NCIL Disability Policy Summit, Congressional
Briefing and Hill Visits
On March 23rd, NCIL held a disability policy summit in
Washington, D.C. Representatives from 22 national disability organizations
attended. The NCIL board presented its 2009 legislative and advocacy
priorities. “The meeting provided a great opportunity for organizations to
share their legislative priorities and engage in dialogue to continue
collaboration,” said John Lancaster, the organization’s executive
director.
The following day NCIL held its third annual congressional
policy briefing in the Russell Senate Office Building. The NCIL Board of
Directors worked to educate members of Congress and their staffs about
independent living and our legislative and advocacy priorities. Tim Sheehan of
Wisconsin gave an overview of CILs and SILCs, Jeff Hughes spoke about the
Reauthorization of the Rehab Act, and Lou Ann Kibbee talked about the Community
Choice Act. Several congressional staff members attended, and our policy
priorities booklet was distributed to all.
Later that day, NCIL policy fellow Jason Beloungy attended
a meeting with NCIL Board President Kelly Buckland, NCIL board member Tim
Sheehan and Kelly’s wife and son, Merle and Rodney, respectively They
attended scheduled meeting with the chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee, David Obey (D-Wis.) to talk about concerns with RSA not releasing
information or funds related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for
the IL program, as well as the 2010 budget process.
The meeting was very positive, and the delegation felt
good about what had been discussed in this face-to-face meeting with the
chairman in his U.S. Capitol office. The chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee is one of the most powerful members of Congress, and to get a
personal meeting with him in his Capitol office is a very rare opportunity.
“The chairman’s office is located next to the
office of the Speaker of the House and is not part of the Capitol tour,”
Jason said. “Once inside the office, you had one of the best views. The
view overlooked the National Mall and the Washington Monument. All of us in the
room felt that this was an exceptional moment that none will likely
forget.”
Jeff Hughes and NCIL staff Elizabeth Leef met with the
lead staff person for Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House
Energy and Labor Committee, who is working on the Reauthorization of the Rehab
Act. Recent events regarding RSA and the stimulus funds were discussed. NCIL
board members Mary Margaret Moore and Steve Higgins attended a meeting with the
lead staff person for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), responsible for the
Reauthorization of the Rehab Act on the Senate side. The Senate will be working
from the old Senate version of the Reauthorization; the House wants to start
from scratch. NCIL will keep the membership informed and up-to-date as we learn
more. NCIL will reach out to the membership for input on the act.
Board members Jeff Hughes and Carla Lawson met with
Senator Colburn’s staff and discussed recent events with RSA. The
senator’s staff will be contacting RSA on behalf of NCIL to see why IL
funds are being held up.
In Congress, NCIL staff members visited the offices of
Senators Lincoln (D-Ark.), Casey (D-Pa.), Hagan (D-N.C.), Roberts (R-Kan.),
Murkowski (R-Alaska), Hatch (D-Utah), Udall (D-Colo.), and Bennet (D-Colo.). In
the House, the staff visited Representatives Tiahrt (R-Kan.), Jenkins (R-Kan.),
Moore (D-Kan.), Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.), Moran (R-Kan.), Miller (D-N.C.),
Tierney (D-Mass.) and Chairman Miller (D-Calif.).
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