[il-talk] Fw: Economic Stimulus and VR

[Patti Gregory-Chang]

That is really good news.


Patti Gregory-Chang
President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
pattichang at att.net
www.nfbofillinois.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Gardner" <rgardner4 at gmail.com>
To: "il-talk" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:36 AM
Subject: [il-talk] Fw: Economic Stimulus and VR


> FYI
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Matt Abrahamson" <Matt.Abrahamson at illinois.gov>
> To: <Hbsankagirl at aol.com>; <Makandamary at aol.com>; "Susan Walter" 
> <smwalter at charter.net>; <greg.polman at chicagolighthouse.org>; 
> <hs00981 at cityofchicago.org>; <joyce.grangent at csh.org>; "Leanne 
> Stavenger-Vos" <LVos at donkainc.org>; "Kristin Sensor" 
> <ksensor at fitecil.org>; <rgardner4 at gmail.com>; "Annette Grove" 
> <annette.grove at goodwill.org>; <lgwatkin at hdadvocates.org>; 
> <MMARSH at idph.state.il.us>; "CATHY MEADOWS" <CATHY.MEADOWS at illinois.gov>; 
> <wbogdan at ilsos.net>; <mfleenor at isbe.net>; <wilkerson.jim at mhsil.com>; 
> <janice.duvall at sbcglobal.net>; <mkrogers at siu.edu>; <tupton at siu.edu>; "John 
> Trach" <jtrach at uiuc.edu>; <plotner at uiuc.edu>; "Tyler & Beverly Young" 
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> Cc: "Matt Abrahamson" <Matt.Abrahamson at illinois.gov>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:52 AM
> Subject: Economic Stimulus and VR
>
>
>> The following update on VR and the economic stimulus package is provided
>> by Carl Suter, Director of CSAVR.
>>
>>
>> Matt Abrahamson
>> DHS/Division of Rehabilitation Services
>> Staff Development Section
>> 400 W. Lawrence
>> P.O. Box 19429
>> Springfield, IL 62794-9429
>> 217.782.2280 (Voice)
>> 866.263.1754 (TTY)
>> 217.785.5319 (Fax)
>> Matt.Abrahamson at illinois.gov
>>
>>>>> "Carl Suter" <carlsuter at rehabnetwork.org> 2/7/2009 8:52:38 AM >>>
>> It appears that President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan is on
>> track to pass the Senate after a handful of moderate Republicans and
>> Democrats forced more than $100 billion in cuts in programs that
>> wouldn't create many jobs right away.
>>
>> At 7:00 pm on Friday evening the Senate took up debate of the
>> Nelson-Collins Amendment to H.R. 1 which sought more than $100 billion
>> in cuts to various programs that had been passed by the Senate
>> Appropriations and Finance Committees.  After debating the bill all
>> day
>> Friday and no sign of the compromise and only rumors to go by, the
>> Senate took a break at 5:00pm, resumed and broke again at 6:30pm, then
>> came back into session at 7:00pm for two hours of debate on the
>> Nelson-Collins Amendment.  CSAVR learned at 8:10pm that the funding
>> for
>> VR, IL, and IDEA might be secure, and confirmed that fact at 9:29,
>> just
>> after voting on the amendment had begun.
>>
>> Architects of the compromise included Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben
>> Nelson, D-Neb., who represented a broader group of moderates unhappy
>> that so much money went into programs they thought wouldn't create
>> jobs.
>> Eventually, every Republican except Collins and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.,
>> left the talks, which finally produced a deal with the White House
>> late
>> Friday afternoon.
>>
>> As of now, we are confident that the funding for Vocational
>> Rehabilitation and Independent Living still stands at $610 million
>> ($500
>> million for VR, $110 million for IL) and funding for IDEA stands at
>> $13
>> billion.  There are still amendments to be considered, but Senate
>> leaders are hopeful to complete action on H.R. 1 very soon.
>>
>> We want to thank everyone who worked so hard to keep the funding
>> intact.
>> We carried the day (or night in this case) because of persistent
>> calls.
>>
>> While ensuring passage of Obama's plan in the Senate within a few
>> days,
>> the deal sets up difficult negotiations with the House.
>>
>> Carl Suter
>> Chief Executive Officer
>> CSAVR
>> 4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 330
>> Bethesda, MD  20814
>> (301) 654-8414 voice
>> (301) 654-5542 fax
>> carlsuter at rehabnetwork.org
>>
>>
>
>
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