July 25, 2025 | Vol. MMXXV | Issue 122

In this edition:

• Fiscal Year 2026

• Hearings and Nominations

• Department of Energy

• New Legislation

• AUCD Materials

• Words to Know

Fiscal Year 2026

The Administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal recommends eliminating discretionary funding for the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and consolidating UCEDD activities under the Independent Living program, alongside four other distinct national disability programs. This would dismantle a trusted, longstanding network that provides critical research, training, and services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in every U.S. state and territory.

Action Item - AUCD has launched an easy-to-use grassroots action tool that enables individuals, families, professionals, and allies to contact their Members of Congress and urge them to reject this harmful proposal and fully fund UCEDDs in FY 2026.

➡️ Take 2 minutes to act here: https://aucd.quorum.us/campaign/133226/

We encourage you to take these three steps:

1. Personalize your message to reflect the impact your UCEDD has had on your life or community

2. Share this action widely with your networks, including families, students, staff, alumni, and partners

3. Share the tool on social media, tag AUCD, and use the hashtags #SaveUCEDDs and #DisabilityAdvocacy. 

Please note - the language in this campaign constitutes lobbying as the messages directly ask to fund the UCEDDs. Please consider this when choosing the email you use to send the messages.

UCEDDs are essential to ensuring that people with developmental disabilities can live, learn, work, and thrive in their communities. With your help, we can protect this vital infrastructure from elimination and ensure continued investment in disability innovation and equity.

The Senate and House Appropriations Committees' Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) subcommittees have jurisdiction over funding for AUCD Network programs. Representative Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chairman of the LHHS subcommittee, says he expects the subcommittee funding bill to be marked up during the first week of September. The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up their Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations legislation ahead of the August recess. Neither House nor Senate funding bill text has been released yet.

Plain Language

The Administration wants to take away the UCEDDs. The Administration wants to combine the work of the UCEDDs with the work of a few other disability programs to make the Independent Living Program do that work. This breaks up a network of programs that help people with disabilities and their families in every state and U.S. territory. The UCEDDs do important work like research, training, and offering services that improve everyday life for people with disabilities.

Action Item – Right now, people should tell their Members of Congress how important the UCEDDs are. Ask them to say no to the harmful plan to take away UCEDD funding. You can contact your Members of Congress using AUCD’s easy online tool. Make your message personal by telling your Member of Congress how your UCEDD has helped you or your community. We encourage you to share this tool with other people you know and on social media.

UCEDDs are important because they help people with disabilities live, learn, work, and be a part of their communities. With your help, we want to protect UCEDDs from losing their funding.

Congress needs to pass a government spending bill to make sure the government is funded in 2026. Before Congress can vote on that bill, committees in the House and Senate need to first review it. This is a process called a markup and the committees are called Appropriations committees.

Right now, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees are working on their plans for next year’s funding. Those plans will decide how much money the UCEDDs will get. Representative Robert Aderholt from Alabama says that the markup for this spending plan will take place during the first week of September. In the Senate, the markup is supposed to happen at the beginning of August.

During markup, lawmakers can look over a bill and share suggested changes. The committee then votes on these suggested changes. If the committee agrees on the suggested changes in a vote, the bill with the changes is sent to either the House or Senate for more discussion and voting.

Hearings and Nominations

• HELP Healthcare Hearing – on Thursday, July 31, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing on how to lower health costs and make healthcare more affordable.
  
  

• HELP K-12 Hearing – On Wednesday, July 23, the Senate HELP Committee’s Subcommittee on Education held a hearing entitled “K-12 Subcommittee Hearing on Choice and Literacy: Empowering Families for Better Educational Results.”
  
  

• Alex Adams Nomination – On Tuesday, July 22, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Alex Adams to be the Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families, soon to be called the Administration for Children, Families, and Communities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  
  

• Brian Christine Nomination – On Thursday, July 24, the HELP Committee voted Dr. Christine’s nomination to be the Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS out of committee. The next step is for the full Senate to vote on his nomination. If confirmed, he would help lead the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Watch Dr. Christine’s HELP hearing here and read his testimony here.

Key Takeaways

• K-12 HELP Hearing – Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) raised the issue of special education funding and the chronically underfunded Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She asked the minority’s witness, Board of Education Vice President for the San Diego Unified School District Richard Barrera, “How would fully funding IDEA enable districts to better support students with disabilities?” and “Do you think block granting IDEA as the administration has proposed would improve outcomes? How would your district respond if that happened?” Mr. Barrera noted that, with block granting, there isn’t a guarantee that states will meet the needs of students with disabilities, saying that if the federal government doesn’t “ensure that that money is actually there to benefit students with disabilities… we are very likely to see a crisis in special education in the country.” You can read more from Senator Blunt Rochester here.
  
  Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also discussed the issue of IDEA being underfunded and that private schools receiving tax credits from the federal government for providing scholarships do not have to follow the requirements of IDEA. He voiced concern that private schools are not required to follow IDEA guidelines as they relate to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and questioned whether parents have accountability mechanisms they can leverage if they feel their children with disabilities are not having their needs met at their private school.
  
  

• HHS Nominations – You can read more about the hearings for these nominations in this previous issue of DPN.

Plain Language

• HELP Healthcare Hearing – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee works on laws and makes decisions about topics like healthcare, education, and jobs. On Thursday, July 31, the HELP Committee will meet to talk about ways to make healthcare cost less for people.
  
  

• HELP K-12 Hearing – On Tuesday, July 12, the HELP Committee met to talk about giving families more choices for their children’s education and helping students learn to read and write better. During the hearing, some Senators talked about students with disabilities. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester said that schools do not get enough money to help students with disabilities. She talked about there not being enough money for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, which help students with disabilities get support in school.
  
  

•  Alex Adams Nomination – On Tuesday, July 22, a Senate Committee met to consider making Alex Adams the Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This part of HHS will soon be renamed the Administration for Children, Families, and Communities (ACFC). The Administration plans to move control of the UCEDDs to the ACFC. If Alex Adams is confirmed as the new leader of the ACFC, he will help run the department that manages the UCEDDs.
  
  

• Brian Christine Nomination – On Thursday, July 24, the HELP Committee voted to make Dr. Brian Christine the Assistant Secretary who will manage the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) at HHS. Next, the full Senate will vote on whether or not to make him the Assistant Secretary. The Administration plans to move control of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs to AHA. If Brian Christine is confirmed as the new leader of AHA, he will run the department that manages the LENDs.

Department of Energy

In May, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) had announced a direct final rule to rescind requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act related to accessibility in newly constructed and altered buildings. DOE said that it would rescind those requirements on July 15 unless they received “significant adverse comments within weeks.” In fact, the Department received more than 20,000 comments in opposition to this rule change, and therefore is holding off on that plan for a little longer. It announced that, because they received so many adverse comments, DOE will extend the effective date of the direct final rule until September 12, 2025.

The rule that the Administration is trying to rescind is titled “New construction” (10 CFR 1040.73). It established that “facilities constructed or altered after June 13, 1980 that receive federal financial assistance must be ‘readily accessible to and useable by handicapped persons.’” The current Administration says that because there are already other rules related to accessibility and inclusion—and the prohibition of discrimination—under DOE, the rule that they want to rescind is “unnecessary and unduly burdensome” and that it is “DOE's policy to give private entities flexibility to comply with the law in the manner they deem most efficient. One-size-fits-all rules are rarely the best option.”

Key Takeaways

Advocates are concerned that this rule would lead to the construction of less accessible or inaccessible facilities. There is also concern about the process of this particular rule—a direct final rule is typically reserved for noncontroversial rules. This rule is clearly controversial, considering the volume of adverse comments it received. From this article in Disability Scoop:

“To update regulations, federal agencies typically go through a process known as ‘notice and comment,’ which can take years. The public is given notice, offered a period of time to comment and then the agency considers any comments before issuing a final rule.

The more expedited approach that the Energy Department sought to deploy is unusual and generally reserved for routine or noncontroversial updates, like changing the name of a department, according to Claudia Center, legal director at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Center worries that if the Trump administration is successful, this hasty approach may be used to modify more of the 80-plus sets of Section 504 regulations across the federal government.”

Plain Language

In May, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it wanted to remove a rule that makes sure new buildings are accessible to people with disabilities. This rule says that buildings built using money from the federal government should be easy to use and enter for people with disabilities.

At first, DOE said it would remove the rule on July 15. But thousands of people across the country spoke up and sent messages saying this was a bad idea. Because of this feedback from people, the Department has not removed the rule yet. The Department will now make a final decision about the rule on September 12, 2025.

Some people in the Administration say the rule is not needed. They think the rule makes building too hard for businesses. But disability advocates are worried. Removing the rule could lead to buildings being built that are not accessible for people with disabilities. Advocates are also worried that the government made this change quickly. This gave people less time to respond and advocate. Usually, for these types of rule changes, the government takes a lot more time to hear what people think about a change to a rule—sometimes it takes years. If the faster process the Department is using now is allowed, it could lead to this happening again in the future with other disability rules.

New Legislation

• The Charting My Path to Future Success Act (S.2407) (H.R.4701)

  • Introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA)

  • Would restore an abruptly discontinued federal program designed to help students with disabilities succeed in adulthood

  • You can read Senator Kaine’s press release here and Representative McBath’s press release here.
    
