILA / ACL & no progress has been made on new reporting mechanism to show outcomes & results - Current funding is not adequate to implement the Statewide - Network of CILs outlined in SPILs nation wide - Increased funding (for both Part C and Part B) is necessary to build the capacity & network of CILs to provide IL services statewide in every state and the capacity of SILCs to fully represent all people with disabilities & conduct the advocacy necessary to improve service systems and protect civil rights >> SLIDE 6 Housing Brian Peters and Darrel Christenson, Housing Subcommittee Co-Chairs Background - President’s 2021 budget request (submitted before COVID-19) has DEEP cuts (https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/NLIHC_HUD-USDA_Budget-Chart.pdf) -- Many programs receiving zero funds -- But president’s budget requests typically not followed by Congress - Decreased tax revenues and increased deficit/debt will create pressure for federal program cuts in 2021 - State/local governments will struggle with revenue losses and need to make cuts unless more federal aid is provided (such as in HEROES Act) - Housing generally is a bipartisan issue in terms of funding current programs >> SLIDE 7 Housing - 45% (or more) of pandemic deaths have been in nursing homes and assisted living! -- Emphasizes importance of community based housing and services - HR 1122 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1122?q={"search":["HR+1122"]}&s=9&r=1) / S 291 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/291?q={"search":["S+291"]}&s=8&r=1): Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act -- Passed House, advocate in Senate -- Note this was funded through FY19 Consolidated Appropriations but legislation is still needed for future success - HR 6800: The Heroes Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6800) -- Massive $3 trillion bill that includes almost $200 billion (https://nlihc.org/resource/overview-housing-and-homeless-provisions-heroes-act)for various housing programs -- Passed House, advocate in Senate - HR 2 Moving Forward Act (https://transportation.house.gov/imo/media/doc/BILLS-116HR2-RCP116-54.pdf) -- Passed House, advocate in Senate -- $100 billion for affordable housing programs -- New & expanded housing tax credits >> SLIDE 8 Healthcare / Long-Term Services & Supports Ami Hyten & Lisa Hayes, Healthcare / LTSS Subcommittee Co-Chairs ISSUES: - Ending the Institutional Bias - Money Follows the Person - Electronic Visit Verification - Chronic Pain / Opioids Task Force - Universal Healthcare - Assisted Suicide - HCBS Infrastructure - Healthcare Discrimination >> SLIDE 9 Healthcare / Long-Term Services & Supports PROGRESS: - Money Follows the Person CARES Act - DSWs in Hospitals (Section 3715) - Access to Testing and Treatment OCR Guidance on Health Care Rationing - Oklahoma ban on QALYs - Resolution on Visitor Policies & OCR enforcement >> SLIDE 10 Healthcare / Long-Term Services & Supports - $20 billion in dedicated HCBS funding for the COVID-19 pandemic; the funds must be dedicated to personal care attendants, direct service workers, and home health workers (Section 202 of S.3544 from Casey and 26 other Senators) - Extension of Money Follows the Person either permanently or for at least five years - $11 billion in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds (S.4100 from Murphy, Hassan, and VanHollen) - Personal protective equipment for consumers and workers - Protections against involuntary institutionalization - Access to medications, supplies, and equipment - Delay implementation of EVV >> SLIDE 11 ADA / Civil Rights Steve Higgins & Kimberly Tissot, NCIL ADA / Civil Rights Subcommittee Co-Chairs - ADA Notification “Cares Act” - Position Paper on Guardianship - Removing Implicit Bias - Advocating for use of plain language in all we do >> SLIDE 12 Transportation Peter Johnke, Transportation Subcommittee Chair - Advocate for accessibility & equity in all modes of transportation (including e-bikes and boats) - Advocate for a strong “Bill of Rights” for air travelers with disabilities including passage of the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act - H.R. 1549 (Rep. James Langevin and S. 669 (Sen. Tammy Baldwin) - Advocate that Medicaid Transportation is codified in law so that states cannot opt out: Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act – H.R. 3935 (Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter) - Advocate for equity (equivalent service) from Ride Hailing Service / Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) - Advocate for accessible rail service – especially Amtrak - Work with a broad spectrum of stake holders to develop a sustainable transportation funding mechanism for transportation infrastructure and all modes of transit >> SLIDE 13 Emergency Preparedness Todd Holloway, NCIL Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee Co-Chair - ADA Notification “Cares Act” - Position Paper on Guardianship - Removing Implicit Bias - Advocating for use of plain language in all we do >> SLIDE 14 Priorities Wrap-Up Cliff Perez, NCIL Vice-President >> SLIDE 15 Questions & Answers Use the Q&A feature in the Zoom toolbar to type your question. You may also type your question in the chat box on the CART screen at http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=NCIL. >> SLIDE 16 Preparing for the Virtual Day on the Hill - Virtual Hill Day: Tuesday, July 21 - Rally - Make sure your Virtual Hill Meetings are scheduled! - Meetings can be by phone, Zoom, or another virtual format - Accommodation requests are made to the Congressional offices - You can coordinate with other people in your State >> SLIDE 17 Questions & Answers Use the Q&A feature in the Zoom toolbar to type your question. You may also type your question in the chat box on the CART screen at http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=NCIL. >> SLIDE 18 Copyright Property of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Do not use in whole or in part without the express written permission of NCIL. >> END PRESENTATION