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--- forwarded message ---
From: American Foundation for the Blind <[log in to unmask]>
August 8, 1997
Legislative Alert!
Action Required: Write, fax, or phone members of the Legislative
Branch appropriations conference committee. Ask them to support
the Senate appropriation of $47,870,000 for the National Library
Service (NLS).
A large percentage of the approximate $2 million Senate increase
over the House appropriation would be used by the National
Library Service (NLS) to purchase additional cassette players for
the Talking Book program. Nearly half of the machines now in use
are over ten years old, presenting problems of reliability and
their maintenance by the Library.
Senate-appointed conferees can be reached at 202-224-3121 or U.S.
Senate, Washington, DC 20510. Robert Bennett (R-UT), Ted Stevens
(R-AK), Larry Craig (R-ID), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Byron L. Dorgan
(D-ND), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Robert C. Byrd (D-WV).
Although the House has not yet appointed conferees, it is
important to contact the following likely conferees. James T.
Walsh (R-NY), C.W. Bill Young (R-FL), Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-
CA), Zach Wamp (R-TN), Tom Latham (R-IA), Jose E. Serrano (D-NY),
Vic Fazio (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Also possible: Bob
Livingston, (R-LA), and David Obey (D-WI). House conferees can be
reached at 202-225-3121 or U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC 20515.
Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act
AFB expects Senate Rehabilitation Act draft language soon.
On July 31, AFB submitted a statement for the hearing record to
the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Training. Our full
statement for the record is available from our Web site
www.igc.apc.org/afb. Highlights of the statement follow.
* AFB recommends retaining the present law authority for
States to designate separate State agencies for the blind.
Twenty-five states now have agencies for the blind.
* Maintain current law which ensures that all personnel
employed by the designated State unit are appropriately and
adequately trained and prepared.
* AFB also recommends maintaining the current provisions
governing the IWRP.
* Express authority is needed in Section 508 for the
development of regulations, provision of technical
assistance regarding the procurement of accessible
technology, and a process for filing complaints.
* Retain present law authorization for Title VII, Chapter 2,
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are
Blind.
* Retain present law authority for Section 803(b) Braille
Training Projects. Experience clearly indicates substantial
need to refresh the braille teaching skills of professionals
trained under the long term training grants to provide
service to individuals who are blind. These projects have
also been used to provide initial training in braille skills
for personnel who are state-agency trained and who have not
received intensive basic training in teaching braille.
* AFB does not support a means test for services provided
under the Rehabilitation Act.
The Budget
The following is a very brief summary of some of the budget
provisions signed into law by President Clinton on August 5.
A proposal that would have repealed the maintenance of effort
provision under which States are required to supplement federal
SSI payments to ensure that recipients do not receive less than
they would under state programs was rejected. Also rejected was
the House proposal to privatize medicaid and food stamps.
* $24 billion for health-care coverage for low-income
children.
* $115 billion in Medicare savings from limiting payments to
providers. All beneficiaries would pay an additional $1 for
Part B. Means testing, increased age of eligibility, and $5
fees for home health-care visits are gone from the package.
Despite the concerns of most disability groups, about
390,000 people will participate in a demonstration program
for government-financed medical savings accounts in lieu of
traditional Medicare. About $13 billion in Medicaid savings
will be realized from limiting payments to hospitals.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC
The Reconciliation Bill extends the WOTC until July 1, 1998,
restores SSI recipients as a targeted group, and increases the
benefit to 40%.
Senate Committee Moves to Allow Guide Dogs on Senate Floor
On July 31, in response to an incident this spring in which a
senior Senator barred a guide dog from the floor, the Senate
Rules and Administration Committee unanimously endorsed a
proposal to allow "an individual with a disability who has or is
granted the privilege of the Senate floor . . . may bring
necessary supporting aids and services on the Senate floor."
The IDEA Regulatory Process
AFB expects a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on IDEA in September.
The Department will then hold six regional meetings around the
country. We will announce details as soon as they are available.
On July 28, AFB submitted comments to the U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services in response to a Federal Register Notice requesting
advice and recommendations on regulatory issues under the IDEA
Amendments of 1997. These comments expanded on the oral testimony
presented by Denise Rozell to an OSEP outreach meeting on July 14
(see WFW 7/28/97). Our expanded comments are available on AFB's
web site at www.igc.apc.org/afb. A summary of two issues in our
expanded comments that were not included in our oral presentation
follows.
Assistive Technology in the IEP (Section 614(d)(3)(B)(v)).
Regulations need to specify that the requirement to consider
assistive technology needs of students in the IEP encompasses
both a student's own assistive technology needs as well as access
to technology used by all students throughout the general
curriculum. Also, the student's need for assistive technology
should be evaluated and preparations made to meet those needs at
the start of the school year. Regulations should ensure that
students, teachers, or other personnel receive the necessary
instruction on the operation and maintenance of the technology.
Parent Participation in Placement Decisions (Section 614(f))
Regulations should require that the local school district provide
parents with information concerning the continuum of placement
options available to their children so they can consider all
possible placements.
Contributors to WFW include Scott Marshall, Alan Dinsmore, Denise
Rozell, and Barbara LeMoine.
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:
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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 email or fax. Address
questions regarding subscriptions or content to Barbara LeMoine.
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