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February 13, 2025 | Vol. MMXXVI | Issue 148 |
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In this edition:
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Vaccines |
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American Medical Association and Vaccine Integrity Project—The American Medical Association (AMA) is partnering with the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project in a new initiative conducting independent research into vaccine safety and efficacy. The initiative will bring together medical professional societies, public health groups, and health care organizations in researching and examining best practices in vaccine policy to keep all populations safe from respiratory diseases. Specifically, the review will focus on flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. This initiative will convene experts, hold monthly meetings, conduct literature reviews, and ensure data transparency so that their results can be independently verified. The groups themselves will not make vaccine recommendations, but physician members of participating medical societies will develop and disseminate immunization guidance for their respective populations.
American Academy of Pediatrics Lawsuit—Over 100 health organizations, public health academics, and health law and policy leaders filed a legal brief in support of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) changes to vaccine policy. The brief’s signatories include the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among others.
Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA)—The Governors Public Health Alliance sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz about changes made to childhood immunization reporting requirements. The Core Set of Children’s Health Care Quality Measures for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are standardized measures wherein states track how well Medicaid and CHIP are delivering care. States are required to report data on how the care was delivered, including prenatal and pediatric immunization data. In December, CMS announced it was removing the immunization data portion from what states have to report to CMS. The Governors Public Health Alliance is pushing for the decision to be reversed, and announced that the states represented in the PHA will keep tracking childhood immunization data. |
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Key Takeaways |
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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has made reshaping vaccine policy a pillar of his policy priorities since he began his tenure at HHS. This includes changing the makeup of various committees and staff at HHS, including the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In doing this, he is able to make policy changes based on his long-held belief that vaccines are mostly unsafe because they lead to developmental disabilities like autism or chronic illness like allergies, despite the lack of credible evidence to prove these points.
Typically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leads the kind of research that the AMA and the Vaccine Integrity Project are initiating. The CDC's ACIP has historically been the nexus of evidence-based vaccine policy in the U.S., but the AMA says that this “system has now effectively collapsed.”
Public health groups and leading medical organizations have consistently and repeatedly criticized the CDC and ACIP under Secretary Kennedy, including for the December 2025 decision to cut back the number of routine recommended vaccines for kids to protect against 11 diseases instead of 17. HHS actions taken by Secretary Kennedy and others have prompted external groups—such as the AAP, AMA, and PHA—to push back and sometimes step into the role CDC once played in offering Americans science-based vaccine advice.
The brief filed on behalf of AAP’s lawsuit argues that the Department’s changes to the childhood vaccine schedule could make parents think that vaccines are less important or less effective than they are. They say Secretary Kennedy and officials at HHS made “these disruptive changes without considering the overwhelming science or following ACIP’s longstanding procedural safeguards” and argue that these changes “will depress vaccination rates and cause increased vaccine-preventable outbreaks, preventable hospitalizations, and unnecessary deaths.” |
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Plain Language |
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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. cares a lot about changing vaccine policy in the U.S. Vaccines are shots people get to stay healthy and not get diseases. Secretary Kennedy does not think they are safe and has said that vaccines can give people allergies or disabilities like autism, even though this isn't true. To change vaccine policy, Secretary Kennedy has made a lot of changes to different committees and groups working at HHS. This includes the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which makes decisions about vaccines. He has added a lot of people to ACIP who share his beliefs.
American Medical Association and Vaccine Integrity Project—The American Medical Association (AMA) is an organization that works on healthcare issues and helps doctors. They are starting a big project with the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project, which creates resources to give information about vaccines. This new project will do research into vaccine safety and how well vaccines work. These two organizations will bring together a big group of medical and healthcare organizations to do research and make decisions about the best way to keep people safe from diseases. They will specifically look at diseases like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV—these are things that can spread through breathing and coughing. This new project will not give out advice about how to use vaccines, but will rely on the doctors in these groups to help spread the word about what people should do to stay safe.
Usually, the work in this new project is done by ACIP. AMA says that ACIP used to be helpful and give people advice about vaccines that everyone could trust. Now, the AMA says that ACIP isn't doing that any more. A lot of organizations have decided to do work that they think the government should be doing, like we describe in the section below on the Governors Public Health Alliance.
American Academy of Pediatrics Lawsuit—The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization that works on health issues that affect children. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics sued HHS, which means it wants HHS to change something. AAP wants HHS to change its vaccine policies. Recently, 100 health organizations, professors, healthcare experts, and health policy experts sent a new official document to a court to support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) lawsuit. During the time that Secretary Kennedy has led HHS, many organizations that work on public health have publicly said that they don't agree with the Secretary's policies. This includes the changes that ACIP has made to recommend that kids get fewer vaccines. They said these changes will lead to fewer kids getting vaccines against dangerous diseases and could hurt and even kill people.
Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA)—The Governors Public Health Alliance is a group of governors from many states who work together to make recommendations about public health. The PHA sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. They said they were very concerned about the changes made to a system called the Core Set. Before, states had to report to the Core Set about how people with Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were getting healthcare. This included vaccines. Now, CMS said that states don't have to report the information about vaccines. The PHA said this is bad because we need to know if kids are getting vaccines against many different diseases. They said that they will keep track of this information since the government won't do it anymore. |
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House Education and Workforce Committee Field Hearing |
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On February 13, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a field hearing in Wisconsin on disability employment. The hearing, entitled “Work, Dignity, and Choice in Disability Employment” was led by Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and included witnesses who spoke about workplaces that use 14(c) certificates that allow employers to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wages. Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT) also attended the hearing.
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) allows some employers who apply for a 14(c) certificate to pay certain employees, such as people with disabilities, at hourly rates below the minimum wage. Between 2017 and 2018, the average wage of a person with a disability being paid subminimum wage was $3.34 an hour, which is less than half of the federal minimum wage. Most businesses and nonprofit organizations operating with a 14(c) certificate are Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs), which provide some kind of training and support for people with disabilities. |
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Key Takeaways |
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Representative Grothman is a proponent of 14(c) workplaces; when the Biden Administration proposed a rule to phase out the issuance of 14(c) certificates, he introduced legislation to stop the rule. Most of the witnesses were in favor of maintaining 14(c) certificates, and said that there are not enough opportunities for competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Most people who are paid subminimum wage under section 14(c) work in sheltered workshops, where they work separately from coworkers without disabilities. While many 14(c) workplaces are supposed to prepare employees for CIE, most people who work in sheltered workshops do not move on to competitive integrated employment. Additionally, many sheltered workshop employers are able to make more money from Medicaid if they pay subminimum wages. Not only are these workers paid very little, but they are not given the same opportunities to choose or advance their careers as nondisabled workers. As one of the witnesses, Dr. Laura Owens, stated—employees in 14(c) settings “are often placed - early and permanently - into segregated environments without meaningful opportunities to explore different types of work, build transferable skills, or discover their own strengths.”
The bipartisan Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R.4771) (S.2438) would phase out the use of 14(c) certificates and provide grants to states or employers currently paying subminimum wage to help them to transition to competitive integrated employment. Learn more here. Many states have begun to eliminate 14(c) on their own—as of January 2025, 16 states had eliminated the use of subminimum wage.
Continuing to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wage has stymied opportunities for independence and economic self-sufficiency for many people with disabilities. The rationale for its use is based on outdated narratives about intellectual and developmental disabilities, created during a time when many people with disabilities were believed to have very limited abilities. It does not align with modern disability justice principles of equity and integration, as promoted by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. |
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Plain Language |
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On February 13, the House Education and Workforce Committee had a hearing in Wisconsin on disability employment. The hearing was called "Work, Dignity, and Choice in Disability Employment" and was led by Representative Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin). The hearing was about something called 14(c), which is a program that lets some employers pay people with disabilities very little money. Representative Burgess Owens (R-Utah) also attended the hearing.
Minimum wage is the lowest possible amount of money that employees can pay their workers. Employers cannot pay their employees less than the minimum wage, or they would be breaking the law. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Subminimum wage means a paid wage less than the federal minimum wage. Typically, this would be illegal, but Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) allows some employers who apply for and are given a piece of paper—called a 14(c) certificate—to pay certain employees, such as people with disabilities, at hourly rates below the minimum wage. Between 2017 and 2018, the average wage of a person with a disability being paid subminimum wage was only $3.34 an hour, which is less than half of the federal minimum wage.
In the hearing, there were some witnesses who supported 14(c). Representative Grothman is a supporter of 14(c). When the Biden Administration tried to end subminimum wage, Representative Grothman introduced a bill to make sure businesses could still use 14(c).
People who like 14(c) sometime say that it helps people with disabilities get ready for jobs in the community. However, most people in 14(c) workplaces stay there and aren't able to choose another job or move forward in their careers. They are not given opportunities that people without disabilities get in the workplace.
Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is work where employees with a disability work with—or have the opportunity to work with—coworkers without disabilities. CIE also means that employees with disabilities are given the same benefits and opportunities to move forward in their careers as their nondisabled coworkers, all while being paid at or above the minimum wage.
