The House and Senate will soon vote on a "concurrent budget resolution" which lays out a budget plan for the Committees to fund programs for Fiscal Year 2016, starting on October 1st. There are several attacks on major programs that will harm people with disabilities. The resolution could result in permanent cuts and elimination of the entitlement to services in the Medicaid program -- which provides long term supports and services, including home and community-based services (HCBS), and many employment supports to people with Down syndrome and other disabilities.  
 
The concurrent budget resolution would require that the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee find at least $1 billion in savings in programs under their jurisdiction. The resolution does not specify which programs must be cut to reach the $1 billion. However, authorization of these cuts allows fundamental changes to the structure of the Medicaid program in order to achieve these savings. Structural changes to Medicaid are likely to include fixed amounts of funding (known as block grants) to the states and reductions in eligibility and services. Furthermore, the cuts could be much greater than $1 billion or the Congress could proceed with more extensive cuts in future years once the Medicaid structural changes are in place.  

The House is planning to vote before recessing tomorrow, Friday, May 1.
 
Members of Congress need to hear from you as soon as possible.

Message:
I am the parent/sibling/friend of (name) who has Down syndrome.  The current budget resolution could cause the services (s/he) relies on to live and work in the community.  My (son/daughter) wants to become a taxpayer - please do not eliminate the funding that will provide him/her with the opportunity to do so.  

Tell your Senators or Representatives:

• To oppose the Concurrent Budget Resolution
• Do not cut supports to people with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)
• Do not cut the Medicaid program

You may find your Senators and Representatives at:   http://www.contactingthecongress.org/