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Senate
HELP Committee Moving Forward with Reauthorization of Workforce Investment Act
& Rehabilitation Act - Advocacy Groups Support Inclusion of Asset
Development Services and Expansion of DPN Model in Reauthorization
The Senate HELP Committee is working steadfastly on drafting a
reauthorization bill of the Workforce Investment Act, and similarly to the 1998
Act the bill will also attach a reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Services
Act. Introduction of the bill is expected
shortly after the Easter Congressional recess.
NDI participated in the development of recommended legislative reforms
through its membership in both the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities
(CCD) as well as the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination (CPSD). As a result, both coalitions of
national disability organizations have urged the Committee to include
definitions of asset development and asset development services within Section
101 of WIA, and also have urged the addition of asset development services as
an eligible category of vocational rehabilitation services under Section 103 of
the Rehabilitation Services Act.
On the heels of the successful Disability Program Navigator (DPN)
initiative, both CCD and CPSD also strongly advocated for a permanent corps of
expert staff (termed "Disability Resource Coordinators" to be deployed through
workforce investment areas across the country to continue to bring the best
practices of the DPN initiative to a national scale. Specifically, both coalitions support inclusion of the
following legislative language:
Amend Section 134(a)(2) to specify that:
Statewide employment and training activities shall include, among other things, deployment of an
effective and responsive statewide system of full-time Disability Resource
Coordinators (DRCs) as defined in Section 101, to serve as dedicated expert
staff to navigate a pathway to higher skilled and higher paying jobs and
economic security for individuals with disabilities and others with multiple
barriers to employment by: -
improving meaningful and effective participation in and outside the
One-Stop delivery systems including physical, communication and programmatic
access;
- improving coordination and collaboration among employment and training
and asset development programs carried out at a state and local level;
-
bringing together multiple partners to foster a collaborative effort by
building Interagency Action Committees to address systems level barriers and
Integrated Resource Teams to address individual level barriers to employment
jobseekers with disabilities experience
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improving the leveraging of resources to eliminate wasteful spending and
duplicative practices; and
- improving critical linkages to the business community.
A State may continue current DPNs to be employed as
Disability Resource Coordinator to maintain current activities and meet the
clearly defined responsibilities listed.
Amend Sections 170 & 171 by inserting the following language:
The Secretary shall provide,
coordinate, and support the development of appropriate training, technical
assistance, staff development and other activities including assistance
building on lessons learned from the DPNs through deployment of Disability
Resource Coordinators, and other programs of demonstrated effectiveness in
meeting the needs of hard-to-serve populations, including individuals with
disabilities.
Other critical recommendations supported by both groups included an extension
of the duration of VR services based upon severity of disability; the addition
of other critical services eligible for funding under VR; and expanded emphasis
on Supported Employment Services. |
NDI
Joins National Advocacy Coalition to Support Massive Increases in Community
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant Program in FY2011; Simultaneously Push
for Introduction of VITA Act of 2010
NDI has long supported the expanded availability of
free tax education & assistance programs in local communities. VITA programs offer free tax assistance
to low-to-moderate income individuals who cannot afford professional
assistance. Currently,
the Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is one of three
federally-supported taxpayer education & assistance programs funded through
the Internal Revenue Service, each program aimed at supporting low-income
individuals and targeted subpopulations during the tax preparation process,
including citizens with disabilities.
Similar to previous years, NDI has teamed up with the National Community
Tax Coalition (NCTC), United Way Worldwide, and other national organizations to
support increased federal investments in the Community VITA Matching Grant
program.
More than 75,000 VITA volunteers prepare basic tax
returns for low income taxpayers with a focus on at least one specific underserved
group with special needs, including persons with disabilities, non-English
speaking persons, Native Americans, rural taxpayers, and the elderly. Previous federal funding support has
enabled community VITA programs to reach more underserved low-income taxpayers,
and resulted in more families accessing vital tax credits, such as the Earned
Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). During the 2009 filing season, VITA
centers prepared over 1.2 million tax returns and brought back over $1.6
billion in tax returns to working families.
