Policy Corner: February 26, 2021

House Advances COVID-19 Relief Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to take up the American Rescue Plan of 2021 or COVID-19 Relief bill, H.R. 1319, once the House Committee on Rules marks the bill up. The House Budget Committee has approved the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. The bill contains an increase in the federal match for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for individuals with disabilities and older adults. It also includes another round of payments of $1,400 per person for people earning up to $75,000 and couples earning $150,000. The payments would be reduced for individuals earning over that amount but under $100,000 or more per year. The legislation also includes an additional $1,400 per dependent regardless of age.

Other provisions address rental assistance; pandemic supplies; expanded and extended federal unemployment benefits; increasing child tax credits; expanded tax credits for low-income workers without children; new money and changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to allow more nonprofits to apply; relief for restaurants and bars; funding to track, administer and distribute the COVID-19 vaccines; grants to state and local educational agencies; funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program to help support child care facilities; assistance for low-income families, such as for heating assistance, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); support for older Americans, including nutrition programs, community-based support programs, and the National Family Caregiver Support Program; transportation; and Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief.

Meanwhile, the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that the minimum wage increase contained in the House bill violates Senate rules for a reconciliation bill and must be deleted in the Senate version. The House intends to keep that provision as the House does not have that rule. The House is hoping to take the bill up today or tomorrow. The Senate will then start working on the bill Monday, March 1.

House Energy and Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Telehealth Policy

The House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) have announced that the Health Subcommittee will hold a fully remote hearing March 2, at 10:30 a.m. (ET) on telehealth policy in the United States. The hearing, “The Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care,” will be conducted remotely via Cisco Webex video conferencing. Members of the public may view the hearing via live webcast accessible on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website. Please note the webcast will not be available until the hearing begins.

CBITF Hosts Awareness Day Briefing Next Wednesday: Register Now

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBITF), chaired by Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), has scheduled a virtual Brain Injury Awareness Day briefing for March 3 from 2-4 p.m. (ET) to celebrate March as Brain Injury Awareness Month. The event, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Persons with Brain Injury,” will be moderated by BIAA National Medical Director Brent Masel, M.D. Click here to register.

The CBITF is comprised of over 80 bipartisan members, including senators and representatives, whose mission is to further education and awareness of brain injury – including its incidence, prevalence, prevention, and treatment.

ACL Hosts TBI Tuesdays to Promote March Brain Injury Awareness

In observance of Brain Injury Awareness Month and in lieu of the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) annual in-person Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Stakeholder Day, the ACL is hosting virtual TBI Tuesdays during the months of March and April. Each TBI Tuesday session will highlight the work of the TBI State Partnership Program grantee workgroups and their resources for stakeholders, federal partners, and will involve individuals with brain injury. Each TBI Tuesday session is structured to include panel discussions, question and answer sessions, and generous breaks in between. To register and learn more about each session, click here.

Sessions will be live-captioned and ASL-interpreted. If you require additional accommodations to participate or if you have any questions about the sessions, please contact tbitarc@hsri.org.

BIAA Releases Legislative Issue Briefs

The Brain Injury Association of America released updated Legislative Issue Briefs detailing the critical public policy issues of importance to people with brain injury. Advocates are encouraged to use the issue briefs when working with national, state, and local government officials to educate them on topics ranging from access to care, research, and information about the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. Click here to view the issue briefs.

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.