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[an error occurred while processing this directive] Governmental Affairs: Advocacy in action. Read current and previous Legislative Network Alerts. View a listing of the Legislative Network Members. Frequently asked questions about the Legislative Network. |
Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 130 May 27, 2005 For Your Information The March that Made It: We Rallied Around the Rehab Act To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs There was no room at the Inn – the Holiday Inn- that is- for the more than one thousand advocates from 44 sponsoring advocacy organizations who assembled at the Inn yesterday morning and then flocked to the front of the U.S. Department of Education for a respectful but resolute rally of cross-disability support for maintaining the integrity of the programs administered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and for the Office that administers these precious programs – the Rehabilitation Services Administration. We want to thank all NRA Chapters who participated in this rally. The Must March on May 26 which Rallied ‘Round the Rehab Act and RSA was an historic day for all individuals with disabilities with four former Commissioners of RSA from both Republican and Democratic Administration, joining the crowd in front of the U.S. Department of Education. The four former Commissioners of RSA who took out a full-page OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS IN YESTERDAY’S WASHINGTON TIMES TO PROTEST THE CHANGES IN RSA were: From the Nixon Administration; Dr. Edward C. Newman; from the Carter Administration; Dr. Robert R. Humphreys; from the Clinton Administration; Dr. Frederic K. Schroeder, and from the Bush II Administration; the recently-resigned Dr. Joanne Wilson. The OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS is incorporated into the body of this alert for your information and reference. Up on the stage, as well, was an empty chair - - AN EMPTY CHAIR—with Margaret Spellings, the Secretary of Education’s name on it - - BUT NO ONE - -- including John Hager, the Assistant Secretary of OSERS and Troy Justesen, formerly the Acting Commissioner of RSA and the Deputy Commissioner of RSA and the Acting Secretary of OSERS who was principally involved in the restructuring of RSA – came out of the Department of Education to address the concerns of the crowd. Dr. Justesen remains as the Acting Deputy Assistant of OSERS and recently became the Acting Director of the Office of Special Education (OSEP). Today’s Washington Post carries a story in the Federal Diary column authored by Steven Barr, entitled “PLAN TO REORGANIZE AGENCY SERVING DISABLED DRAWS PROTESTS.” This article is also incorporated into the body of this alert. The Congress will stand in recess all of next week in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. This would be an opportune time for all of you to contact your respective Members of Congress to thank them for not supporting the WIA BLOCK GRANT AMENDMENT and their continued opposition to the incorporation of this misguided amendment in any legislation, including of course, the Workforce Investment Act reauthorization bills, the Senate version of which will be coming to the Senate Floor for a final vote within the next several weeks. Next week would also be a good time to tell your Members of Congress about the consolidation that is occurring - - as we speak - - in the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and ask your respective Members of Congress to inquire into and oppose the closing of RSA’s Regional Offices. An additional Washington Wire will be forthcoming early next week that will include talking points on the cling of RSA’s Regional Offices for use when calling your Representatives. Following is the text of the letter from the former Commissioners of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to Congress: OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS We, the undersigned, are former Commissioners of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, serving under both Republican and Democratic Administrations. We join together to bring to your attention a most serious threat to the future of services to disabled persons in the United States. Since 1920, under the Rehabilitation Act, formula grants and other federal funds have gone to States to aid them in providing specialized rehabilitation services in order to ensure that people with disabilities will have individualized assistance in reaching gainful employment and independent living. The consistent success of these State-Federal partnerships over the years can be attributed in no small measure to federal standards, monitoring, and technical assistance. A plan is underway to amalgamate these services under a block grant program, apparently to be administered by the Department of Labor. The proven formula for the State-Federal program's success would be lost under a block grant system. Combining funding and administrative options under a state block grant approach will take away focus from people with disabilities, especially those with more severe handicapping conditions. It is likely that these individuals will be neglected or even ignored in some states and localities. The result will be greater costs of dependency, both human and financial. We urge you, our Senators and