October 13, 2020•Advocacy Matters
October 2020 Congressional Update
Disability Matters with Joyce Bender
October 13, 2020
#AdvocacyMatters
October 2020 Congressional Update
Disability advocates in the United States are gearing up for the November 3rd election and still staying focused on Congress.
Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate should be in a district work period until after the November election.
The U.S. House of Representatives is still negotiating with the White House on a deal for a 4th COVID-19 relief bill. The negotiations have been on, then off, then on, then off. The House has recessed for a district work period until November 16th, but leadership continues to seek a deal on COVID relief with the White House.
The U.S. Senate was scheduled to be in a district work period as well; however, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will call all Senators back on October 19th to consider a small COVID-19 relief package.
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary started their hearings on the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barret. The committee will have hearings on Judge Barret’s nomination through Thursday, October 15th.
We have a link to the committee page at www.disabilityrightspa.org. You can find a live stream of the hearings each day at committee page.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has said he wants to have a committee vote by October 22.
50 disability rights organizations sent a letter to Senate leadership expressing their opposition to the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barret.
We have a link to that letter on our #AdvocacyMatters page for today.
#AdvocacyMatters.
If you want more information about Judge Barret’s record on issues of concern for people with disabilities, visit the Center for Public Representation and The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. We have a link to their materials with our #AdvocacyMatters segment today.
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law fact sheet on Judge Barret’s record.
50 disability rights organizations raised issues of concern related to Judge Barret’s views on the Affordable Care Act, the “public charge” rule, and the speed by which her confirmation process is moving.
If you would like to weigh in with your Senators on her nomination, go to www.senate.gov and contact your Senators now.