[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Fw: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of January 30, 2012

[Carlos J MontasAS]

UCP Washington Wire -- Week of January 30, 2012
    ----- Original Message ----- 
From: United Cerebral Palsy 
To: carlos.montas at gmail.com 
Se    nt: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 10:00 AM
Subject: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of January 30, 2012



  UCP Washington Wire


  January 31, 2012


  CURRENT NEWS and UPDATES

  CLASS Act Endangered in House
  Advocates have been hard at work trying to save the voluntary long term services and supports program known as the CLASS Act. A few weeks ago, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill H.R.1173, which would ultimately kill the program. The bill was approved late last year in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Last week, the House Committee on Rules marked up the bill, allowing it to move forward for a House floor vote. National advocacy groups who support the CLASS Act have been outspoken with their support. Just last week, the AFL-CIO and Alliance for Retired Americans (a group that represents over four million seniors), wrote to Representatives urging them to keep CLASS alive.

  CLASS is a vital program that will help people with disabilities stay in their communities by allowing them to buy long-term care insurance. We must save CLASS! Contact your representative today and let him/her know that you oppose a repeal of CLASS before they vote. Read more in The Hill and Business Insurance. 
   
  Senate Votes to Increase Debt Ceiling
  A Senate vote from last Thursday will allow the President to increase the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion. This increase will ensure that the United States can pay its pills through the November 2012 elections. The measure passed with a 44-52 vote that occurred mostly along party lines. Only one Republican, Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) voted in favor of the increase in debt ceiling, while two Democrats, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) voted against the increase. Read more from Politico and learn more from The Washington Post.
   

  Republicans Look to Substitutes of Affordable Care Act (ACA)
  As the ACA comes under debate in the Supreme Court, Republican lawmakers have acknowledged that they are preparing an overhaul on health care, should the high court rule against its constitutionality. The ruling is expected to be handed down in June. Read more from The Washington Times.
   
   
  STATE CHECK-UP

  Arizona School District Sues Parent of Special Needs Student

  After a school district in Arizona decided that a private school was the best place for a student with disabilities to attend, the student's mother notified the district that she would enroll her son at the private school at the district's expense because she felt they did not offer her son a "free appropriate education" or "FAPE." By law, if a parent believes that a school district has failed to offer their child FAPE, they may enroll in a private school without the district's consent and request a due process hearing. If this is done, the school district does not lose any funding. However, in this case, the school district is suing the mother, stating that it shouldn't have to pay private school tuition for her special needs child. Read more from TucsonCitizen.com.
   
   
  State of Virginia to Close Training Centers for People with Disabilities
  Last week, it was announced that the state of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement that will close four training centers for people with disabilities and move most residents back into the community. Read more from the FairfaxCityPatch or from The Washington Post. 
   
  University of California - Santa Barbara Student Sues University for Jobs Policy
  A student at the University of California - Santa Barbara campus has sued the university for their policy that states individuals with disabilities are not allowed to apply or be accepted for jobs through the Disabled Students Program. The student is saying that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ACA) is being violated. The lawsuit, filed in October of last year, is currently being reviewed by the courts. Read more from The Bottom Line.


  ON THE HORIZON

  White House to Hold Series of Disability Conferences
  The White House will be holding a series of regional, multi-agency disability conferences between March and July. The final list of cities and dates include:

    a.. Columbus, OH  - March 14 
    b.. Austin, TX - March 28 
    c.. Los Angeles, CA - April 12 
    d.. Denver, CO - April 25 
    e.. Atlanta, GA  - May 11 
    f.. Boston, MA - May 23 
    g.. Minneapolis, MN - June 6 
    h.. Orlando, FL - June 15 
    i.. Kansas City, MO - July 11 
  Please mark your calendars if there is a regional conference near you! As more information is available about location, times, and opportunities for constituent participation, we will be letting you know.

   
  For more information on this UCP Washington Wire contact: Connie Garner, CGarner at ucp.org.
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