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Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 168 June 22, 2006 For Your Information House Committee Report on the Labor-HHS-Ed Bill Now Available To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs For those who read on the run, this Washington Wire deals solely with the filing and availability of the House Committee Report on the Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations bill. On Tuesday of this week, the House Committee on Appropriations filed its Report on the Labor-HHS-Ed bill. The Report, which is 310 pages long, is numbered 109-515 and can be accessed by going to the House Appropriations Committee's website http:/thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp109:FLD010:@1(hr515) and clicking on the number of the Report (109-515) or accessing www.Thomas.gov. For your convenience, we are attaching the section on Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research from the Committee Report which includes numbers, narrative and earmarks recommended in Title III of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The section of the Report on the programs administered under the Rehabilitation Act begins on page 281. Although this Committee Report is 310 pages in length there is an enormous amount of information in the Report on many programs of great interest to our community. There is also narrative, beginning of page 6 of the Report on the Performance Accountability Rating Tool (PART) regarding its use and restriction of funds. There also appears to be a number of earmarks identified for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) projects. There is talk about the Committee Report coming to the House Floor next week for a vote, but this has not been confirmed by reliable sources. We will keep you advised of developments in this regard as they become known to us. If you have questions or cannot access this important Report, please e-mail me. REHABILITATION SERVICES AND DISABILITY RESEARCH The bill includes 3,244,247,000 for rehabilitation services and disability research. This amount is 63,833,000 above the budget request and 118,703,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. The programs in this account are authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Helen Keller National Center Act, and the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Vocational rehabilitation grants to States For vocational rehabilitation state grants, the bill includes 2,837,160,000, the same as the budget request and 116,968,000 above fiscal year 2006. This program supports basic vocational rehabilitation services through formula grants to the states. These grants support a wide range of services designed to help persons with physical and mental disabilities prepare for and engage in gainful employment to the extent of their capabilities. Emphasis is placed on providing vocational rehabilitation services to persons with the most significant disabilities. Client assistance The bill includes 11,782,000 for the client assistance program, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. A client assistance program is required in each state as a condition of receipt of a basic state grant. State formula grants are used to help persons with disabilities overcome problems with the service delivery system and improve their understanding of services available to them under the Rehabilitation Act. Training For training personnel to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities, the bill includes 38,438,000, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The program supports long-term and short-term training, in-service personnel training, and training of interpreters for deaf persons. Projects in a broad array of disciplines are funded to ensure that skilled personnel are available to serve the vocational needs of persons with disabilities. Demonstration and training programs The bill includes 8,246,000 for demonstration and training programs, 1,735,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. These programs authorize discretionary awards on a competitive basis to public and private organizations to support demonstrations, direct services, and related activities for persons with disabilities. Within the amounts provided for vocational rehabilitation demonstration programs, the Committee includes funding for the following activities: Advocating Change Together, St. Paul, MN, for a disability rights training initiative 150,000 Braille Institute of America, Los Angeles, CA, for replacement of a vehicle to provide mobile services to the visually impaired and/or for related services 100,000 Enable America, Inc., Tampa, FL for civic/citizenship demonstration project for disabled adults 500,000 IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee, WI, for its assistive technology program 60,000 Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service, San Francisco, CA, for a Transition Services Project to provide vocational training and job placement for youth and adults with disabilities 400,000 South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Hawthorne, CA, for its Home Safety and Independence Program for disabled individuals 75,000 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, for a demonstration program in orthotics/prosthetics 200,000 Vocational Guidance Services, Cleveland, OH, for equipment and technology in order to increase employment for persons with disabilities 250,000 Migrant and seasonal farmworkers For programs serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the bill provides 2,279,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program provides discretionary grants to make comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services available to migrant and seasonal farmworkers with vocational disabilities. Projects emphasize outreach activities, specialized bilingual rehabilitation counseling, and coordination of vocational rehabilitation services with services from other sources. Recreational programs For recreational programs, the bill provides 2,518,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program provides individuals with recreation and related activities to aid in their employment, mobility, independence, socialization, and community integration. Discretionary grants are made on a competitive basis to states, public agencies, and nonprofit private organizations, including institutions of higher education. Protection and advocacy of individual rights For protection and advocacy for persons with disabilities, the bill provides 16,489,000, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. Grants are awarded to entities that have the authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies needed to protect and advocate the rights of persons with disabilities. Projects with industry For projects with industry, the bill provides 19,538,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 amount. