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>From: Barbara Jackson LeMoine <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Words from Washington, January 31, 2002
>Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 13:00:05 -0500
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>Words from Washington
>January 31, 2002
>Vol. 107 No. 16
>
>In this issue. . .
>
> Voting Reform Legislation
> The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education
>Department of Education Seeks Input on Reauthorization of the Individuals
>with Disabilities Education Act
>Advocacy Efforts Increase Funding for Older Blind Program; House and Senate
>Pass Labor HHS Conference Report
>
>
>
>Voting Reform Legislation
>
>Work continues on S. 565, the "Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of
>2001," the Senate version of the voting reform bill. A vote is expected
>approximately mid February. We will issue an alert, time permitting, when
>the bill is expected on the floor.
>
>The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education
>
>On October 2, 2001 President Bush issued an Executive Order establishing
>the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education to collect
>information and study issues related to Federal, State, and local special
>education programs. By April 30, 2002, the Commission must submit a report
>to the President outlining its findings and recommending policies for
>improving the educational performance of students with disabilities.
>
>Terry Edward Branstad, former governor of Iowa is Chairman of the
>Commission. Members include Adela Acosta of Maryland ; Steve Bartlett of
>Texas , former member of the House; Dr. William Berdine of Kentucky; Paula
>C. Butterfield of Pennsylvania; Jay G. Chambers of California; W. Alan
>Coulter of Louisiana; Floyd Flake of New York, former member of the House;
>Thomas Albert Fleming of Michigan; Jack M. Fletcher of Texas; Douglas H.
>Gill of Washington; David W. Gordon of California; Nancy S. Grasmick of
>Maryland; Steve Hammerman of New York; Bryan C. Hassel of North Carolina;
>Douglas Carl Huntt of Ohio; Michael J. Rivas of Texas; Cheryl Rei Takemoto
>of Virginia; and Katie Wright of Illinois. Ex-officio Members include
>Elizabeth Ann Bryan of Texas; Edward Sontag of Virginia; Robert H.
>Pasternack of New Mexico Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education
>and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education; G. Reid Lyon of
>Maryland; and Wade F. Horn of Maryland.
>
>The Commission has scheduled meetings and hearings in the following cities
>
>Houston, Texas February 25- 27
>Denver, Colorado March 6
>Des Moines, Iowa March 13
>San Diego, California March 20
>Los Angeles, California March 21
>Miami, Florida April 9 and 10
>New York, New York April 16
>Nashville, Tennessee April 18
>Washington, DC May 30 and 31
>
>Visit the Commission's home page at
>http://www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/index.html
>
>For more information read President Bush's Executive Order establishing the
>Commission at
>http://www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/about.html
>
>Department of Education Seeks Input on Reauthorization of the Individuals
>with Disabilities Education Act
>
>In a Federal Register notice (67 FR 1411) published on January 10, the
>Department of Education requests for public comment on the Individuals with
>Disabilities Education Act and its implementation. Comments are due before
>February 25, 2002. All comments concerning the reauthorization of IDEA
>should be addressed to Thomas Irvin, Office of Special Education and
>Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, and submitted by
>e-mail to [log in to unmask] using the term IDEA Reauthorization in the
>subject line of your electronic message or by postal mail to Office of
>Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of
>Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Mary E. Switzer Building, Room 3086,
>Washington DC 20202-2570.
>
>Visit our web page for documents about IDEA and students who are blind or
>visually impaired.
>
>For a copy of the text of the law (H.R. 5; 1997) visit
>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c105:./temp/~c105wi2KTz
>
>For a copy of the regulations visit
>http://www.ideapractices.org/docs/regs/Fullregs.txt
>
>Advocacy Efforts Increase Funding for Older Blind Program; House and Senate
>Pass Labor HHS Conference Report
>
>Advocacy efforts lead by AFB have resulted in a $5 million increase for
>the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
>program, popularly called the Chapter 2 program (Title VII, Chapter 2 of
>the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended).