The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) would stop the Department of Labor from giving people 14(c) certificates, so employers would not be able to pay people subminimum wage. It would also give money to states or employers currently paying subminimum wage to people with disabilities to help them transition to CIE.
Paying people with subminimum wage is not fair and makes it harder for them to be independent and live in the community. People with disabilities deserve to be paid at least the minimum wage for their work and have options to work where they want. |
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ACL Caregiver Grant Launches |
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On February 5, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) launched Phase 1 of its $2 million Caregiver Artificial Intelligence Prize Competition to support family caregivers. This grant was announced in November as part of an ACL caregiver event. The competition, which will be run in three phases, funds "innovators" developing AI tools and technology to support caregivers and employers in improving efficiency and training in the caregiving workforce. The goal is to reduce administrative burden for caregivers.
There are two tracks of the Caregiver AI Challenge: AI tools to support caregivers and AI tools for extending the caregiver workforce. |
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Key Takeaways |
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While H.R.1 (the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act) does not make specific cuts to home and community-based services (HCBS) among its Medicaid cuts and restrictions, many states will feel pressure to cut HCBS services because HCBS is an optional benefit, as opposed to institutional care, which is a mandatory benefit. The bill is expected to lengthen waiting lists for HCBS and many states are already starting to cut Medicaid spending. Advocates are concerned that this law will exacerbate the caregiver shortage and the challenges that caregivers face. |
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Plain Language |
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On February 5, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) officially started the first part of its Caregiver Artificial Intelligence (AI) Prize Competition. This is a grant where programs and organizations can get money to work on projects that support family caregivers. This will fund projects that develop AI tools and technology. AI is a computer tool that can act like a human but has all the information on the Internet. The new grant will give money to projects that are trying to make it easier for caregivers to do things like paperwork and training so they can focus more on caregiving for people with disabilities and older adults.
ACL first announced this grant in November 2025 during an event about caregiving. The grant has two parts:
While H.R.1 (the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act) does not make specific cuts to home and community-based services (HCBS), it does lower the amount of Medicaid money the federal government gives to states. Because they will be getting less money for Medicaid, many states will feel pressured to cut HCBS services. The bill will probably make waiting lists for HCBS longer. Many states are already starting to cut Medicaid services. This will be bad for caregivers. |
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New Legislation
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The Give America a Raise Act (H.R.7471) (S.3780)
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Introduced by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
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Would increase the federal minimum wage to $20 an hour
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You can read Senator Gallego’s press release here.
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A resolution designating Sept. 19, 2026 as “Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day” (H.Res.1050)
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A resolution designating April 5, 2026 as “Barth Syndrome Awareness Day” (H.Res.1060)
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The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act (H.R.7444)
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Introduced by Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH)
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Would make permanent Medicare coverage of telehealth services that began during the COVID-19 pandemic
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You can read Representative Pappas’ press release here.
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Plain Language |
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There are a few new bills in the U.S. Congress.
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The Give America a Raise Act would increase the federal minimum wage to $20 an hour. Minimum wage is the lowest possible amount of money that employers can pay their workers. Employers cannot pay their employees less than the minimum wage, or they would be breaking the law.
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A resolution (an official announcement) to make September 19, 2026 Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day
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A resolution to make April 5, 2026 Barth Syndrome Awareness Day. Barth Syndrome is a physical disability.
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The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act would make sure people on Medicare can still use telehealth services (healthcare over the phone or video).
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AUCD Story Collection |
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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:
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Medicaid and its impact on people's lives
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The impact of dismantling ACL
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The important work of UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs, PNS’s, DD Councils, P&As
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The impact of zeroing out UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs, PNS’s, DD Councils, P&As
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Impact of grants that are being cut
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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. |
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AUCD Policy Blog |
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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. Read past blog posts here. |
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Disability Policy for All with Liz |
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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 on Executive Orders here. |
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Words to Know |
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Vaccines
Vaccines are shots people get to stay healthy and not get diseases
Lawsuit
An official process where someone takes an issue to a court because they want someone else to change something. Sometimes people will sue (creating a lawsuit) an organization or another person.
Subminimum wage
Minimum wage is the lowest possible amount of money that employers can pay their workers. Employers cannot pay their employees less than the minimum wage, or they would be breaking the law. Subminimum wage means a paid wage less than the federal minimum wage.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is a computer tool that can act like a human but has all the information on the Internet.
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
CIE is work where employees with a disability work with—or have the opportunity to work with—coworkers without disabilities. It is also work where people can get paid at least minimum wage.
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