Public Policy

Congressional Committees

Most Members of Congress spend the majority of their time in Washington working in committees. Committees are where the most substantive work of the Congress gets done. Bills are drafted, revised, debated and marked up in committees.

Congressional committees have several full time staff who have considerable expertise on the programs and issues for which the committee is responsible. Consequently, much of The Arc's federal advocacy efforts involve working with committee staff to develop legislation and oversee programs of interest to the disability community.

Which Committees are Most Important for Disability Policy?

Senate Committees

• Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations
  • Funding for IDEA, employment, vocational rehabilitation, administrative funds for Social Security & many other programs
• Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • Funding for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 and Section 811 housing programs, transportation programs
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
  • HUD section 8 and section 811 supportive housing for persons with disabilities programs, mass transit
• Senate Committee on Finance
  • Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)
  • IDEA. Vocational Rehabilitation, Development Disabilities Act programs, ADA, health care, and more
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary
  • Civil rights
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Transportation, aviation, regulation of consumer products

 House Committees

• House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
  • Funding for IDEA, employment, vocational rehabilitation, administrative funds for Social Security & many other programs
• House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • Funding for HUD Section 8 and Section 811 supportive housing for persons with disabilities programs, mass transit programs
• House Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Vocational Rehabilitation, employment, and other programs
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Medicaid, Development Disabilities (DD) Act programs
• House Committee on Financial Services
  • HUD Section 8 and Section 811supportive housing for persons with disabilities programs
• House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Social Security, SSI, Medicare
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hate crimes, and other civil rights issues
• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Mass transit and other transportation programs, aviation