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program promotes greater participation of business and industry in the rehabilitation process. The program provides placement and job development services to assist persons with disabilities to prepare them for employment in the competitive labor market. Awards are made to a variety of agencies and organizations, including business and industrial corporations, rehabilitation facilities, labor organizations, trade associations, and foundations. Supported employment state grants For supported employment state grants, the bill includes 29,700,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. These formula grants assist states in developing collaborative programs with public agencies and nonprofit agencies for training and post-employment services leading to supported employment. In supported employment programs, persons with the most significant disabilities are given special supervision and assistance to enable them to work in an integrated setting. Independent living: state grants For state grants for independent living, the bill includes 22,588,000. This amount is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports formula grants to the states to provide services for independent living for persons with significant disabilities. Independent living: centers For centers for independent living, the bill provides 74,638,000, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. A population-based formula determines the total amount that is available for discretionary grants to centers in each state. These discretionary grants support a network of consumer-controlled, nonresidential, community-based private nonprofit centers that provide a wide range of services to help persons with significant disabilities live more independently in family and community settings. Centers provide information and referral services, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy. Discretionary grants are made to private nonprofit organizations. Independent living: services for older blind persons For independent living services for older blind individuals, the bill provides 32,895,000. This amount is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Funds are distributed to states according to a formula based on the population of individuals who are 55 or older, and grants support services for persons 55 years old or over whose severe visual impairment makes gainful employment extremely difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Program improvement For program improvement activities, the bill provides 835,000, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The program: (1) provides technical assistance and consultative services to public and non-profit private agencies and organizations; (2) provides short-term training and technical instruction; (3) conducts special demonstrations; (4) collects, prepares, publishes and disseminates educational or informational materials; and (5) carries out monitoring and conducts evaluations. Evaluation The bill includes 1,473,000 for program evaluation, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. These funds are used to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of individual programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. Contracts are awarded on an annual basis for studies to be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the programs authorized by the Act. Helen Keller National Center For the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, the bill includes 8,511,000, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. These funds are used for the operation of a national center that provides intensive services for deaf-blind individuals and their families at Sands Point, New York and a network of 10 regional offices that provide referral, counseling and transition services, and technical assistance to service providers. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research The bill includes 106,705,000 for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The Institute supports research, demonstration and training activities that are designed to maximize the employment and integration into society of individuals with disabilities of all ages. Assistive technology For assistive technology activities, the bill provides 30,452,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 amount and 8,063,000 above the budget request. Technology assistance activities are authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. This Act authorizes population-based formula grants to the states to assist them in supporting alternative financing programs and assistive technology device demonstrations, loan, and reutilization programs. In addition, protection and advocacy services related to assistive technology and national technical assistance activities are supported. Of the funds provided, 25,058,000 is for the state grant program, 4,341,000 is for the protection and advocacy program, and 1,053,000 is for national activities. Consistent with the authorizing statute, the Committee does not provide separate funding for the alternative financing program. Instead, funds provided for alternative financing in 2006 are included in the 2007 state grant program, which is increased by an amount that is equal to the 2006 funding for alternative financing. The Committee encourages the states to use these additional funds to create or expand state alternative financing programs under their state grant program. SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND The bill provides 18,000,000 for the American Printing House for the Blind, an increase of 428,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and 427,000 above the budget request. This appropriation subsidizes the production of educational materials for legally blind persons enrolled in pre-college programs. The Printing House, which is chartered by the State of Kentucky, manufactures and maintains an inventory of educational materials in accessible formats that is distributed free of charge to schools and states based on the number of blind students in each state. The Printing House also conducts research and field activities to inform educators about the availability of materials and how to use them. NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF The bill provides 57,000,000 for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), an increase of 859,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount and 1,651,000 over the request. The NTID was established by Congress in 1965 to provide a residential facility for postsecondary technical training and education for deaf persons with the purpose of promoting the employment of these individuals. The Institute also conducts applied research and provides training in various aspects of deafness. The Secretary of Education administers these activities through a contract with the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY The bill provides 110,500,000 for Gallaudet University, an increase of 3,502,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and 2,902,000 over the budget request. The Committee does not provide the 600,000 requested by the Administration for evaluation and has concerns about the validity of the PART review conducted by the Office of Management and Budget in 2005 that rated Gallaudet `ineffective.' Gallaudet is a private, non-profit educational institution Federally-chartered in 1864 providing elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and continuing education for deaf persons. In addition, the University offers graduate programs in fields related to deafness for deaf and hearing students, conducts research on deafness, and provides public service programs for deaf persons. |
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