02/01/2010

Legislative Update and Updated Program for NRA's Government Affairs Summit

For those who read on the run, this is an important government affairs' update on the legislative landscape in the Nation's Capital as we wend our way toward reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). 


 

We will also discuss the updated Program for NRA's Government Affairs Summit, which this year begins on Sunday, March 14, continues on Monday, March 15, and culminates on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, with NRA's Day on the Hill.  We encourage you to register for this important Summit now.

 

Let's begin with a brief update on the status of the introduction of Senate and House Committees bills to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the amendments to which comprise Title IV of the Workforce Investment Act.

 

Recently, the House Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee introduced H.R. 4271, "The Workforce Investment Improvement Act," which, among other things, calls for a set-aside of $500 million in Title I of the Rehab Act for enhanced Transition outcomes once the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) reaches $100 million.

 

Title I, as you may know is mandatorily funded and, as such, is guaranteed the COLA annually.  NRA has opposed this approach to enhancing Transition outcomes in the past and is seeking alternative ways in which to enhance the outcomes of eligible, transitioning students with disabilities in the VR program.  Please know that NRA fully appreciates the need and desire to increase Transition outcomes for deserving, eligible students and other young adults with disabilities, but taking money from Title I of the Act simply pits deserving, eligible adults with disabilities against deserving, eligible young adults and students with disabilities.

 

This bill, which was introduced by Congressman Guthrie (R.KY.) and Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon (R.CA.) also downgrades the Office of the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) from a Presidential-appointment, confirmation by the full U.S. Senate, to a Director appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The National Rehabilitation Association has opposed this downgrade in the past and will do so again this year.  The VR portion of this bill resembles the HOUSE version of H.R. 27, which NRA opposed in the past.

 

The House Democrats, led by Congressman George Miller (D.CA.) have not yet introduced a bill to reauthorize VR and WIA.

 

Turning to the Senate, the bill that will emerge sometime this spring from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, will be a bipartisan bill which may be very similar to the SENATE version of H.R. 27.  The reason why the Senate bill has a House bill number is because when the House version of H.R. 27 was sent to the Senate, everything after the enacting clause in the bill was struck and the Senate version (legislative language) was inserted in lieu of the House bill language.  Because the WIA/VR reauthorization bill was first introduced in the House, the Senate assumes the House bill number, but inserts its own bill.

 

You should also be aware that the "No Child Left Behind" (also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) bill is up for reauthorization this year and that will consume both the House and the Senate calendars for some time.

 

As the National Rehabilitation Association has said on several occasions over the past several months, this reauthorization is likely to be a very challenging one.

 

Against the backdrop of ballooning deficits, cash-strapped State budgets and the Administration calling for budget cuts in discretionary programs across the board, and a three-year spending freeze on Federal Departments and Agencies, do not be surprised to learn that there may be recommendations in the President's budget for consolidation of discretionary programs and, in some cases, proposed elimination of programs.

 

The President's budget is due to be released publicly on Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

 

Moreover, recently a Task Force was commissioned to look at the various entitlement programs to determine where budget cuts might be made.  Once again, the Task Force will focus on programs that are mandatorily funded (also referred to in Washington as entitlement programs).  Title I of the Rehab Act is mandatorily funded, as we said, and we will need to advise our Members of Congress just how important that mandatory funding has been and is to so many individuals with disabilities seeking the excellent services and supports by qualified rehabilitation counselors in the VR program which with their own self-determination will lead to promising careers, economic independence and to becoming taxpaying citizens of our great country.

 

So many eligible individuals with disabilities are seeking services from the VR Program that the National Rehabilitation Association will seek to have "counted" as an employment outcome services received by an eligible individual with a disability who seeks these services to retain employment.

 

With so many budgetary challenges, you need to be here in Washington in March to ensure that your Member of Congress fully appreciates all that the public/private VR Program is doing to advance the economic and personal independence of all individuals with disabilities.

 

While we know at the appropriate time you will do whatever you can to safeguard the integrity of all programs under the Rehabilitation Act in your respective States with your respective Members of Congress, we encourage you to attend NRA's 29th Annual Government Affairs Summit which is to be held on Sunday, March 14, continuing on Monday, March 15 (with Hill staff on the agenda that day), culminating on Tuesday, March 16, with NRA's Day on the Hill.   We encourage you to make your appointments now (assuming you have not already done so) with your respective Members of Congress and their staff. 

 

And, please remember the aphorism:  "All Politics Is Local."  You will have the greatest influence with your OWN Member(s) of Congress, so please keep this in mind.

 

What better way to show your support for the VR Program and individuals with disabilities than to be in Washington early in the Second Session of the 111th Congress offering outreach and guidance to Members and their staff on the many successes and evidenced-based, effective practices of the public/private/State/Federal VR program and how those practices, services and supports by qualified rehab counselors have made such a difference in the lives of so many eligible individuals with disabilities.

 

An updated, DRAFT Program for NRA's Government Affairs Summit follows immediately below this message.

 

Please note that our Featured Keynote Speaker is the new Commissioner of RSA, The Honorable Lynnae Ruttledge, who with her extensive background in VR, should be a compelling speaker on what her vision is for the future of the VR Program.

 

We will also be inviting a representative from a prominent Veterans organization to discuss how VR and the Department of Veterans Affairs can have a closer, even more productive partnership in serving eligible, wounded warriors, here in America.

 

During NRA's many visits to Capitol Hill over the past several months and weeks, one of the issues that has been discussed by Hill staff is how the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds are being used in the States.  These funds are also referred to as the Stimulus funds.

 

Since this is an issue of great import on Capitol Hill, we may be inviting David Esquith of RSA to our Summit to advise us on the guidance that he has been providing State VR Agencies in this regard.

 

Congress' intent on the use of these monies was and is clear, as we believe the State Agencies’ intent was and is:  These monies are to be used primarily to eliminate waiting lists in those State VR Agencies which have waiting lists and to increase the number of eligible individuals with disabilities who are served by the VR Program.

 

Many of the State VR Agencies are under an umbrella agency which, we regret to say in some cases, may not have the requisite expertise in the VR Program.  We believe the State VR Director is and should be the point person on how these funds are to be used, in conjunction with the guidance that is offered by the Office of Management and Budget and RSA, assuming the interpretation of that guidance by an individual(s) in RSA is consistent with Congressional intent.

 

Accordingly, we will seek to include language in the Rehabilitation Act that will strengthen and ensure that the State VR Director is the individual who has control of the distribution of these and all VR funds.

 

So, please join the National Rehabilitation Association in Washington in March for our 29th Annual Government Affairs Summit. 

 

In this existing economic climate, we need as many of you as possible to send the message to Members of Congress that this program makes a real difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

 

Once again, CEUs and CRCs will be offered.

 

The Early Bird Registration Date Deadline is February 2, 2010, so please register today for the Conference and make your hotel reservations now.

 

Please see NRA's Updated Program for the Government Affairs Summit, which follows immediately below this Washington Wire.