AUCD’s Community Inclusion Team supports the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Network in partnership with the Administration for Community Living.
AUCD’s Maternal and Child Health Engagement supports the Autism CARES Programs, including LEND and DBP Programs.
AUCD’s Public Health Team works to create health promotion and public health efforts that include people with disabilities.
AUCD Emerging Leaders are a part of a community that includes trainees, early career professionals, self-advocates, and family members from AUCD member Centers and Programs.
AUCD's Disability Policy News (DPN) is a weekly newsletter highlighting federal policy issues affecting people with disabilities and their families. DPN features updates in plain language and action steps that people can take to educate policymakers. DPN is published every Friday.
In this edition:
Senate Judiciary Republicans have released a proposal for their party-line budget reconciliation bill to fund the immigration enforcement agencies in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secret Service upgrades related to the President’s White House ballroom project. Congressional Republicans are also discussing a third reconciliation bill for a few months down the line that would invest heavily in the military.
Appropriators have begun drafting legislation to fund various federal agencies, as well as holding markups and hearings to consider the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
Appropriations means money that is set aside by Congress for a particular use.
Congressional Republicans want to pass a bill to give money to the part of the Department of Homeland Security that includes immigration police: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They are using a special process called reconciliation. This process can be used for bills that are about spending money. It can be used when the same political party (Republicans or Democrats) are in charge of the Senate, the House, and the Presidency. This is because you don’t need as many lawmakers to vote ‘yes.’ It is usually used when lawmakers in one political party (either Democrat or Republican) want to pass bills they know the other political party wouldn’t like very much. This bill will also include money for some safety and security work at the White House, including making some change to the ballroom, which is one of the fancier event rooms.
Congress is starting to write bills that will include appropriations for different federal government departments and programs. They are having budget hearings, where they meet with agency leaders who talk about the President's Budget. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is in charge of funding and other support that AUCD programs get. Congress will also hold markups, which is when they meet to work on bills and make updates and changes.
View past issues of Disability Policy News to learn more about AUCD's policy priorities and how you can engage in policy actions.
