Words from Washington
April 16, 1998
To: Valerie Brew-Parrish
Social Security Reform
On March 11, Congressman Jim Bunning (R-KY) introduced H.R. 3433,
a bill, much anticipated by disability community activists, to
establish a "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program" as part
of the SSI and SSDI programs. The bill extends Medicare coverage
for two additional years to beneficiaries who work and amends the
Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit for
impairment-related work expenses. However, the more
controversial provisions of the bill would allow the Social
Security Commissioner to give tickets/vouchers to beneficiaries,
who would take them to the state or private vocational
rehabilitation agencies of their choice, to receive services
leading to employment and removal from the Social Security rolls.
As an incentive, providers would be rewarded with up to 40% of
the cash benefits that would have been paid to "successfully
rehabilitated" beneficiaries. This payment scheme could include
40% of a beneficiary's monthly check for up to five years.
Alternatively, a milestone payment system would enable state and
private agencies alike to receive some of this money up front.
House Social Security Subcommittee staff are working on a
bipartisan basis to push H.R. 3433 to passage this session, and
key members of the House are convinced that the measure provides
"meaningful opportunities" for beneficiaries to return to work.
Similarly, on March 25, Senator James Jeffords (R-VT) introduced
S. 1858, the Work Incentives Improvement Act. The bill would
allow SSDI beneficiaries who opt into a newly created work
incentives program to buy into Medicare on a sliding premium
scale. The bill also provides a financial incentive to states to
expand personal assistance services under Medicaid.
Additionally, the measure creates a work incentives counseling
program to educate beneficiaries about incentives rules. S. 1858
does not as yet contain the "ticket to work" provisions set out
in the House bill but advocates throughout the disability
community are urging Senate staff to incorporate such provisions
in their legislation.
Both bills authorize demonstration projects in which select
beneficiaries would avoid the so-called earnings cliff, losing
SSDI cash benefits and ultimately Medicare merely by earning $1
over the Substantial Gainful Activity level. The demos would
allow beneficiaries to reduce their cash benefits by $1 for every
$2 they earn over an amount to be determined by the Commissioner.
Clearly, both bills are intended to improve the "work incentives"
rules and to reduce the size of the Social Security rolls. AFB
staff continue to work with senior staff in the House and Senate
to protect the interests of blind Social Security recipients and
to improve this pending legislation.
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Senate Rehabilitation Reauthorization Bill Still Stalled
The Senate Rehabilitation reauthorization bill, which the Senate
hoped to bring to the floor with the Workforce Investment
Partnership Act (WIPA) was not voted on before the Congressional
Easter recess. Congress will reconvene on April 20. Our
understanding is that if they cannot bring the WIPA package to
the floor, the Rehabilitation reauthorization bill will be
brought to the floor separately.
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FCC to Issue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Section 255
On April 2, the FCC Commission met and approved a notice of
proposed rulemaking on Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act
of 1996. We expect the notice to be published during the week of
April 20 and will be on a "fast track." We expect a response
time of 45 to 60 days. To read more about the notice of proposed
rulemaking and to read the statements made by Commissioner
Kennard and others, visit the FCC web site at
www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/1998/nrwl8012.html.
The notice of proposed rulemaking will also be available on their
web site.
=====
Appropriations
On March 31, AFB submitted statements to three House
appropriations subcommittees and will file these same statements
with the Senate by April 23.
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, HUD, and Independent
Agencies
AFB recommended $4.2 million dollars for the Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (The Access Board) which
has the responsibility for developing standards and guidelines
and for providing technical assistance under the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the Telecommunications Act, and under the
pending reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. For further
details see our full Statement for the Record on our web site at
http://www.afb.org/g_atbcb.html.
The Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and
Related Agencies
AFB supports the President's recommendation of $72.0 million
dollars for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of
Justice. The Civil Rights Divisions is responsible for
enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as
other civil rights acts. For further details see our full
Statement for the Record on our web site at
http://www.afb.org/g_dojada.html
The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,
and Related Agencies
AFB made the following recommendations:
* $90.0 million for personnel preparation under IDEA, $7.7
million more than the President's FY1999 request.
* $45.3 million for the Technology Development, Demonstration,
and Utilization, and Media Services account, $11.3 more than
the President's FY 1999 request. This recommendation
includes $3.0 million dollars for video description
services.
* $29.2 million for Services for Deaf-Blind Students. The
newly reauthorized IDEA no longer provides a separate
programmatic line for deaf-blind centers and services. In
light of the increased number of deaf-blind students since a
$12.83 million floor was set in FY 1997 appropriations, AFB
has recommended an increase of $16.43 million for these
services.
* $13.0 million will trigger the formula funding mechanism for
Independent Living Services for Older Blind Individuals
(Title VII, Chapter 2) under which each state would receive
a minimum of $225,000. Congress and the President have
recognized the success of this program by steadily
increasing the appropriation. AFB's recommendation is only
$1.8 million above the President's recommendation.
* $43.6 million for Rehabilitation Training. Long-term grants
under the Rehabilitation Act provide the only source of
funding for college-based programs to train orientation and
mobility instructors and rehabilitation teachers for the
blind.
* $1.0 million for Braille Training Projects (Section 803)
These projects provide braille literacy training to
rehabilitation professionals, parents of blind children, and
family members of blind individuals.
* $8.6 million for the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-
Blind Youth and Adults. AFB's recommendation is a modest $.4
million dollars above the President's recommendation. This
increase will allow for urgent building repairs as well as
equipment and training in computer and other technologies.
* $9.2 million for the American Printing House for the Blind,
less than $1 million dollars more than the President's
request. This increase will permit APH to increase the per
capita allocation to states for textbooks and other
educational materials and to develop guidelines for
computer-administered testing of visually impaired students.
For further details see our full Statement for the Record on our
web site at http://www.afb.org/g_laborhhs.html.
=====
National Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities
On March 13, President Clinton signed an executive order
establishing National Task Force on Employment of People with
Disabilities. The Task Force, charged with developing and
recommending to the President a federal policy to reduce
employment barriers for persons with disabilities will analyze
existing programs and policies to determine what changes,
modifications and innovations may be necessary to remove barriers
to work; develop and recommend options to address the barrier of
health insurance coverage; analyzing youth programs related to
employment and the outcomes of those programs for young people
with disabilities; and evaluating whether federal studies related
to employment and training can and should include a statistically
significant sample of adults with disabilities. Alexis M. Herman,
Secretary of Labor, will chair the Task Force. Tony Coelho,
chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People
with Disabilities, will serve as vice-chair. The full text of the
press release and the executive order are posted on AFB's web
site at http://www.afb.org/i_res.html#govern.
=====
Department of Education Seeks Input on Part C Regulations
On April 14, the Department of Education issued a notice of
request for advice and recommendations on regulatory
issues regarding Part C of IDEA. You will find a copy of the
notice at http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm or
http://www.ed.gov/news.html.
=====
Contributors to WFW include Scott Marshall, Alan Dinsmore, Mark
Richert and Barbara LeMoine.
WFW is published by the American Foundation for the Blind,
Governmental Relations Group, 820 First Street, N.E., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20002, 202-408-0200, Fax: 202-289-7880, E-mail:
afbgov(AT)afb.org. Address questions regarding subscriptions or
content to Barbara LeMoine.
This report focuses on the most significant issues currently
being addressed by AFB's Governmental Relations Group, and is
delivered to you approximately biweekly via email or fax.
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