Despite
previous federal investments in the program, demand for grants greatly exceeds
available resources. For instance,
in the 2010 filing season, 379 programs applied for over $30 million. Yet, the VITA program was able to make
awards to only 147 of the 379 applications with a median grant size of
$56,000. The reality is that the
$12 million allocated in FY2010 is only a fraction of what it costs to operate
tax sites nationwide. Even though
VITA centers are staffed mostly by volunteers, the collective operational costs
of the 4,500 VITA centers across the country totaled approximately $150 million
in 2009. Additionally, the number
of applicants is expected to increase with programs across the country losing
state VITA funding while the number of people qualifying for their services is
increasing with rising unemployment rates and wage cuts.
As
such, NDI is supporting efforts to solidify an additional $30 million in FY2011
for the Community VITA Matching Grant Assistance Program. This funding request, which represents an $18 million increase over
FY2010's level of $12 million, would significantly boost the program and
adequately meet the growing number of requests for federal funding support
coming from the field.
The
benefits of VITA's community-based approach are abundant. First, VITA centers offer taxpayers a
free, community-based alternative to commercial tax preparation chains, some
which steer low-income taxpayers into Refund Anticipation Loans, essentially
borrowing their own money at high interest rates. Second, considerable evidence demonstrates that VITA centers
significantly increase taxpayer compliance. Finally, VITA centers ensure that taxpayers not only claim
the benefits of which they are entitled, but that they are also exposed to a
variety of financial literacy tools and savings strategies aimed at helping
them build assets for the future. For
these reasons, NDI has been working with NCTC and United Way to encourage the
introduction of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Act of 2010, which is expected to be introduced by
Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) in mid-April. The bill would provide a permanent
authorization of the Community VITA Matching Grant Assistance program, and also
provide support for a national technical assistance center to further support
the enhancement of existing practices among local VITA sites across the
country.
For
more information on how to become involved in supporting the Community VITA
program, advocates in the field are encouraged to participate in NCTC's
grassroots advocacy efforts at www.tax-coalition.org.
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Tsongas
introduces the SSI Savers Act of 2010
U.S. Representative Nikki Tsongas introduced the SSI Savers Act of 2010
to address the outdated asset limits in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
program which prevent very low-income disabled, blind or elderly individuals
from accumulating the savings they need to economically advance and rise out
poverty. The bill, H.R. 4937, was
introduced on March 24th and was referred to the House Committee on
Ways & Means.
The SSI Savers Act of 2010 increases asset limits from $2,000 (single)
and $3,000 (married) to $5,000 and $7,500 respectively, and indexes those
limits to inflation. For
recipients younger than 65, the bill excludes retirement accounts, education
savings, and individual development accounts from counting against the limit. For recipients 65 and older, it allows
retirement accounts up to $50,000 (single)/$75,000 (married) to reduce SSI benefits accordingly instead
of creating an immediate cut off.
H.R. 4937 has been endorsed by both the Corporation for Enterprise
Development (CFED), as well as the New America Foundation. The text of legislation can be reviewed
at the following link:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr4937IH/pdf/BILLS-111hr4937IH.pdf
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ABLE
Act Pushing Ahead - 181 Co-Sponsors in the House
Momentum has never been stronger in support for the Achieving a Better
Life Experience Act (ABLE Act). In
the aftermath of several advocacy conferences of national disability
organizations that have included passage of the ABLE Act as a top priority for
2010, H.R. 1205 has received a surge of new cosponsors being added to the
legislation, from 158 in February to 181 co-sponsors as of March 23rd. It is anticipated that the House
Committee on Ways and Means will mark-up the legislation by early summer.
Unfortunately, progress in the Senate on S.493 has been slow. Additionally, there are concerns that
efforts made by NDI and others to ensure inclusion of a refundable tax credit
within the context of the ABLE Act will be thwarted in the Senate unless the
House pushes such a provision forward.
