Policy Corner: April 16, 2021

President Releases Budget Recommendations for FY 2022 Federal Funding

President Biden sent his proposed budget for discretionary spending federal fiscal year (FY) 2022 to House and Senate Appropriation Committees, referred to as a “skinny” budget, which will follow with more detailed budget recommendation for each federal agency at a later date. The budget builds off the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, H.R.1319, signed into law March 11 providing funding relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the president is proposing a 16% increase in non-defense discretionary spending over FY 2021. President Biden outlined his priorities in an April 9 transmittal letter to Senate and House appropriators. With regard to programs impacting individuals with brain injury, the president is proposing:

• $551 million in additional funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
• $2.6 billion in additional funding for the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) programs.
• Increased funding for the Lifespan Respite Care program.
• $6.5 billion to launch the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) within the National Institutes of Health to support research that enhances health, lengthens life, and reduces illness and disability.
• An increase of $232 million for the Department of Justice to address the gun violence public health crisis. Investments include $401 million in state and local grants; to improve background check systems; and to invest in new programs to incentivize state adoption of gun licensing laws and establish voluntary gun buyback pilot programs.

Now that the president has released his recommendations, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are scheduling hearings to review the recommendations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra presented HHS’ budget recommendations to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies.

Lawmakers Circulate “Dear Colleague” Letter to Support Falls Prevention

Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) is circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter to request FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Committee appropriations investments in falls prevention. The amount requested is:

• $16.3 million in funding for Aging Network Support Activities, as authorized for FY 2022 in the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020;
• $10 million for Administration for Community Living (ACL) falls prevention; and
• $4.1 million for CDC elder falls activities

The deadline for Congressional Members to sign on is April 23. Advocates are encouraged to request that their senators and representatives sign on to the letter. They may email Owen Reilly in Rep. Morelle’s office if they have questions or wish to sign on.

President Presents Plan to Rebuild Infrastructure and Public Investment

President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan to create jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China. Included in this plan is $400 billion toward expanding access to quality, affordable home and community-based care for aging relatives and people with disabilities by creating new jobs and increasing pay of caregivers. This would help to end waiting lists for services and to ensure a stable, valued direct support workforce. This would also extend the longstanding Money Follows the Person program that supports innovations in the delivery of long-term care. Some states have been successful in using this program to transition individuals with brain injury from nursing home care to community living. Other provisions call for:

• Ending subminimum wages and modernize disability employment supports to allow for competitive, integrated employment.
• Ensuring all modernization of physical and virtual infrastructures are accessible.
• $40 billion to improve the infrastructure of the public housing system, which will disproportionately benefit women, people of color, and people with disabilities.

Administration Focuses on Helping Persons with Disabilities to Obtain the COVID-19 Vaccine

President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package into law to provide federal aid to families, small businesses, state and federal government to help with the economy; testing and treating the virus; vaccine distribution; and other assistance. In order to increase vaccine access for people with disabilities and older adults, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) is in the process of awarding nearly $100 million in grants to the aging and disability networks to help people with disabilities and older adults with scheduling vaccine appointments, transportation to vaccine sites, direct support services needed to attend vaccine appointments, connection to in-home vaccination options, and education about the importance of receiving the vaccine to older adults and people with disabilities. Funding is to be distributed for the following:

• Approximately $5 million is to fund national hotlines to connect older adults and people with disabilities with local disability and aging agencies that can assist with vaccine registration and provide services and supports necessary to get the vaccine.
• $93 million is to be distributed to the following agencies to help people with disabilities and older adults in obtaining a vaccine:
  • State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging ($50 million);
  • Aging and Disability Resource Centers ($26 million);
  • Centers for Independent Living that receive federal funding directly from ACL. ($5 million);
  • University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities ($4 million);
  • Protection and Advocacy systems ($4 million); and
  • State Councils on Developmental Disabilities ($4 million).

ACL Announces FO for TBI State Partnership Program Grants

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has announced a funding opportunity (FO) for state grants for the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Partnership Program (SPP) for the FY 2021 grant cycle. The agency plans to award 28 grants for five years. The purpose of the 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 lifespan and their support networks. The closing date for the awards is May 27, 2021. Click here for more information from the ACL. 

GAO Releases Report on Subminimum Wage Program

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the Subminimum Wage Program: Factors Influencing the Transition of Individuals with Disabilities to Competitive Integrated Employment report April 1, after interviewing state officials and disability employment experts. The report identifies 32 factors influencing whether and how people can transition to competitive integrated employment. Under current law, employers are allowed to pay less than minimum wage to certain people with disabilities in certain circumstances in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Often, they work in segregated settings where their co-workers also have disabilities. Recent federal policy calls for maximizing opportunities for people with disabilities to earn competitive wages in non-segregated settings.

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.