Representatives, in the strongest possible terms, to oppose these plans to downgrade and marginalize programs for people with disabilities. A major initiative is being put forward in the current Administration that threatens the very core of America's system of services to disabled people. The initiative will eliminate a proven matching grant approach to the States that has earned the repeated commendation of the Congress for accountability and successful individualized outcomes. Federal monitoring and technical assistance through regional staff enhances, rather than reduces, the efficiency of providing disability services and reducing waste and overlap of functions for this proven program. Our plea is: 'If it's not broken, don't fix it.' These initiatives would inflict incalculable harm on the well- being and independence of millions of Americans. The regional offices comprise roughly half the entire staff complement of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Forty-three percent of the staff are themselves people with disabilities. Their jobs will disappear. The Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired and other offices providing unique and vital services are also likely to be eliminated. Neither the Congress nor the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration were consulted or informed about this executive branch decision. If permitted to prevail, this misguided 'reform' will result in the diminution of services to people with disabilities. In addition to the foregoing, the plan is to downgrade the office of Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration from a presidential appointment with consent of the Senate to a directorship appointed by the Assistant Secretary of Education. The voice of the Executive Branch's advocate for people with disabilities will be silenced, and Congress' long-standing involvement in the selection of the program's leadership will be undermined. We earnestly ask that you consider these important points and join us in preserving a program, which has a long-standing record of effectively and efficiently serving Americans with disabilities. Respectfully, Robert R. Humphreys, JD Joanne Wilson, Ph.D. Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D. Edward C. Newman, Ph.D. Plan to Reorganize Agency Serving Disabled Draws Protests By Stephen Barr Friday, May 27, 2005; Page B02 Blind and disabled Americans rallied outside the front doors of the Education Department yesterday to protest the Bush administration's plan to reorganize the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the largest federal program helping states provide job training to people with disabilities. The plan would close 10 regional RSA offices where 65 federal employees work and consolidate their work at the Education Department's headquarters. The consolidation would reduce overhead and improve program efficiency, according to the department. But opponents of the plan claim it would lead to reduced services and, over time, less money to help the disabled. 'They really don't care about these programs,' said Jim Gashel , executive director for strategic initiatives at the National Federation of the Blind. The federation organized the protest, along with 44 other organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees National Council 252 of Education Locals, which represents many of the displaced RSA workers. Rally organizers estimated that 800 to 1,000 blind and disabled people protested yesterday; department officials estimated the crowd at 300 to 400. The demonstrators carried signs -- one reading 'RSA Consolidation Means No Rehabilitation' and joined in chants. 'Two, Four, Six, Eight, Hager's Plan Is a Big Mistake,' demonstrators yelled, referring to John H. Hager , assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, who is in charge of the consolidation. In a telephone interview after the rally, he said the idea of closing RSA offices has been debated for 20 years and has been pushed by the Office of Management and Budget during the last four years. He predicted that RSA's effectiveness would increase. The reorganization would create five-person teams to provide technical assistance to each state and would streamline monitoring and financial management, he said. But protester Don Hale , the legislative advocacy chairman for the Texas Rehab ACTion Network, said the plan would lead to 'a degradation of services. . . . Texas, I think, will lose technical oversight and resources provided on a regional basis.' Thirty-seven of the 65 employees in the RSA field offices have been offered early retirement packages, Hager said. Employees also will be offered a chance to bid for jobs at headquarters, where nine new positions are being created. That will bring headquarters staffing for RSA to 81 jobs, he said. About 40 percent of the RSA field employees are disabled, reflecting the agency's longstanding commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Jerry Doyle , executive vice president of the AFGE local, said most RSA employees do not want to take early retirement. He said that past program audits have found the regional offices to be one of RSA's strengths and that the administration 'has never reconciled that difference of opinion.' The department hopes to have the new organization in place by Oct. 1. |
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