July 28, 2020•Advocacy Matters
ADA-Related Legislation in the 116th Congress
Disability Matters with Joyce Bender
July 28, 2020
#AdvocacyMatters
ADA-Related Legislation in the 116th Congress
As we leave our 30th Anniversary month of the Americans with Disabilities, #AdvocacyMatters wanted to bring to your listeners a list of legislation that continues to the success of the ADA in Congress.
In the last 1.5 years, so much of our attention in the disability community has focused in a few areas in the 116th Congress:
We continue the focus on the funding of our programs through annual appropriations like mental health block grants, home, and community-based services, housing vouchers, special education, OVR, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, Medicare, and transportation funding.
On civil rights issues, our communities continue to work on racism, voting rights, hate crimes, and Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.
We have responded to urgent issues like COVID-19. Our community has worked hard to secure hazard pay for our direct support care community and now we may see added funding for schools and an added stimulus payment to Americans.
As our celebration of the ADA winds down, we do not want to forget that there are members of Congress who have introduced legislation that supports disability rights and continues the bi-partisan support and efforts of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
As always you can find the list and links to the legislation at www.disabilityrightspa.org.
Resolutions
Introduced: July 24, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Recognizing the importance of independent living for individuals with disabilities made by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling for further action to strengthen home and community living for individuals with disabilities.
Introduced: January 17, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should enact the Voters with Disabilities Bill of Rights to fulfill the promises of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other civil rights laws which demand equal access to the ballot box for people with disabilities and to reaffirm and ensure that voters with disabilities have equal access to the ballot box.
Legislation
Introduced: July 23, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Scanlon (D-PA)
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to increase voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities and older individuals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ)
Introduced: February 13, 2020
Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act
House version, H.R. 5897 introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Sponsor: Senator Robert Casey (D-PA)
Introduced: May 14, 2020
COVID-19 Recovery and People with Disabilities Act of 2020
House version, H.R. 6951 by Rep. Janice Schakowksy (D-IL)
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Scanlon (D-PA)
Introduced: March 6, 2019
Disability Voting Rights Act
Sponsor: Senator Robert Casey (D-PA)
Introduced: January 16, 2020
Accessible Voting Rights Act
Sponsor: Senator Angus King (I-ME)
Introduced: March 7, 2019
Senior and Disability Home Modification Assistance Initiative Act
#AdvocacyMatters.
Thank you for celebrating the ADA this month.
Find the list of legislation and where your member of Congress stands on the issue.
If you want them to cosponsor the legislation, ask them. If you want them to stop being a co-sponsor to a bill that would weaken the ADA, ask them. If you want change, vote.