>
>The House and Senate accepted the conference report (H. Rpt. 107-342) for
>H.R.3061, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and
>Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in the last days of the
>first session of the 107th Congress.
>
>FY 2002 Appropriations for Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
>(in thousands of dollars)
>
>Account:FY 2002 (Conference), +/- FY 2001
>
>Special Education
>Grants to States Part B: 7,528,533.0; +1,188,848.0
>Preschool Grants: 390,000.0; 0.0
>Grants for Infants and Families: 417,000.0; +33,433.0
>Total State Grant Programs: 7,528,533.0; 1,222,281.0
>
>IDEA National Activities
>State Program Improvement Grants: 51,700.0; +2,500.0
>Research and Innovation: 78,380.0; +1,027.0
>Technical Assistance and Dissemination: 53,481.0; 0.0
>Personnel Preparation: 90,000.0; +8,048.0
>Parent Information Centers: 26,000.0; 0.0
>Technology and Media Services: 36,210.0; -1,000.0
> Public Telecomm Info/Training Dissemination: 1,500.0; 0.0
>Total National Activities: 337,271.0; +10,575.0
>Total Special Education: 8,672,804.0; +1,232,856.0
>
>Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research
>Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants: 2,481,383.0; +81,593.0
>Discretionary Programs
>Client Assistance State Grants: 11,897; +250.0
>Training: 39,629.0; 0.0
>Demonstration and Training Program: 21,238.0; +146.0
>Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: 2,350.0; 0.0
>Recreational Programs: 2,596.0; 0.0
>Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights: 15,200.0; +1,200.0
>Projects with Industry: 22,071.0; 0.0
>Supported Employment State Grants: 38,152.0; 0.0
>Independent Living
> State Grants: 22,296.0; 0.0
> Centers: 62,500; +4,500.0
> Services for Older Blind Individuals: 25,000.0; +5,000.0
>Program Improvement: 900.0; -1,000.0
>Evaluation: 1,000.0; -587.0
>Helen Keller National Center for Deaf/Blind : 8,717.0; 0.0
>National Institute Disab and Rehab Research (NIDRR): 110,000.0; +9,600.0
>Assistive Technology: 60,884.0; +19,772.0
>Access to Telework Fund: 20,000.0; +20,000.0
>Total, Discretionary Programs: 464,430.0; +58,881
>Total Rehabilitation Services: 2,945,813.0; +140,474.0
>American Printing House for the Blind: 14,000.0; +2,000.0
>
>The bill also provided $38,158,000 for the Office of Disability Employment
>Policy in the Department of Labor to provide "leadership, develop policy
>and initiatives, and award grants furthering the objective of eliminating
>barriers to the training and employment of people with disabilities."
>
>Visit GRG's Web Pages at www.afb.org/gov.asp
>
>The Advocacy Center Hot links to information on a wide range of
>legislative, regulatory, and advocacy information
>
>Disability Rights Resources for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
>Resources for information on civil rights laws for individuals who are
>blind or visually impaired
>
>GRG's popular ADA self-evaluation checklists and other ADA-related documents
>
>Paul Schroeder, Alan Dinsmore, and Barbara LeMoine are contributors to WFW.
>
>WFW is published by the American Foundation for the Blind, Governmental
>Relations Group, 820 First Street, N.E., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20002,
>202-408-0200, Fax: 202-289-7880, E-mail: [log in to unmask] Address questions
>regarding subscriptions or content to Barbara Jackson LeMoine.
>
>This report focuses on the most significant issues currently being
>addressed by AFB's Governmental Relations Group, and is delivered to you
>approximately biweekly via the Topica "Words from Washington" list. WFW is
>available shortly after publication at www.afb.org/gov.asp.
>
>====================================
>Barbara Jackson LeMoine
>Legislative Assistant
>Governmental Relations Group
>American Foundation for the Blind
>202-408-8169
><mailto:[log in to unmask]>blemoine@afb<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.net
>
>Visit GRG's web site at http://www.afb.org/gov.asp
>=====================================
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