Governor Quinn signed legislation restoring dental and poditary services yesterday as
recently reported by The Arc last week.
Shirley and I are off to the Capitol.
Tony
Capitol Insider
For the week of June 16th
Major Events Last Week
Autism – Senate Introduces Bill to Reauthorize Combating Autism Act;
Committee Advances House Bill
On June 9, a bipartisan reauthorization bill (S. 2449) was introduced in the Senate by
Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Enzi (R-WI). The Senate bill is identical to the House
bill, except that it includes a name change – the Autism Collaboration, Accountability,
Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act. The Arc, along with our coalit ion
partners, advocated for replacing the title with one that uses respectful language. On
the same day, the Energy and Commerce Committee quickly approved the House bill.
See our coalition statement at the CCD website.
Employment / Rights – Conciliation Agreement to Resolve Allegations of
Disability Discrimination by an American Job Center in Burnsville, Minnesota
Last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it has entered into a
conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of disability discrimination by an American
Job Center in Burnsville, Minnesota. As noted in the press release, the DOL Civil
Rights Center investigated a complaint claiming that the Dakota County Burnsville
WorkForce Center required a customer who was perceived to have a disability to
attend an orient ation for a vocational rehabilitation program before it would permit her
to receive services that were not limited to individuals with disabilities. While not
acknowledging that it violated the law, the WorkForce Center has agreed, among other
provisions, that it will not automatically refer all customers with disabilities to disability-
specific services, will not require participation in such services as a condition of
receiving any services that are not disability-specific, and will conduct individualized
assessments to determine whether a particular customer may be qualified for referral
to disability-specific services.
Social Security – House Holds Hearing on the Integrity of the Social Security
Disability Determination Appeals Process
Last week, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a two-
day hearing on “Social Security Administration Oversight: Examining the Integrity of
the Disability Determination Appeals Process.” Visit the Committee website to review
testimony and video from the hearing.
Major Events Ahead
Social Security – Senate to Hold Hearing on Reduction in Face-to-Face
Services at the Social Security Administration
On Wednesday, June 18, the Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing
on “Reduction in Face-to-Face Services at the Social Security Administration.” The
hearing is expected to review topics such as past and proposed closures of field
offices as well as proposed reductions in services at field offices. Visit the Committee
website for more information.
Announcements
Health – The Department of Health and Human Services Announces
Availability of Navigator Grants
The Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Funding
Availability for grants for the navigator program authorized by the Affordable Care
Act. The grants are available to organizations in states that the federal
government is running or partnering with to maintain the private health insurance
marketplaces. Navigators assist people with enrolling in health insurance programs.
Organizations that are interested must submit a letter of intent by July 10. For
pre-application webinars or more information, visit the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services website.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
