ISSUE 1: April 3, 2009

This issue includes updates on the following programs:

SOCIAL SECURITY

HOUSING

EDUCATION

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

RESPITE

TRANSPORATION

FAMILY SUPPORT

AUTISM & OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

             Final Appropriations for FY 2009

On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed P.L. 111-8, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009. This is funding for the Fiscal Year that began October 1, 2008 and ends September 30, 2009. In the 110^th Congress, facing a veto threat from President Bush if spending went above his proposed level, the Congress was unwilling to complete the nine separate appropriations bills under those terms. The two bills of greatest concern to The Arc and UCP, the Labor, Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies and the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development bills are included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.  Congress then passed a Continuing Resolution funding these government programs at FY 2008 funding levels until early March 2009. 

Many disability programs received level funding (FY 2008) or very modest increases in the Omnibus Appropriations bill. The programs that the Bush Administration had tried to eliminate in its budget request, for example the Supported Employment State Grant, generally received level funding. The Act did not make changes to entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Social Security Disability programs.  The following programs received significant funding increases:

Social Security

The Social Security Administration received an additional $709 million in funding to better administer the programs. The additional funds above the budget request ($126.5 million) are provided to accelerate SSA's effort to reduce the backlog of disability claims and to support improvements in other SSA services offered to the public. 

Housing

For the first time in years, Congress increased funding for the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program by $13 million. For the second consecutive year, Congress provided $30 million in new funding for Section 8 Housing vouchers targeted to non-elderly persons with disabilities. This will fund approximately 3,500 new vouchers.

Education

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Grant program received a $552.5 million dollar increase in funding. The State Personnel Development program more than doubled in size, receiving a $25.4 million dollar increase. The Preschool Grant program received level funding and the remaining IDEA programs received very modest increases.

Vocational Rehabilitation

The Title 1 State Grant Program received a $100 million cost of living increase for FY 2009.   The majority of the other VR programs received level funding.

Respite

The Lifespan Respite Care Act (PL 109-442) received $2.5 million. Despite its widely-supported enactment in 2006, Lifespan Respite has remained unfunded until this point. This current modest appropriation, although markedly short of full funding, will provide support to families and give advocates needed leverage to seek increased funding in FY 2010. 

Transportation

The specific transportation programs for people with disabilities both received the authorized increase in funding. That amounts to a $6.5 million increase for the program to help non-profits serving people with disabilities and the elderly purchase vehicles (Section 5310) and $5 million for the New Freedom program (Section 5317) which provides funding to improve accessibility and transportation options for people with disabilities. 

Family Support

The bill earmarks $2 million to provide and promote leadership training by and for families with children with disabilities. The training is to be designed to increase access to and availability of family support services.

Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

The autism and other developmental disability program at the Health Resources and Services Administration received a $5.6 million increase and the autism program at the Centers for Disease Control received a $3.9 million increase. These programs support education, early detection and intervention and research programs.

Table

Please click here to download a copy of a table that compares the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations for key disability programs with Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations.