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February 3, 2025 | Vol. MMXXVVI | Issue 101 |
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Budget and Appropriations |
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Congressional Republicans plan on passing a budget and one or two reconciliation bills; it appears they are working towards one bill. Budget reconciliation is a congressional procedure that makes it easier to pass legislation related to taxes and spending, provided that legislation follows specific rules. Using reconciliation allows lawmakers to avoid the filibuster in the Senate. Senate Republican leadership and House Republican leadership have not yet decided on whether they will work to pass one or two reconciliation bills, but have stated that they will tackle border security, defense, and energy policy, and will address government spending. The Budget Committee is most likely expected to meet this week and begin the process to move forward with reconciliation with some Republicans pushing for at least $1 trillion in spending cuts.
Republicans have suggested making changes to Medicaid as part of their reconciliation plans to help pay for other priorities. AUCD and other organizations are working to protect Medicaid, including how to prevent cuts to the program—which provides critical support to people with disabilities and their families—as well as how to protect other health and human services programs.
Congressional Leadership is also still working to come to agreement on how to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025. The current continuing resolution expires March 14. Congress must finalize the appropriations bills or pass another continuing resolution to continue to fund the federal government through September 30. |
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Plain Language |
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In this new session of Congress, which started at the beginning of January, people are talking about how to pass bills that affect how the government spends money. Some lawmakers are talking about taking money away from Medicaid. AUCD and other organizations will work to protect Medicaid. |
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Action Steps |
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Presidential Nominations and Confirmations |
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The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, January 29 to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the President’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to consider his nomination on Thursday, January 30.
The following are confirmed Cabinet members:
Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary
Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary
Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary
John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator |
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Plain Language |
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President Trump chose a few people to be in charge of U.S. departments and agencies. Now, the U.S. Senate needs to decide if they will approve those people. These decisions happen in committees, which are groups of lawmakers who work on a certain issue or topic. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was chosen by the President to be in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which makes a lot of decisions that affect people with disabilities. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and those committees will be important in deciding if the Senate will approve him to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. |
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Action Steps |
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Watch the hearings to consider Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nominations in the Senate Finance Committee and Senate HELP Committee. |
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President Trump Signs New Executive Orders |
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President Trump has signed new executive orders that could impact people with disabilities. Executive orders are new rules from the President that affect many aspects of U.S. government. Executive orders have the force of law, and like laws passed by Congress, they have to comply with existing laws, including civil rights laws like the Americans with Disabilities. Therefore, some executive orders may not withstand certain actions that are working their way through the courts. Recent executive orders from President Trump include:
President Trump also signed an executive order that reversed several Biden administration executive orders on health care, including efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs for people on Medicare and Medicaid, enhancing the Affordable Care Act, and strengthening Medicaid. |
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Plain Language |
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President Trump signed some new rules that affect people with disabilities. These rules tell different government agencies and departments what they can do with their money. Some of these rules would change what former President Biden did. |
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Senator Moran Introduces Bill to Eliminate SSI Marriage Penalty |
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On January 13, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced S. 73, a bill to change an aspect of the Social Security Act to make sure that adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities will not lose their supplemental security income benefits when they get married. |
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Plain Language |
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Senator Jerry Moran from Kansas introduced a bill that would make sure adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities do not lose their benefits when they get married. |
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Senator Van Hollen Introduces Bill to Fund Important Education Bills |
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On January 30, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced S.343, a bill to require full funding of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as the Every Student Succeeds Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ESEA mandates policies for and provides funding for K-12 public education and IDEA ensures that students with disabilities receive special education services. |
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Plain Language |
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Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland introduced a bill to make sure education programs that help students with disabilities get enough money. |
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New Strategic Plan for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development |
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On January 21, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) published its new Strategic Plan for 2025, which will guide the NICHD’s work for the next five years. The NICHD Strategic Plan 2025 will build upon the goals of the 2020 plan and address 5 broad research goals:
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Understanding the Molecular, Cellular, and Structural Basis of Development
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Advancing Gynecologic, Andrologic, and Reproductive Health
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Setting the Foundation for Health Pregnancies and Lifelong Wellness
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Improving Child and Adolescent Health and the Transition to Adulthood
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Fostering Safe and Effective Therapeutics and Devices for Pregnant Women, Lactating Women, Children, and People with Disabilities
The Strategic Plan encourages multidisciplinary teams of scientists to work together to address key public health priorities within NICHD mission areas and reaffirms the institute’s commitment to research aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, children, and people with disabilities. |
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Plain Language |
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The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is a part of the government that researches disability and how people grow up when they have disabilities. They made a new plan to guide their work for the next 5 years that will include research on pregnancy, how people transition from childhood to adulthood, and more. |
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Action Steps |
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Read more about the NICHD Strategic Plan 2025. |
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U.S. Department of Labor Releases New Disability Inclusion Toolkit |
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On January 16, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) released a new resource in collaboration with the Job Accommodation Network (JAN): The Workplace Accommodation and Accessibility Policy Toolkit. This toolkit offers guidance for employers to help them evaluate their workplaces and integrate accessibility measures for employees with disabilities. |
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Plain Language |
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The U.S. Department of Labor came up with a new toolkit that will help employers make their workplaces more accessible for workers with disabilities. |
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Action Steps |
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Read more about the toolkit and access guidance. |
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U.S. Department of Labor Sends Report to Congress of Direct Care Worker Shortage |
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On January 16, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it had sent a report to Congress about the vital role that direct care workers play in supporting people with disabilities and older adults to live independently. The report highlights the severe worker shortage among direct care workers, highlights ways for DOL and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address the shortage, and notes: “What is clear is that absent significant policy changes that ensure good jobs for direct care workers, including family-sustaining wages and benefits, there will continue to be a mismatch between the supply of direct care workers and the need for their services.” |
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Plain Language |
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The U.S. Department of Labor wrote a report on direct care workers who help people with disabilities and older adults. They wrote that these care workers are really important and there are not enough of them. |
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Action Steps |
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Read the report to Congress. |
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Check out "Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All" |
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“Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All” is a YouTube video series highlighting current issues and hot topics in disability policy. Past guests of Tuesdays with Liz include U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, agency officials, AUCD leadership, and key members of the disability community.
Liz Weintraub is AUCD's Senior Advocacy Specialist and the host of "Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All."
Liz has extensive experience practicing leadership in self-advocacy and has held many board and advisory positions at state and national organizations, including the Council on Quality & Leadership (CQL) and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.
Find the full playlist on YouTube. |
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