1710 Rhode Island Ave, NW
5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036

Voice: (202) 207-0334
Fax: (202) 207-0341
TTY: (202) 207-0340
Toll Free: (877) 525-3400
  
 
National Council
on Independent Living
 
 
Not Just Responding To
Change, But Leading It!
 
   
 

Senate Introduces Independent Living Administration!

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is very proud and excited to announce that a bill has been filed with the Senate HELP Committee which creates the establishment of a new Independent Living Administration (ILA), and strengthens America’s Independent Living (IL) Program. The ILA would elevate the IL Program at the federal level, and would create an organization independent of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the Department of Education. The creation of this new administration marks a truly historic moment in the Independent Living Movement, and IL advocates across the country have much to celebrate this week.

The ILA is created through the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is contained in the larger Workforce Investment Act (WIA). NCIL has been pushing for the reauthorization of WIA and the Rehabilitation Act for nearly a decade, and the introduction of a bill to reauthorize both pieces of legislation presents a unique opportunity to improve the IL Program and substantially increase consumer-control at the federal level.

NCIL is optimistic about WIA’s chances for reauthorization, and very pleased with the rare bipartisan effort to put this bill together. Staff from the offices of Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) have been working over the past two years in an effort to renew and improve WIA.

NCIL has been working closely with the Senate to create legislative language that will drastically overhaul America’s IL Program, and fix problems that have frustrated Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) for years. Although the majority of IL fixes and enhancements in this legislation cannot be listed, here are some of the highlights:

  • Creation of an ILA: a new organization within the Department of Education, completely separate and independent of RSA. The ILA Director will report directly to the Secretary of Education.

  • Carryover Authority: CILs will now be allowed to carryover Part C funds not spent during the first year into a second year.

  • Addition of a 5th Core Service: transitioning people with disabilities from nursing homes and other institutions to home and community-based residences.

  • Clarification of the Role of SILC:  Because of RSA’s interpretations of the Rehabilitation Act, several clarifications regarding SILC activities are included in the bill - providing advice and assistance to the designated state unit (DSU), facilitating the improvement and coordination of services, resource development activities, and carrying out systems advocacy functions.

  • Funding Formula Change: Part C dollars should be allowed to be shared among all states and territories, states with the largest populations would receive more funding proportionally.

  • Accessibility at WIA One-Stop Centers: one–stop centers will be required to be physically and programmatically accessible, regardless of disability.

After reading the legislative language in the bill reauthorizing WIA and the Rehabilitation Act, it is obvious that the Senate has listened to NCIL’s concerns and worked hard to create a piece of legislation that will empower and increase the independence of Americans with disabilities. It is also clear that we have the bipartisan support necessary to move this bill forward, but the fight to get the votes necessary in both chambers of Congress to pass this reauthorization into law has only just begun. 

More than ever, IL advocates from across the country must now mobilize to push this historic legislation through Congress. Remember, this bill was created for us! We must immediately employ the full resources of the IL community to reach out to members of Congress and urge them to support the reauthorization of WIA and the Rehabilitation Act, specifically the inclusion of Title V language that creates an ILA and strengthens independent living.

Our unique opportunity to advance is now, and the time for action is today. Our first order of business is to get this through the Senate HELP Committee. This bill is moving very rapidly, and is scheduled for markup on June 29th. We need advocates to call Senators on this committee (see list below) and ask for their committed support for reauthorizing WIA and the Rehabilitation Act. If we are successful in our efforts, we will achieve one of the greatest advancements in the history of the Independent Living Movement.

Remember:

  • The creation of the ILA does not require any new or additional funding.

  • The creation of the ILA does not create unnecessary new bureaucracy. It simply streamlines the IL Program and enhances consumer-control.

NCIL’s Rehab Act & IL Funding Subcommittee has worked incredibly hard over the last few weeks, months, and years to bring us to this point. We thank them for their efforts and congratulate them on the successful inclusion of NCIL’s priorities in WIA that will now begin passage through Congress. Although most of our suggestions were adopted by the HELP Committee at the time of this legislation’s publication, the NCIL Rehab Act & IL Funding Subcommittee submitted comments suggesting further revisions to the bill.

Resources:

Follow this discussion and new developments on NCIL’s Facebook page.

If you have any questions, please contact NCIL Policy Analyst Austin Walker at (202) 207-0334 (toll-free: 1 (877) 525-3400), ext. 1008. Austin can also be reached by e-mail at austin@ncil.org.

Democrats by Rank

Republicans by Rank

 

 

  
© Copyright 2000 - 2006 • National Council on Independent Living

Site Map | Contact Us | Home