Policy Corner: January 25, 2019

Congress Fails to Pass Legislation Ending the Partial Government Shutdown

Although the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives were scheduled to be out of town this week, they remained in session to try to come to an agreement with regard to appropriations for agencies currently not funded and shut down. The House, which is out today, is on notice to return to vote on a bill proposed to fully fund Homeland Security and would offer about $5 billion for border security, but not for a wall, which is the bone of contention. Meanwhile, lawmakers are introducing legislation as reported in this edition. The text for some of these bills is not yet available.

Lawmakers Introduce the Disability Integration Act

House and Senate sponsors of the Disability Integration Act (DIA) held a press conference Monday at the Senate Capitol Visitors Center. The Disability Integration Act is a bill that would affirm the rights of people with disabilities and seniors who need long-term services and supports to live in the community in lieu of institutional services. Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), along with 55 co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 555, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 24 co-sponsors introduced S. 115 Jan. 15.

Representative Introduces the Violence Against Women Act

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) has introduced H.R. 505 to reauthorize the grant program for education, training, and violence against and abuse of women with disabilities. The text has not yet been made available.

Rep. Beatty Re-introduces Concussion Awareness Bill

Similar to past years, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) has introduced H.R. 280, the Concussion Awareness and Education Act of 2019. The purposes of the bill are to increase awareness of and knowledge about concussions and to change the culture surrounding concussions among elementary school youth and their parents, coaches, sports officials, educators, trainers, and health care professionals. The legislation establishes a Concussion Research Commission to review the report of the report of the National Academies entitled, “Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture,” and recommend corrections or updates to the report.

Legislation Calls for Eliminating the Sunset of the VA Veterans Choice Program

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) has introduced H. R. 23, the Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2019, to eliminate the sunset date for the Veterans Choice Program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to expand eligibility for the program, and to extend certain operating hours for VA pharmacies and medical facilities.

The Veterans Choice Program is one of several programs through which a veteran can receive care from a community provider, paid for by VA. For example, if a veteran needs an appointment for a specific type of care and VA cannot provide the care in a timely manner or the nearest VA medical facility is too far away or too difficult to get to, the veteran may be eligible for care through the Veterans Choice Program.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action.