On Tuesday, February 10th, NDSC's Director of Governmental 
Affairs Susan Goodman and board member Tonia Ferguson, attended a White House celebration of the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE). Vice President Biden was the guest speaker and several members of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus attended the event.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Associate Commissioner Sharon Lewis thanked the broad coalition of advocacy organizations who helped get ABLE passed.
White House Commission on 21st Century Community Policing
On Wednesday, February 4th, Susan Goodman attended a listening session for the White House Commission on 21st Century Community Policing. Several attendees mentioned the tragic death of Ethan Saylor, who died at the hands of Frederick County police officers in January of 2013.
The Task Force is part of the Administration's efforts to strengthen community policing and increase trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. The Task Force will examine, among other issues, how to build public trust, while also promoting effective crime reduction. The Task Force will prepare a report and recommendations will be presented to the President.
House Leadership Holds Meeting with Advocates on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
On January 13th, NDSC issued an Action Alert asking members to contact their Congressional Representatives to reverse a rule by House leadership, which would prevent the transfer of funds from the Social Security retirement fund to the Social Security Disability Insurance fund, and keep the program from insolvency. If a transfer does not take place, SSDI beneficiaries could face a 20 percent reduction in benefits in 2016.
On Thursday, February 12th, Susan Goodman attended a meeting hosted by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Republican Conference Chair, Chairman Paul Ryan, and Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson of the Committee on Ways and Means, to discuss the House Rules Package for the 114th Congress and the SSDI program.
Members and senior staff solicited feedback on the best way to strengthen the SSDI program and answer questions. We will keep NDSC readers updated on this important issue.
