Legislative Alerts
California State Budget:
A majority of Disability Action Coalition members agree with the following positions:
Support a balanced approach to solving the budget crisis by extending the current revenues and finding new funding sources that support programs that maintain health and minimize unnecessary and unwanted institutionalization. The ability of the public to vote on the Governor’s proposal is an important part of this balanced approach. The other option, an all cuts budget, would mean more harmful cuts to programs people with disabilities care about. Cuts alone will cost California in the long run.
Oppose the cut of $7.517 million to the IHSS Public Authorities. Public Authorities have already been reduced by 68% since FY 09/10. More cuts threaten the continued existence and operations of Public Authorities. Public Authorities preserve consumer choice and make the IHSS program work efficiently for IHSS consumers.
Oppose the elimination of redevelopment low- and moderate-income housing funds and the elimination of state review of local housing plans. The funding and review process are vital for the creation of affordable, accessible housing to meet the needs of people with disabilities. This is one of redevelopments most important functions. The lack of affordable, accessible housing is a major obstacle to community integration of people with disabilities and a cause of homelessness.
Oppose the cut from $85 million to $25 million for funds to help people transitioning out of Adult Day Health Centers (ADHC). The legislature has already voted to eliminate Adult Day Health Centers (ADHC), a community based medical service program that serves about 35,000 Californians with disabilities. The program keeps many individuals from entering costly nursing home placements. The legislature said it wants to create another ADHC-like program through a federal waiver, but the May Revision contains no funds for a new ADHC. The lack of planning has already forced some people with disabilities into nursing homes.
Cuts to the developmental disabilities system should minimize the impact on consumers. Any changes in services must be driven by the individual program plans.
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Sample Letter
Date
(four spaces)
The Honorable (full name of person writing to)
United States Senate/House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510/20515
(1 space)
Dear Senator/Representative
(1 space)
On behalf of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), I urge you to support the Senate Budget Resolution. This version would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the needed resources to provide the funding levels recommended by the Independent Budget, published by PVA, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
(1 space)
Veterans in (state) look to the VA to provide the highest quality health care to sick and disabled veterans. It is essential that the VA be provided with the necessary resources to provide this health care. By supporting the Senate-passed funding levels, Congress will take a large step toward providing appropriators with the resources to fully fund the VA up to the level advocated by the Independent Budget.
(1 space)
In addition, we urge you to support the Senate-passed language in the Budget Resolution creating a reserve fund that would permit retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans disability compensation upon passage of concurrent receipt legislation, H.R. 303 (introduced by Representative Bilirakis (R-FL) and S. 170 (introduced by Senator Reid (D-NV), which would end the injustice of the offset of military retirement pay by VA service connected compensation.
(1 space)
Veterans in (state) look forward to your support of these important matters.
(1 space)
Sincerely,
(four spaces)
(Your Name)