Policy Corner: January 15, 2021

Washington, D.C. Prepares for Inauguration Day

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office Jan. 20 on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. While the ceremony will be held in person, many of the celebrations that traditionally take place following the event will be virtual. Due to the riot at the Capitol last week, security has been ramped up, public access will be severely limited, and people are discouraged from attending.

Yesterday, President-elect Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan to speed up the vaccine rollout and to provide financial help to individuals, states and local governments, and businesses suffering from the prolonged economic fallout of the pandemic. His proposal includes $1,400 checks for most Americans, which would be in addition to the $600 provided in the most recent COVID-19 bill.

Meanwhile, President-elect Biden has unveiled several nominations for cabinet positions, but none have been confirmed yet. Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, and a former congressman has been tapped for Secretary of Health and Human Services, but will need Senate confirmation. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) has been nominated to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Marty Walsh, mayor of Boston, to serve as Secretary of Labor (DOL); and Miguel Cardona, education commissioner of Connecticut, to serve as the Secretary of Education. The Senate has scheduled hearings next week for five nominees: Avril Haines for Director of National Intelligence; retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin for Defense Secretary; Janet Yellen for the Treasury; Alejandro Mayorkas for Homeland Security; and Antony Blinken for the State Department.

Senators will Need to be Seated Before the Majority Changes to Democrats

After Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is inaugurated, she will cast tie-breaking votes in favor of Democrats once newly elected Senate Democrats are sworn in. Recently elected Georgia Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) may have to wait until as late as Jan. 22 to take their seats, depending on when state officials certify their elections. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla is expected to assume Vice President-elect Harris’ seat that she will vacate as soon as she is inaugurated. Once these last three Senators are all seated, the chamber will be split between 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. With Vice President-elect Harris, a Democrat, in the chair, she will tilt the Senate to Democrats. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) can then assume the position of Senate Majority Leader.

BIAA Urges Biden Administration to Rescind EO on Race and Sex Stereotyping

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) joins nearly 75 public health organizations in a letter to President-elect Biden to move swiftly after his inauguration to rescind Executive Order (EO) 13950, “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” signed by President Trump Sept. 22, 2020. The EO established requirements aimed at “promoting unity in the Federal workforce,” by prohibiting messages in workplace trainings that imply “an individual, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.” The EO covers federal contractors, federal agencies, certain federal grant recipients, and the military. The letter states that this EO presents a very real barrier to evidence-based diversity programs and equity-related initiatives across all federal agencies, their grantees, and contractors.

ACL Publishes Grant Funding Forecast for the TBI State Partnership Program

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has published a funding opportunity for individual state grants for the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Partnership Program for Fiscal Year 2021 grant cycle. The estimated awards are from $170,000 to $250,000.   The purpose of this program is to strengthen person-centered, culturally competent systems of services and supports that maximize independence, well-being, and health for diverse populations with TBI across the life span. Funding for this program is authorized by the TBI Program Reauthorization Act of 2018. Click here for additional information.

RAISE Advisory Council Approves Recommendations for Report to Congress

The Family Caregiving Advisory Council, established by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, has approved 26 recommendations aimed at establishing a national approach to addressing the needs of family caregivers of all ages and circumstance to include in its initial report to Congress. Among the goals are to increase awareness and outreach for family caregivers, to ensure that family caregivers have access to an array of services and supports needed, and to protect and enhance the family caregivers’ lifetime financial and employment security.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action. Click here to read past issues of Policy Corner.