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.
On September 25, Congress passed a three-month long Continuing Resolution (CR) that extends government funding through December 20—H.R. 9747. Congress is currently working on a plan to fund the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2025, which they will have to finish by December 20. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are currently negotiating to decide on what bills will be attached to the CR, including legislation related to disaster relief and health care.
Looking forward to next Congress, Congressional Republicans have signaled that they plan on passing two 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 two separate 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 have begun to plan how to protect Medicaid, including how to prevent cuts to the program, which provides critical support to people with disabilities and their families.
Congress has passed a bill to keep the government funded through December 20. Now that Congress is back, they need to pass more legislation to keep the government funded before they leave again on December 20.Congress has passed a bill to keep the government funded through December 20. Both the Republicans and Democrats in Congress have some plans to pass bills about health care and bills to help people affected by disasters along with the government funding bills.
In the next session of Congress, which will begin in 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.
View past issues of Disability Policy News to learn more about AUCD's policy priorities and how you can engage in policy actions.
