From the Arc of Illinois...

[Guest guest]

The Arc of Illinois

February 17, 2009

Leaders in The Arc:

Here is a summary of the major disability-related provisions in the

economic stimulus package that President Obama will sign into law

today. This summary was written by our Disability Policy Collaboration

in D.C.

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

*Updated * February 17, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Disability-related

Provisions Contained in the Conference Agreement

and

What Chapters of The Arc Need to Do to Prepare

The ARRA has moved extremely quickly through Congress. The Arc and

UCP have been working hard to ensure that the economic recovery

package signed into law maintains the highest funding levels for

disability-related programs and provides for the best possible

protections for people with disabilities. The final Bill contains $787

billion in tax cuts and program funding. Most of the funding is

intended to grow and protect jobs.

What is the Status of the Legislation?

Jan 28 - passed by House by a vote of 244-188

Feb 10 - passed by Senate by a vote of 61-37

Feb 11 - the Senate - House Conference Committee resolved the

differences between the two bills.

Feb 13 - the House passed the conference bill by a vote of 246-183 and

the Senate passed it by a vote of 60-38.

Feb 17 - President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.

What are the Major Disability-related Provisions and their Funding

Levels?

The following is a list of disability specific programs and the amount

of increased spending they will receive from the time the bill is

enacted through 2010:

HEALTH

Medicaid: An $87 million increase in the Federal government's share of

Medicaid spending (FMAP) which runs from October 1, 2008 to December

31, 2010. Sixty-five per cent of the funds will be given to all

states. Thirty-five per cent will be used for additional payments (in

the form of a decrease in a state's match) for states with high

unemployment rates. Each state will receive a " base " 6.2% increase. A

state specific analysis can be accessed at

http://www.cbpp.org/2-13-09sfp.htm. There is a " maintenance of effort "

requirement which prohibits states from changing eligibility. However

there is NO maintenance of effort provision for benefits or services.

Therefore it is critical for affiliates and chapters to meet with

their State MR/DD and Medicaid agencies, their Governor's office, and

State Legislature immediately to urge them to use this increased

funding for disability services. The Act extends a moratoria on

Medicaid regulations which are in " final " form (i.e. the school based

services/transportation, the targeted case management, and the

outpatient rules) from April 1 through June 30, 2009. The bill also

contains a " Sense of the Congress " that the Secretary of the

Department of Health and Human Services shall not publish any pending

Medicaid rule (including the rehabilitative services option proposed

rule) in final form. COBRA: 65% premium subsidy for 9 months. Health

Information Technology: $19 billion to jumpstart computerized health

records. Prevention and Wellness: $1 billion to prevent chronic

diseases and to increase immunization programs. Lead-Based Paint

Removal: $100 million - competitive gra! nts to l ocalities and

nonprofits to remove lead paint in low income housing

NIH Biomedical Research: $10 billion for increased research.

EDUCATION

Special Education: $11.3 billion for the IDEA State Grant Program and

$500 million for the IDEA Part C Early Intervention Program. $400

million for the pre-school program.

SOCIAL SECURITY

SSI: A one-time emergency payment of $250 to people who receive

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, disabled

veterans, and other selected benefits. SSA Disability Backlog and

Claims: $500 million to help the Social Security Administration reduce

the processing time for claims and appeals decisions

SSA Modernization: $500 million to replace the antiquated National

Computer Center.

EMPLOYMENT

Vocational Rehabilitation: $540 million for VR State Grant.

Unemployment Insurance: Funding is provided to modernize the

unemployment compensation program, to add $25 to the weekly benefit,

to continue the current up to 33 weeks of extended benefits through

December 31, 2009 and to temporarily suspend federal income tax on the

first $2,400 of unemployment benefits per recipient for 2009.

Job Training: $500 million for adult, $1.2 billion for youth services.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Centers for Independent Living: $140 million to assist people with

disabilities to live in their communities.

HOUSING

Public Housing Capital Fund: $4 billion for building repair and

modernization $250 million for a new program to fund energy retrofits

of Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities,

Section 202 for the Elderly and Project Based Section 8 units to make

them for energy efficient. HUD will publish a Notice of Funding

Availability shortly announcing details of the program. HOME

Investment Partnerships: $2.25 billion with $2 billion targeted to

fill gaps in approved Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects and jump

start these stalled projects. Community Development Block Grant: $1

billion to support housing and services to help hard pressed

localities. Community Services Block Grant: $1 billion for housing,

food, employment and healthcare to serve areas hardest hit by the

recession. Low-Income Energy Assistance: Not Funded. Neighborhood

Stabilization: $2 billion for communities to purchase and rehabilitate

foreclosed, vacant properties to create more affordable housing.

Home Weatherization: $5 billion to weatherize homes of low income

households to reduce energy costs.

CHILD CARE and HEAD START

Child Care Development Block Grant: $2 billion to serve an additional

300,000 children in low income working families. $93.6 million is

targeted to improve infant and toddler care.

Head Start: $2.1 billion to provide services to 110,000 additional

children.

For more information, click the links below (note: each of these

documents are extremely lengthy):

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Conference report 111-16

The DPC will develop more materials on the ARRA. Many questions

remain, such as when will the funding be released and how much of the

new funding will be subject to regulation or other procedures. UCP

affiliates and chapters of The Arc should begin immediately to work

their Governors, Mayors, Medicaid Agency, school systems, and other

entities to assure that our constituents and service agencies receive

a fair share of this emergency funding.

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