Advocacy Matters: Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Budget Process Begins 

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender 

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 

 

#AdvocacyMatters 

Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Budget Process Begins 

 

The fight over the fiscal year 2021 federal budget has begun.  At stake are critical federal programs that impact people with disabilities across all our communities.  

The federal process always begins with the introduction of the President’s budget.  President Trump published his $4.8 trillion budget proposal on February 10th.  The President’s budget is a road map of his administration’s funding priorities to Congress.  The House Budget and Appropriations Committees hold hearings to review his priorities and mark up their own legislation to fund the government.   

The President’s priorities did not include most people with disabilities.  Instead, his FY 2021 is seeking to significantly slash programs that support people with disabilities.  The President proposes to: 

Cut almost a trillion dollars from Medicaid through per capita caps or block grants to the states.  The President also proposed limited Medicaid expansion only to people with the lowest incomes. 

Make significant cuts to all Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights Act programs.  These programs include the State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the Protection and Advocacy Systems (like Disability Rights Pennsylvania), the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Projects of National Significance.  

Cut 30% from, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP). 

Cut 15% from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Included in the proposal is the complete elimination of the Community Developmental Block Grant Program and the National Housing Trust Fund.   

Continued efforts to push for work requirements in Medicaid. 

#AdvocacyMatters.  It’s important that we speak up now and ask Congress to reject the President’s budget.  We need to urge Congress to increase the funding for these critical programs, not cut them!  You can join us by visiting disabilityrightspa.org.  You will find a link to our #AdvocacyMatters segment as well as a link to our action page on the budget.  There you can send a letter to your member of congress.  We’ve made it easy.  Just enter your name and address and a letter will be sent on your behalf.  If you want, you can change the letter and personalize it with your own budget story. 

Visit disabilityrightspa.org now to send a letter to your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative today! 

 

Disability Rights Pennsylvania Action Page for FY 2021 Budget 

 

President Trump’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 

 

 

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Budget 

 

February 12, 2020 Hearing on President Trump’s Proposed FY 21 Budget 

 

House Budget Committee Report on President’s 2021 Health and Human Services Budget, February 13, 2020 

 

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities 

February 11, 2020 

 

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities