Instead of the usual Weekly Disability Reading List, this week we are sharing a link to a live stream presentation on efforts going on right now in Congress to significantly boost funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for the elderly and people with disabilities, and make long overdue updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
For details on what’s been proposed and what’s being negotiated, please take the time to watch the whole video.
Click here to view the livestream video
These two initiatives are potentially huge, and can make a rare and positive impact on millions of people with disabilities by eliminating waiting lists for home care services, delivering better pay for home care workers so it’s easier to find and retain them, and by raising SSI benefits to poverty level and reducing outdated asset limits.
If you have texting available, send a text “PXPBNX” to 50409. This will engage the web advocacy application Resistbot to send letters to the President and appropriate Members of Congress. It’s a quick and simple way to deliver meaningful messages to the people making the decisions right now.
You can also call our New York State Members of Congress at the following numbers:
Sen. Chuck Schumer: 202-224-6542
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: 202-224-4451
Rep. Elise Stefanik: 202-225-4611
And contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Frank Pallone too, as they are heavily involved in negotiations:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: 202-225-4965
Rep. Frank Pallone: 202-225-4671
Here is a brief sample of what you might say in your emails and calls:
"Hello, my name is ________ and I am calling as your constituent to ask you to fight for the Better Care Better Jobs Act and the SSI Restoration Act as part of the budget reconciliation package. Please help defend these bills as originally introduced. Thank you."
Of course, you can add whatever personal details you like, and make your own case for why these bills are important.
Time is of the essence. Please take action now. And feel free to share this alert with other disability advocates and allies.
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If you are interested in other disability advocacy issues, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at:
518-563-9058 Ext. 110
The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.