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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 164 June 2, 2006 For Your Information Legislative Update and More To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs For those who read on the run, this Washington Wire addresses a number of issues, including: A 'Call to Attention' on the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (hereinafter referred to as the Rehab Act); productive partnerships with the National Council of Rehabilitation Educators (NCRE), with John Ficca, a long-time NRA Member, who is Program Director of Hands on Educational Services, Inc., in Tampa, Florida, Bob Haber of the Tampa Bay Hyatt Hotel and our friends and partners, the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), and references the link to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Durable Medical Equipment (including lens devices, low vision equipment, CCTV, glasses, etc.), which was referenced in the May 10, 2006, Washington Wire. We know most advocates and Hill staff concur that the Workforce Investment Act reauthorization will occur next year. There is simply too little time left in this Second Session of the 109th Congress to reconcile the enormous differences between the House and Senate WIA bills and, as you know, the Senate WIA bill has yet to come to the Senate Floor for a vote because of the continuing hold on the Senate WIA bill. We are issuing a 'Call to Attention' on the Reauthorization of the Rehab Act because we are becoming increasingly concerned about what may occur in next year's reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Title IV of which comprises the programs administered under the Rehab Act. Next year, 2007, as you know, is not an election year. Why is this important? This is important because the Congress traditionally tends to take more 'liberties' with legislation, including reauthorizations of existing legislation, when they know they are not up for reelection. Another huge consideration is that programs are being cut dramatically, including Medicaid and Homeland Security programs for many areas, including New York and Washington, D.C. While some of the cuts may ultimately be restored in full or in part, the message is clear: The Government is looking for money in all the wrong places. The National Rehabilitation Association continues to oppose any diminution of services or supports to any of the Titles of the Rehab Act, including, but not limited to, any consolidation or elimination of the Supported Employment Program, Projects With Industry (PWIs), Migrants and Seasonal Farmworkers and Recreation. These programs, as you are aware, are NOT duplicative of any other programs in the Rehab Act or elsewhere. These programs are complementary to the Rehab ACT and should remain separate, distinct and adequately funded in Titles III and VI, respectively. The National Rehabilitation Association supports maintaining the integrity of ALL -- and ALL MEANS ALL -- programs and Titles of the Rehab Act, which has been carefully crafted over its more than eight decades by some of the most knowledge individuals in the rehabilitation field. Like you, we realize that all Titles of the Rehab Act are underfunded, including Title I We will continue to advocate for increased funding for all Titles of the Rehab Act, including Titles I and III. The National Rehabilitation Association is in the process of reassembling a Task Force on Reauthorization and we will have our first meeting in late summer or early fall, with subsequent meetings on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. We have our Principles to Reauthorization in place, but we will expand and strengthen the Rehab Act wherever and whenever we can do so. When we strengthen the Rehab Act, we strengthen the supports and services that are available to eligible individuals with disabilities. You are all very familiar with the aphorism: 'All Politics Is Local.' We embrace that adage and will be calling upon you in the future for your support and advocacy in maintaining the integrity of the Rehab Act. As we know you fully appreciate, we do not issue Alerts frequently, but when we have in the past, you have responded overwhelmingly to the call and we very much appreciate the difference you all have made in heeding the call. One of the many strengths of any organization, especially a national, membership organization, is to engage in productive partnerships which we continue to do. Strategic partnerships are a win-win for all and given the consolidation culture captivating Capitol Hill (which we assure you will continue), we need each other. We are very pleased to announce our formal partnership with the National Council of Rehabilitation Educators (NCRE), CSAVR and others in our individual and collective attempts to secure additional dollars for Title III of the Rehab Act. As we have said many times in the past, the Rosetta Stone of Rehab is its qualified rehabilitation counselors and associated rehabilitation personnel. Individuals with disabilities who seek the dignity of a career leading to economic and personal independence, consistent with their self-determination, deserve the best that we have to offer. Strategic partnerships are not limited, however, to our advocacy partners. They include businesses and we are very pleased to advise you of a wonderful event that occurred here in Washington just a few weeks ago. Our good friend and long-time NRA Member, John Ficca of Tampa, Florida, called the National Office of NRA to advise us of an event that would be occurring at the Bethesda, Maryland, Hyatt Regency Hotel. This event, which was held on May 23, 2006, and was held in conjunction with our good friends in CSAVR, was the inauguration of the Culinary Training Program for Persons With Disabilities, a proven job training and placement program. The expansion of this program, a proven success in Tampa, Florida, included several Hyatt Hotels in the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland area. Congressman Van Hollen (D.MD.) who represents the District (Bethesda) where the Event took place sent two staffers to be with us for the inauguration of the Hyatt/Hands-On training program. They were impressed and we thank the Congressman, who has been very supportive of programs that advance the economic and personal independence of persons with disabilities, for sending representatives from his office to with us. The National Rehabilitation Association wants to take this occasion to thank three great State VR Directors and their staffs, Bob Burns of Maryland, Elizabeth Parker of Washington, D.C. and Jim Rothrock of Richmond, Virginia, for attending and sending representatives from their respective offices to this Event. WHAT A SHOW OF FORCE and a testament to the partnership among NRA, CSAVR, Hands on Educational Services and, last but not least, Hyatt Hotels, a model employer for persons with disabilities. On behalf of all in NRA, Linda Winslow and I want to express our heartfelt thanks to Bob Haber of Hyatt Hotels and John Ficca of Hands on Educational Services for their continued commitment to hiring people with disabilities in good jobs that provide benefits. The collaboration and commitment among all was a win-win for all, especially for consumers, one of whom, Tara, was not only attending this Event, but spoke passionately about the HOPE that having a good job in an integrated setting with benefits, having a company (Hyatt) that cared, and being part of the Hyatt-Hands-On-VR family had meant and means to her. This was truly a special event for Linda Winslow, NRA's Executive Director, and me. The May 23 Hyatt/Hands/On/VR event will be the subject of one of our forthcoming Contemporary Rehabs and we hope to have pictures to accompany the article. One last word on this wonderful event. I want to thank Kathy West-Evans, a staple at NRA's Legislative Summits, and CSAVR's Director of the VR Business Network, for her passion, her commitment and her incredible business/rehab credentials. Kathy, an NRA Member, was in the Region X RSA office and was one of the many well-credentialed, seasoned rehab professionals with the expertise in the Rehab Act, whom we lost in the closing of RSA's Regional Offices over eight months ago. But RSA's loss, is CSAVR's gain. Thank you, Kathy, and we look forward to future collaborations in the business world through the VR Business Network with you and CSAVR. We now want to revisit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)NPRM on Durable Medical Equipment. This NPRM, which is lengthy, discusses a number of issues, including their intention to bar, without exception, Medicare coverage for any device such as closed-circuit television systems (CCTVs), magnifiers and any other low vision aids or technologies. This issue was initially discussed in the May 10, 2006, Washington Wire. The link this NPRM is: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/getDockeinfo.cfm?EC_DOCUMENT_id=100&SORT=&MAXROWS=15&START=1&CID=&AGENCY=CMS and click on 'Submit Comments' which are due on June 30, 2006. If you cannot access this information, please advise me as soon as possible Thank you. All information on the timeline for the WIA reauthorization is current as of this time and date and could (but probably will not) change |
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