Disabilities

Bill honors young girl whose brother said, “… what you call people is how you treat them.”

17-Nov-2009 --
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski today introduced Rosa’s Law, a bill that will eliminate the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from the federal law books. U.S. Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is the Republican sponsor of the bill.

Senator Mikulski’s statement as delivered on the Senate floor follows:    » read more »

Pilot program that Murray pushed for in Wounded Warriors bill will mean single medical examinations and transparent rating system for returning service members disability claims

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Thousands of returning service members will have access to a streamlined disability claims system at Fort Lewis Army Medical Center because of a pilot program that U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass into law.    » read more »

In Advance of Veterans’ Day, Brown Discusses Issues Affecting Ohio Veterans

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown today announced a new initiative to improve veterans access to the benefits they have earned. Brown's Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements (BRAVE) Act would create a new fast-track system for veterans with disabilities to qualify for benefits from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security Administration (SSA).    » read more »

Murphy Testifies at Banking Hearing in Support of Bill to Provide Housing for People with Disabilities

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) testified on how to expand affordable housing options for seniors and Americans living with disabilities at a Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development hearing. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Banking Committee, joined Murphy in calling for the modernization of federal housing assistance programs to ensure they can meet the needs of low-income residents of Connecticut and the rest of the nation.    » read more »

Oct. 16, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced today the restoration of funding for the Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND) Program, which provides a monthly stipend of some $200 for food, housing and other essential services to about 6,500 of Colorado's most vulnerable residents.

To help close a $320 million budget shortfall in current FY09-10, the AND Program was slated to be suspended effective Jan. 1, 2010, for a $7.2 million savings.

"Over the past year, working together with the legislature, we've closed recession-caused budget shortfalls of nearly $2 billion," Gov. Ritter said. "We've taken great care and been guided by compassion in making surgical reductions to avoid pain where possible and preserve the safety net for those who depend on government services.    » read more »

As Chairman, Held Hearing on Reducing Backlog; New Call Center in Tennessee to Help Improve Service

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON– U.S. Rep. John Tanner, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, praised the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the success of its ongoing efforts to reduce the unprecedented backlog in disability appeals hearings.

The number of pending disability hearings declined during fiscal year 2009 for the first time since 1999. SSA projects that with adequate funding, it will eliminate the hearings backlog by the end of fiscal year 2013.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – President Obama today announced that his Administration is taking several steps to ensure that there is fair and equal access to employment for all Americans, particularly the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities. The announcement comes during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.    » read more »

Formula Funding Delivered to States

October 1, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the distribution of more than $21.8 billion in formula grants to support state-administered programs that support teachers and help students reach high standards.

Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula and provide funding for a variety of programs, including resources to improve teacher quality, career and technical education, and support for children facing the challenges of living in poverty. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant program supports children and students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21.    » read more »

Seniors, People with Disabilities Can Apply Early for LIHEAP

CHICAGO – August 31, 2009. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today urged seniors and people with disabilities to take advantage of tomorrow’s early application date for winter heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“Seniors and individuals with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the cold weather,” said Governor Quinn. “I encourage people to apply for assistance through LIHEAP so that they can stay safe, warm and healthy this winter.”    » read more »

Announces New Initiatives to Assist Americans with Disabilities

June 22, 2009 -- On the 10th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C., President Barack Obama today celebrated that anniversary and launched "The Year of Community Living," a new effort to assist Americans with disabilities.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- HHS joins President Obama in commemorating a significant anniversary in the civil rights movement for persons with disabilities. Ten years ago today, the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. recognizing that “unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.    » read more »

Grants Will Continue Collaboration with VA to Support America’s Veterans

June 4, 2009 --
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki today announced a landmark collaboration to help the families of older Americans and Veterans with disabilities of all ages care for their loved ones in the community.

This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve and has as its ultimate goal a nationwide home and community-based long-term-care support program to serve older Americans and veterans of all ages.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Rep. Valerie Longhurst and Sen. Patricia Blevins joined with advocates Wednesday to call for greater protections for senior citizens and Delawareans with disabilities.

Markell thanked Longhurst and Blevins for introducing House Bill 165, which will give the public online access to the Adult Abuse Registry. Delawareans seeking to hire someone to help care for their elderly loved one could easily go online and check the job applicant’s name against the registry. HB 165 is scheduled to receive a committee hearing later this month.    » read more »

PHOENIX – During a bill signing ceremony at the State Capitol, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today signed HB2001 into law. HB 2001 will allow parents of disabled and foster children to continue to choose and utilize the school that best serves the needs of their children.

“I am so honored and proud to sign into law this important legislation,” Governor Brewer stated. “These foster parents and parents of disabled students selected an educational environment that is best suited for their children, and this bill will allow them to continue on the educational path that they have chosen."    » read more »

Force Seniors and People with Disabilities Out of Their Homes and into Institutions

May 26, 2009 -- Los Angeles/Sacramento, CA -- Seniors, people with disabilities and the people who provide the care that permits them to live at home launched a statewide effort today to fight back against Governor Schwarzenegger's sharp and deep budget cuts with a 48-hour vigil at the State Capitol, a class-action lawsuit, and a new television and print ad campaign featuring President Barack Obama.

SEIU Ad Buy Features President, Affected Senior and Caregiver    » read more »