NRA’s 28th Annual Government Affairs Summit

NRA’s 28^th Annual Government Affairs Summit

“The Three R’s of Effective Legislative Advocacy: Relationships, Return on Investment and Results”

March 8-10, 2009
Hilton Alexandria Old Town
1767 King Street
Alexandria, VA. 22314
(703) 837-0440

This year's Summit, the title of which is "The Three Rs of Effective Legislative Advocacy: Relationships; Return on Investment and Results," will be held in beautiful, historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel, located at 1767 King Street (703-837-0440), which is located directly across the street from the King Street Metro.

So much has happened in the Congress since we last contacted you about the Government Affairs Summit, do plan to join us in March and experience first hand from the players on the Hill how all this came about and how the negotations (yet to be determined) were finally determined. What a great time to be in the most powerful city in the world -- The United States Capitol.

Once again, we encourage you to make your appointments with your Representatives and Senators as soon as possible to ensure access to your Members and their staff during your time in Washington, D.C. We also want to impress upon all NRA Members to provide us with your current contact information as soon as possible in anticipation of Legislative Alerts and information that will be important to you and your colleagues.

DRAFT PROGRAM – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Sunday, March 8, 2009

All events at the Hotel

11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks

Beverlee Stafford, Executive Director of the National Rehabilitation Association, NRA’s 2009 President Butch McMillan, and NRA's Immediate Past President Ray Feroz

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Pre-Session for First-Time Attendees

Legislative Advocacy 101: The People’s House and Senate

Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Ralph Pacinelli and Kathy West-Evans, NRA's 2009 President Butch McMillan and Patricia Leahy will present on effective legislative strategies and advocacy.

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

NRA Luncheon Buffet at the Hotel

Luncheon keynote: Ms. Sallie Rhodes, CESSI, Program Specialist on The Ticket to Work.
Ms. Rhodes will present on the recently-released Ticket regulations and on Partnership Plus

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Recognition and Appreciation Ceremony for NRA Board Members rotating off the Board

Recognition and Appreciation of our Qualified Rehabilitation Counselors and Qualified Rehabilitation Personnel and Observance of NRA's and Congress' National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day.

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Presentation on NRA’s Position Papers

Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs, Members of the Government Affairs Committee and Patricia Leahy will present on NRA's 2009 Position Papers and Principles to Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Monday, March 9, 2009

All events at the Hotel

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - The President's Breakfast for all attendees

8.30 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.

Federal Partners Panel

Representatives of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the U.S. Department of Education

Representatives of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), Department of Education

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Labor

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Congressional Keynote Speakers:

Connie Garner, Director of Disability Policy to Senator Kennedy, (D.MA.)
(D.MA.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (confirmed)

Sharon Lewis, Obama Presidential Transition Team for Education; Senior Disability Policy Advisor to Congressman George Miller (D.CA.);
Chairman House Education and Labor Committee (on schedule)

Lee Perselay, Director of Disability Policy to Senator Tom Harkin (D.IA) who will discuss the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (on schedule)

Gerri Fiala, Staff Director to Senator Patty Murray (D.WA.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety (confirmed)

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch – on your own

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Business Panel

Ms. Kathleen West-Evans, CRC, Employment Specialist, formerly of RSA's Region X Office, currently Director of the VR Business Network for the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR).
Ms. West-Evans will discuss new and exciting developments in the enormously successful VR Business Network for both consumers and businesses with a focus on collaborative Federal partnerships and the hiring of individuals with disabilities, including veterans.

Businesses to be announced shortly.

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

8:30 a.m.

Depart Hotel for Capitol Hill via Metro - Appointments with Representatives and Senators

12 noon to 2:30 p.m.

NRA Congressional Lunch and Presentations

The Congressional Luncheon Buffet and NRA LEAD ON Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building's Banquet Rooms B-339 and B-340.

Among this year's recipients of the LEAD ON Award are: Connie Garner, Senior Disability Advisor to Senator Kennedy; and Sharon Lewis, Senior Disability Advisor to Congressman Miller. Other recipients of NRA's prestigious LEAD ON Award to be announced.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Appointments with Representatives and Senators resume

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wrap-up Session

Room 121 Cannon House Office Building. For those members who conclude their Hill visits with their respective Members of Congress before 4:00 p.m., this room will be available to you beginning at 3:00 p.m.

As with past Government Affairs Summits, we encourage you to make appointments with your respective Members of Congress and others, as appropriate, as early as possible to ensure your access to Members and staff.

Additional registration information on the 2009 Government Affairs Summit is on the National Rehabilitation Association's website, which can be accessed at www.nationalrehab.org .

The online registration can be directly accessed at: www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=NationalRehab&fm=3 .

