Rehabilitation Act Passes Senate With IL Amendments

The US Senate finally passed its bill reauthorizing the Workforce  Investment Act (WIA), including the Rehabilitation Act last Thursday. Independent Living is covered by the Rehab Act. When Congress returns
from the July Fourth recess, a Conference Committee is expected to begin negotiations to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. NCIL strongly supports the Senate bill. Here is why.

Highlights of the Senate Version of the Rehab Act Include:

A Fifth Core Service entitled "promoting full access to community life" will be added. This addition to the very foundation of IL will include both Nursing Home and Youth Transition. Although NCIL has expressed concern
about additional resources needed to provide these services, it was generally agreed that most centers are already providing them-or believed that they should.

Changes in Funding: Centers will be able to carry over Part C funds not expended during the first year received to a second year. Centers receiving Part C funds are grandfathered into the system if they received funds
"the previous year" (assuming they meet the standards and assurances). Also, a new funding formula, providing for a more equitable division of new dollars going into Title VII, Part C, that would ensure that every new dollar that goes into Part C would be shared among all of the states and territories, while still giving states with the largest population a greater share of new funding.

Clarifications Regarding SILCs: The Senate version of the Rehabilitation Act clearly defines the role of SILCs, how they interact with government and their role in working with CILs.

Please call, write, and/or visit your senators and representatives, as WIA conference negotiations get under way that the independent living community supports the Senate version.