Washington Wire- Reauthorization of WIA

NRA WASHINGTON WIRE--

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (the HELP Committee) has been conducting on a bipartisan basis a series of "Listening Sessions" on WIA to which all stakeholders -- and principally the mandatory partners -- have been invited. The National Rehabilitation Association has participated in several of these "Listening Sessions," the first on November 17, 2008. The National Rehabilitation Association also participated in the April 7, 2009 "Listening Session" of the HELP Committee which focused on the adult population, which included individuals with disabilities.

During this Listening Session and in November, NRA stressed the importance of proper training of rehabilitation counselors and all personnel involved in the provision of quality services and supports to individuals with disabilities. During the April 7 presentation we shared hard copies of NRA's 2009 Issues Statements which can be found at http://www.nationalrehab.org. NRA called particular attention to The Qualified Rehabilitation Professional, With an Emphasis on Valuing the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, citing the significant and positive relationship between the level of education of the rehabilitation counselor and the quality of consumer outcomes which is well-documented in this Issues Statement. We also shared once again our Issue Statement (which is the first of NRA's 2009 Issues Statements) on The Governors' Waiver Authority with both the Congressional staff and other advocates. This was partially in response to NRA's concern with the presentation that the National Governors' Association had made on April 7, on the importance of the flexibility of Governors in using WIA funds. We will continue to monitor this issue very closely and will advise you of developments in this regard should they affect the integrity and funding of the programs administered under the Rehabilitation Act. Those of you who attended NRA's 2009 Government Affairs Summit and for those of you who have attended NRA's Summits in the past, appreciate the importance of the art of effective advocacy. This year's Summit focused on the Three "R"s of Legislative Advocacy: Relationships; Return-on-Investment and Results."

The Senate HELP Committee has tentatively set a hearing on the reauthorization of WIA to occur on May 19, 2009. We will keep you advised of additional information in this regard and ask you once again to provide us with your current contact information, including e-mail address.

Mark your calendars for next year's 2010 Government Affairs Summit, which will begin on Sunday, March 7, continues on Monday, March 8, and culminates on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, with NRA's Day on the Hill. And, do remember that understanding the ways of Washington includes a focus on the importance of TITLES, TURF AND TAKING CREDIT.