Register for the 2009 Government Affairs Summit TODAY and take advantage of NRA's Early Bird Rates for your registration, which must be received on or before February 13th. Registration rates will increase after February 13, 2009.

Please also keep in mind the following hotel room rates - $154(Single) / $164(Double), and this special room rate cutoff date is February 13, 2009. To make reservations today, please call the Hilton Old Town-Alexandria Hotel at: 703-837-0440.

We look forward to seeing you at the National Rehabilitation Association's 28^th Annual Government Affairs Summit which promises to be a very exciting and exhilarating experience.

Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy

National Rehabilitation Association

633 South Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

1-888-258-4295

NRA Office - 703-836-0850, NRA Fax - 703-836-0848, TDD - 703-836-0849

E-mail - patricia@nationalrehab.org

NRA Website - www.nationalrehab.org

NRCA Capitol Insider Volume 14 Issue 6

Capitol Insider

Volume 14, Issue 6

Action Alerts: None.

Major Events Last Week

Economic Recovery
Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) crafted a compromise substitute amendment for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (S.1). According to the Senate Democratic leadership, the substitute will garner sufficient Republican support to overcome a filibuster (or endless debate). The following disability-related program increases remain in the substitute bill:

* $87 billion over two years in the federal share of Medicaid spending (FMAP);
* $13 billion for IDEA state grant program;
* $500 million for the vocational rehabilitation state grant;

* $110 million for independent living;
* $500 million for IDEA Part C early intervention;
* $2.25 billion for the HOME (housing) program;
* $100 million for lead paint abatement;
* $400 million for the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX);
* $16.7 billion for a $300 one-time payment to Social Security beneficiaries, including people with disabilities and retirees, beneficiaries receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and disabled veterans;
* $750 million for a new National Computer Center for the Social Security Administration (SSA); and
* $140 million for information technology for SSA.

The substitute eliminates funding to make Section 811 Supportive Housing units more energy efficient.

The Senate bill does not include an extension of moratoria on seven Medicaid regulations until July 1.

Health Care
The House of Representatives passed and President Obama signed into law (P.L. 111-3) legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The law provides funding to expand the program to an additional 4.5 million children.

Obama Administration
Eric H. Holder, Jr. was sworn in as Attorney General on Feb. 3, the day after the Senate confirmed him. Tom Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, pulled out of the nomination process for Secretary of Health and Human Services amid questions over his failure to pay about $140,000 in back taxes and interest. No official alternate nomination has been announced. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a vote on Hilda Solis' nomination as Secretary of Labor minutes before it was scheduled to take place. The delay came after a published report that Solis' husband had recently settled outstanding tax liens against his auto repair business.

Employment
The unemployment rate of people with disabilities is 13.2 percent according to the federal Department of Labor. The survey that the Department uses to determine the official unemployment rates includes questions about disability for the first time. The DPC has posted a Q & A fact sheet to help make sense of the new rate at:
http://www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=1481

Transportation
Amtrak submitted to Congress its detailed report on accessibility and compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Amtrak was required in the 2008 reauthorization to develop a report and plan for meeting the ADA deadline of having all their stations accessible by 2010. Amtrak did not provide a plan as required, but instead requested that the deadline be extended to September 30 2015 and called on Congress to provide significant funding to support the station accessibility improvements.

Technology
A bill to postpone the digital television (DTV) transition date passed in the House. The House passed the DTV Delay Act (S. 328) to extend the February 17th digital switch over until June 12th. This four month extension is intended to help transition the remaining 3 million households that are still unprepared for the analog to digital TV switch. The bill also extends the last day consumers can use the converter box coupons from March 31st to July 31, 2009. The $650 million available for additional converter box coupons remains in the Senate's version of the stimulus bill that is tentatively scheduled for a vote tomorrow.


Major Events Ahead

Economic Recovery
Today the Senate will vote on a motion to limit debate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (S.1). Sixty votes are needed and it is expected that it will pass. If so, the Senate will vote on final passage of the legislation tomorrow. A House-Senate Conference Committee will then begin to resolve differences between the House and Senate bills. The goal is to complete Conference Committee deliberations and vote on final passage in both chambers by the President's Day recess which begins on February 13th. Many believe reaching that goal is highly unlikely.