The ABLE Act amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the
establishment of ABLE Accounts for the care of family members with
disabilities. Amounts held by or
distributed from ABLE accounts are not treated as assets or income when
determining eligibility for benefits provided by any federal benefits
program. Accounts are used for
qualified expenses, such as; educational expenses; medical and dental care;
community based support services; employment training and support; assistive
technology; and after age 18, housing and transportation expenses.
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Department
of Treasury Requests Comments on the Future of the CDFI Fund -- Comments Due May 7th
The U.S. Department of Treasury has invited public comments regarding
the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, including the CDFI financial and
technical assistance awards, the Native Initiatives and the Bank Enterprise
Awards (BEA). In particular,
the CDFI Fund is interested
in comments from the public related to an array of statutory requirements, in
the interest of determining whether the CDFI Fund should seek technical
corrections or substantive revisions to the authorizing statute. All materials
submitted will be
available for public
inspection and copying. All
comments and submissions must be received by May 7, 2010. More details can be found on the March 8th
Federal Register announcement at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-4786.htm.
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SPECIAL EVENT: NDI Co-Hosts Upcoming Congressional
Briefing entitled, "Innovative Public Policy Strategies aimed at Fostering the
Economic Advancement of Individuals with Disabilities" on Friday, April 23
NDI
is joining forces with the Congressional Disability Caucus to host an
educational briefing for Congressional policymakers and staff entitled,
"Innovative Public Policy Strategies aimed at Fostering the Economic
Advancement of Individuals with Disabilities". The briefing will be held on Friday, April 23, 2010 from
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET. Lunch
will be provided to attendees.
The purpose of the upcoming
Congressional briefing is to educate Congressional leaders and staff about various public policy strategies aimed at developing a roadmap out of poverty for
individuals with disabilities and their families nationwide. Some of the nation's key thought
leaders in the area of asset development and disability policy will present on
the potential impacts of several budgetary and legislative proposals with
respect to promoting the economic advancement of citizens with
disabilities. Additionally,
participants will also learn about the establishment of an infrastructure at a
community level that is changing expectations about the power of human and
financial capital with regard to our nation's most undervalued and vulnerable
citizens.
External
participants are welcome to attend the briefing, but are encouraged to RSVP soon as space is limited. For more
information, please review the details below or refer to the NDI website at http://www.realeconomicimpact.org/Events.aspx?id=69.
"Innovative
Public Policy Strategies Aimed at Fostering the Economic Advancement of
Individuals with Disabilities"
Friday, April 23, 2010
11:30-1:00 p.m. ET
121 Cannon House Office BuildingWelcome: U.S.
Representative James Langevin (RI-2) Chairman,
Congressional Disabilities Caucus
Facilitator: John
Hetterick, Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Disability Institute
SPEAKERS: - Rourke
O'Brien, New America Foundation
-
Steve
Mendelsohn, Burton Blatt Institute
-
Carol
Wayman, Corporation for Enterprise Development
-
Steve
Beck, Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination
TOPICS TO INCLUDE:Asset Development Proposals in the
President's FY2011 Budget : Impacts on Citizens with Disabilities
Implications of existing Asset &
Income Limits on Citizens with Disabilities Key Legislative Initiatives Focused
on Promoting Asset Development Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
- Achieving
a Better Life Experience Act of 2010
SSI
Savers Act of 2010 - Savings
for Working Families Act
Assets
for Independence
SPONSORS:
Collaboration to Promote
Self-Determination
Consortium on Citizens with
Disabilities -- Asset Development Task Force
Corporation for Enterprise
Development
National
Disability Institute
New
America Foundation
For more information please contact Serena Lowe at [email protected]
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U.S. DISABILITY
EMPLOYMENT PROFILE
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STATISTIC
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WITH DISABILITY
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WITHOUT
DISABILITY
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March 2009
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March 2010
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March 2009
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March 2010
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% of population
in the labor force
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22.8%
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22.5%
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70.9%
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70.2%
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Unemployment rate
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13.1%
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13.9%
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8.9%
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10.1%
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Employment-population
ratio
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19.8%
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19.4%
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64.6%
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63.2%
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As
reported by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table
A-6
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