    

• The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act (H.R.4475) (S.2329)

  • Introduced by Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

  • Would improve access to critical orthotic and prosthetic care for Medicare beneficiaries

  • You can read Representative Thompson’s press release here.
    
    

• The Bringing Unfair Reporting Duties to Electeds Now (BURDEN) Act (H.R.4508)

  • Introduced by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)

  • Would require Members of Congress to personally comply with the same work requirement paperwork they imposed on Medicaid beneficiaries under the recent reconciliation bill (H.R.1)

  • You can read Representative Krishnamoorthi’s press release here.
    
    

• The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (S.2438)

  • Introduced by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

  • Would phase out the use of subminimum wages for workers with disabilities and help transition them into fully integrated, competitive employment

  • You can read Senator Van Hollen’s press release here.

  • You can read AUCD’s statement about the legislation here.

Plain Language

There are a few new bills in the U.S. Congress.

• The Charting My Path to Future Success Act would bring back a government program that helps students with disabilities get ready for adult life after school.
  
  

• The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Act would make it easier for people using Medicare to get the medical support devices they need, like tools that help people move, and make sure they get the services they need to use those devices.
  
  

• The Bringing Unfair Reporting Duties to Electeds Now (BURDEN) Act would make Members of Congress fill out the same paperwork that people on Medicaid will need to fill out. This paperwork is part of a new work requirements rule that says people on Medicaid must work a certain number of hours to get healthcare.
  
  

• The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act would stop the U.S. Secretary of Labor from giving businesses a special paper called a 14(c) certificate that lets them pay people less than the minimum wage. This bill would help people with disabilities work alongside people without disabilities, earn at least minimum wage, and have access to the same workplace benefits and opportunities that nondisabled people have.

AUCD Story Collection

AUCD is collecting stories from the Network on a variety of topics to amplify the effects of this Administration on real people and our programs. If you have a story, we want to hear it. 

We are interested in stories about: 

• Medicaid and its impact on people's lives 

• The impact of dismantling ACL 

• The important work of UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs, PNS’s, DD Councils, P&As

• The impact of zeroing out UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs, PNS’s, DD Councils, P&As  

• Impact of grants that are being cut
  

• Stories responding to RFK Jr.’s claims about autism or the autism registry 

You can use this link to provide information and let us know if you are comfortable sharing your story with Members of Congress and their staff. 

AUCD Policy Blog

AUCD invites Network members to fill out this form if you’re interested in writing for the AUCD policy blog. We are open to a variety of issues areas, and we will follow up with you as relevant issues come up that we’d like you to write about. 

Check out our most recent blog, “35 Years Later: How UCEDDs Are Still Fighting the Same Battles the ADA Was Meant to End” by Kara B. Ayers, PhD.

Disability Policy for All with Liz

Join Liz on Instagram Reels, where she provides plain language updates on policy, highlighting current issues and hot topics in federal disability policy.

Liz Weintraub is AUCD's Senior Advocacy Specialist and the host of “Disability Policy for All with Liz.” She 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.

Watch Liz’s most recent video with Mary-Kate Wells from NCIL on UCEDDs and Centers for Independent Living.

Words to Know

Markup

This is a process where a group of lawmakers in Congress review a bill and talk about the changes they want to make to it. These changes to the bill are called amendments. During markup, lawmakers suggest changes and then vote on each change. This happens in a smaller group called a committee. Both the Senate and the House have committees, which include Senators or Representatives from the bigger group. Once markup is done in these committees and the committee votes to approve the bill, it goes to the full Senate or House for more discussion and voting.

Appropriations

This is money that is set aside by Congress for a particular use. The appropriations process happens once a year. Money is sometimes requested by the President’s Administration or by Congress for a specific use.

Pensions

This is the money that a person gets every month after they retire from their job. When a person is working, the company they work for puts money into a fund. After the person stop working, they get money from this fund to pay for things when they are older and not working anymore.

Work Requirements

This is a rule that makes people prove to the government that they are working a certain number of hours each month to get healthcare through Medicaid. These rules make people fill out paperwork to show the government how many hours they worked. These rules can make it hard for people with disabilities to get or keep their healthcare. To learn more, watch this “Disability Policy for All with Liz” video on Medicaid and work requirements.

Subminimum Wage

Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money a worker can be paid based on the law. Right now, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Subminimum wage means getting paid less than the minimum wage. This is usually not allowed. A rule called Section 14(c) lets some employers pay people with disabilities less than the $7.25 per hour if they get a special paper called a 14(c) certificate.