Health Care
On Tuesday the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) will hold a hearing on "Budget Options for Health Programs." For more information see:
http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/hearingstate.html

On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship, chaired by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), will hold a hearing on "Competitive Bidding for Durable Medical Equipment." For more information see:
http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

Employment
On Thursday, the House Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee is holding a hearing on "New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act." Among the witnesses will be Steve Wooderson, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator. For more information see: http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/02/new-innovations-and-best-pract.shtml

Announcements

Information and Social Networking Resource
United Cerebral Palsy and UCP of New York City have made available My Child Without Limits, a comprehensive informational and social networking resource for caregivers of children ages 0-5 with developmental disabilities, and the professionals who work with them. The Web site currently includes information on developmental milestones, early intervention, education planning, family suport services, special needs planning, assistive technology, common treatments and therapies, and alternative treaments and therapies. See: http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org

Employment
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) just released two new fact sheets. Making Workplace Accommodations: Reasonable Cost, Big Benefits and Employee Assistance Programs for a New Generation of Employees: Defining the Next Generation have been posted on ODEP's Web page at http://www.dol.gov/odep

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Please note that you can view previous issues of the Capitol Insider, at thearc.org anytime by choosing "Capitol Insider" under "Public Policy."

National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA)
PO Box 4480
Manassas, VA 20108
703-361-2077 (voice)
703-361-2489 (fax)
(Office hours: Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT)
"There's a place for you in NRCA"

SSA On GAO List of "High Risk" Programs

GAO just released their biennial update to its list of federal programs, policies, and operations that are at “high risk” for waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement or in need of broad-based transformation. SSA’s disability program was on the list again. Below you will find key sections to this report that cover SSA’s part.

The full report can be viewed at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09271.pdf

HIGH-RISK SERIES: Improving and Modernizing Federal Disability Programs

What GAO Found:

While some federal disability programs have taken steps to address growing workloads, in general little progress has been made in improving the accuracy and timeliness of disability decisions and in modernizing federal disability programs.

SSA continues to struggle to keep pace with growing numbers of disability applications, leading to large claims backlogs and long waits for claimants. In 2006, it introduced a comprehensive set of reforms to improve the efficiency of the disability determination process and the accuracy and timeliness of decisions. Tight time frames, poor communication, and a lack of financial planning hampered implementation of these reforms, and by 2008 most had been superseded by more focused efforts to fully implement electronic case processing and eliminate the growing claims backlog at the hearings level. Whether concentration on fewer, more immediate issues will better position SSA to meet the challenges it faces remains to be seen.

Federal disability programs need continuous re-examination and transformation. Disability policies and programs have been individually developed over many years, creating a patchwork of federal policies and programs without a unified set of national goals. As a result, these programs have different legal mandates, funding streams, missions, eligibility criteria, and priorities. Agencies have taken steps to modernize their programs, such as revising eligibility criteria. However, the revisions to eligibility criteria fall short of fully incorporating a modern understanding of how technology and labor market changes could affect eligibility for disability benefits. More importantly, steps have not been taken to develop a set of agreed-upon desired outcomes for disability policies and programs and the processes to achieve them. Without a federal strategy and government wide coordination among the almost 200 disability programs, there is no assurance that federal policies, services, and supports for people with disabilities will be aligned.

What Remains to Be Done:

SSA, DOD, and VA continue to take steps to manage their growing workloads, but more progress is needed to achieve fundamental program reform. SSA needs to recommit itself to achieving comprehensive reform to improve both the accuracy and timeliness of disability decisions. DOD and VA need to soundly evaluate their pilot of a joint disability determination system and carefully manage any efforts at large-scale implementation. Beyond improvements in agency operations, modernizing federal disability programs calls for better coordination between federal disability programs, in general, and creation of an overall federal strategy aligning disability policies, services and supports.

Bureau of Labor Stats Announces DIsability Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced today the first ever unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities of 13.2% (not seasonally adjusted) for the month of January. This rate is almost 5% points higher than for individuals without a self-reported disability which was 8.3% (not seasonally adjusted). The overall national unemployment rate for January was 7.6% (seasonally adjusted). BLS now plans to include an unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities every month. The number includes individuals not residing in an institution age 16 or older.

It has been often misstated over the years that the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is around 70%. This is the result of mistakenly subtracting the employment rate for individuals with disabilities, which has been in the range of 30% – 37% for the past several decades, from 100%. The unemployment rate is defined differently than the employment rate, and therefore a simple subtraction of the employment rate of individuals with disabilities from 100% is statistically incorrect.

For additional resources on both the employment rate and unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities, including a link explaining why the unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities has never been around 70%, see the NDRN webpage on Reports and Statistics on the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.
For more information: David T. Hutt, Ph.D.Senior Staff Attorney, National Disability Rights Network

(202) 408-9514, (202) 408-9521 (TTY)

New Website for Students with Disabilities Interested in College

GOING TO COLLEGE: http://www.going-to-college.org/

This new website contains information about living college life with a disability. It is designed for high school students. The site provides video clips, activities, and resources that can help them get a head start in planning for college. Video interviews with college students with disabilities offer a way to hear firsthand from students with disabilities who have been successful. Modules include activities that will help students explore more about themselves, learn what to expect from college, and equip them with important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college. Going to College is funded by a grant with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (#H324M030099A)