Action Alerts

Ongoing: None.

Major Events Last Week

Obama Administration

President Obama announced the nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Gov. Sebelius, a former Kansas insurance commissioner, is a highly regarded expert in health care policy. President Obama also announced the selection of Nancy-Ann DeParle, who as Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (now CMS), oversaw Medicare and Medicaid during the Clinton Administration, to head the White House Office for Health Reform. The Office will initially oversee health care overhaul legislation.

Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations

The Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate was unable to secure the necessary sixty votes to pass the $410 billion FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Several Democrats have voiced their opposition to the bill, primarily due to the $8 billion in earmarked spending, often referred to as "pork". The Omnibus Appropriations bill would fund the nine FY 2009 appropriations bills left over from the last Congress. Virtually all human services spending is contained in this bill. The Senate defeated several amendments that would have cut spending through tactics such as eliminating all earmarked spending and freezing funding for the entire fiscal year at the FY 2008 levels.

Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution

Both Houses of Congress voted to keep the federal government operating for another week as the Senate continues to debate the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

Health Care Reform

President Obama hosted a White House Summit on Health Care Reform which was attended by approximately 82 policy stakeholders (trade associations representing the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, providers, business, and consumer groups), 23 Senators, 32 Members of the House of Representatives and 8 "everyday" Americans. The Arc and UCP were represented by Peter Thomas, Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Health Task Force, who underscored the importance of including long term care in any health reform legislation. The Summit included opening remarks by the President and five breakout sessions on key policy issues that were followed by a "Town Hall" question and answer session with the President. During his remarks President Obama emphasized that he would be pragmatic in approaching proposals for health care reform, that any legislation must address rising costs, and that enactment of a bill is a top priority this year.

Following the summit, the White House announced that five regional forums would be held in late March-early April in California, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Vermont. The DPC will provide details on these events when they become available.

Education Funding

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan unveiled the department's plans to send approximately $100 billion to states and school systems within the next few months. The new funding is part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). About $44 billion will be released by mid April and another $49 billion will be distributed before the start of the new school year in about six months. The ARRA dedicates $11.3 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state grant, $500 million for the IDEA Early Intervention program and $400 million for the IDEA Preschool program. School systems will receive the new funding without needing to do any additional paperwork but will be required to commit to raising academic standards, better testing, improving teacher effectiveness and intervening with poorly performing schools. By mid April, states will also receive their share of the $32.5 billion state stabilization fund. A total of $87 billion for state stabilization will ultimately be sent to states to help restore or avoid education funding cuts.

There is a link to several documents released by the Department that contains IDEA specific funding principles and tables showing state by state allocations for the IDEA state grant, IDEA early intervention state grants, and the IDEA pre-school program. See:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/03/03072009.html

Major Events Ahead

Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations

The Senate is expected to start voting today on about a dozen amendments to the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations. If the bill is not amended, the measure will go to the White House for signature by the President. If any of the amendments are adopted, the amended bill will go back to the House for further consideration.

Iowa Employment Scandal

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will conduct a hearing today on the turkey service company in Iowa that employed at least 21 workers with intellectual disabilities for over 30 years. The workers were originally sent to the employer in Iowa from Texas as part of that state's deinstitutionalization initiative. The employer, Henry's Turkey Service, has since served as the caregiver, representative payee for SSI payments to the individuals, and landlord. The employer paid each worker only $65 a month after deducting room and board and other care giving expenses. The "bunkhouse" where the men resided was shut down in early February by the local fire marshal when numerous violations were discovered. The men have since been relocated to group homes in another part of Iowa.

The hearing is expected to focus on the federal enforcement of wage and hour provisions, including the Section 14 (c) subminimum wage regulation. Meanwhile, investigations continue in Iowa on various aspects of this case, including why the state of Iowa failed to adequately pursue numerous complaints about the business and the status of its workers over many years. The hearing begins at 2:30 pm today EST and is will be audio cast at:
http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_03_09/2009_03_09.html

Health Care Reform

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), will hold a hearing on "The President's FY 2010 Health Care Proposals." Peter Orszag, Director of the Office and Management and Budget, will testify. See:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing031009.htm

On Tuesday March, 10th, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on "Strengthening Employer-Based Heath Care." See:
http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/03/tomorrow-subcommittee-to-hold.shtml

Also on Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), will hold a hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Designing a High Performing Health Care System." See:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1520&Itemid=1

On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), will hold a hearing on "Health Reform in the 21st Century: Expanding Coverage, Improving Quality and Controlling Costs." See:
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.aspformmode=detail&hearing=659

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on "Workforce Issues in Health Care Reform: Assessing the Present and Preparing for the Future." Academic doctors who specialize in health policy will testify. See:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing031209.htm

FY 2010 Budget

The full Senate Budget Committee will meet on March 10th to convene a hearing on the President's fiscal year 2010 budget proposal. While the President's final proposal isn't expected until May, Congress will begin working to create its budget now.

Announcements

2009 Disability Policy Seminar

As of today, 85 % of the hotel rooms at the Hyatt Regency have been booked. Seminar participants from 32 states as well as China and Canada have registered to date. Persons interested in attending this year's Seminar to be held on April 27-29 are strongly encouraged to make their hotel reservations and register for the Seminar as soon as possible at: http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generalsub.cfm/1/8/12477

Please note that you can view previous issues of the Capitol Insider, at UCP.org anytime by choosing "Capitol Insider" under "Public Policy."

Read previous Capitol Insider issues now.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at acosta@thedpc.org.

Sincerely,

Annie Acosta
Director of Communications and Grassroots
Disability Policy Collaboration