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 bi-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 other Monday while Congress is in session.
The 118th Congress concluded on December 21, when Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government through March 14—H.R. 10545. The bill provides more than $110 billion in disaster aid as well as continued funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including funds for community health centers and extended telehealth flexibilities.
The 119th Congress started on January 3 with swearing in new Members of Congress, passing their rules for how they will run Congress in the next two years, and appointing Committee members. Committee leadership for some important Committees that work on many disability policies include:
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Chair: Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Ranking Member: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Chair: Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Ranking Member: Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Senate Appropriations Committee
Chair: Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Ranking Member: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee
Chair: Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Ranking Member: Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
House Committee on Education and Workforce
Chair: Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Ranking Member: Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA)
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Chair: Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Ranking Member: Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
House Committee on Appropriations
Chair: Representative Tom Cole (R-OK)
Ranking Member: Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee
Chair: Representative Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Ranking Member: Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Congressional Republicans have signaled that they plan on passing a budget and working to pass reconciliation bills. Budget reconciliation is a congressional procedure that makes it easier to pass legislation related to taxes and spending, provided that legislation follows specific rules. Using reconciliation allows lawmakers to avoid the filibuster in the Senate. Incoming Senate Republican leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Republican leader Mike Johnson (R-LA) are planning for one or two reconciliation bills that will tackle border security, defense, and energy policy, and will address government spending. Republicans have suggested making changes to Medicaid as part of their reconciliation plans to help pay for other priorities. AUCD and other organizations are working to protect Medicaid including how to prevent cuts to the program, which provides critical support to people with disabilities and their families, as well as how to protect other health and human services programs. |
Congress has passed a bill to keep the government funded through March 14. The bill includes money to help areas of the country that had natural disasters like hurricanes, as well as money to make sure some health programs in the country can continue.
In this new session of Congress, which started at the beginning of January, people are talking about how to pass bills that affect how the government spends money. Some lawmakers are talking about taking money away from Medicaid, which would be bad for many people with disabilities. AUCD and other organizations will work to protect Medicaid.
You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and educate them on the importance of increasing funding for programs for people with disabilities in FY 2025.
Read more on budget reconciliation from the Center for American Progress.
Read more on budget reconciliation from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
View past issues of Disability Policy News to learn more about AUCD's policy priorities and how you can engage in policy actions.
