Policy Corner: May 27, 2022
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
Senate HELP Committee Advances ACL Nomination
This week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held an executive session on the nomination of several of the Administration’s nominations, including Rita Landgraf to be Assistant Secretary for Aging and the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) (dual roles), for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair, led the mark-up May 25 to advance her nomination, which was approved by a vote of 18-4. The ACL administers the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Partnership Program and the Protection & Advocacy TBI program.
Landgraf has broad experience with programs serving people with developmental and other disabilities, as well as older adults and has served as the President of AARP Delaware, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware, and Executive Director of the Arc of Delaware. She also was the Cabinet Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.
House and Senate Work on FY 2023 Appropriations
Both the House of Representatives and Senate are working on appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers TBI Act programs carried out by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the ACL National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) which funds TBI Model Systems and other research. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) sent written testimony to appropriators in support increased funding for these programs and $5 million to create the CDC National Surveillance System. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force also sent a letter to House appropriators with over 50 signatures from Representatives which also support increased funding.
Education Solicits Public Comments about Section 504 Regulations
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights seeks public comments regarding possible improvements to the regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, including schools and post-secondary institutions. When developed, the Section 504 regulations served as a model for other federal agency regulations and were the foundation for many provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The regulations have remained largely unchanged since they were originally created. Interested parties may submit comments here. The Department will also hold listening sessions in the coming months.
Congress Recesses for Memorial Day
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate will be in their home districts for the Memorial Day recess. The Senate is scheduled to return June 6 with both the House and the Senate back in Washington, D.C. on June 7.