TO: NDSC Members and Affiliated Parent Groups
FROM: Susan Goodman, Director, Governmental Affairs
DATE: May 22, 2006

House Budget Resolution - Big Questions Remain

On Thursday, May 18, the House of Representatives passed a $2.8 trillion fiscal year 2007 budget resolution. Advocates had urged defeat of the earlier budget resolutions proposed by the House leadership because this outline for spending would force cuts in programs for people with disabilities.

These budget resolutions are not law but are a blueprint for spending on discretionary programs, such as education and Medicaid. The appropriations committees then vote on spending bills that set the specific funding level.

Reportedly, the leadership promised to include an additional $3.1 billion in funds through the appropriations process for health, labor and education programs. However, it is not clear where that funding will come from because $2 billion would come from unspecified spending cuts to other programs.

Although the House budget resolution ultimately passed, the efforts of advocates DID result in an additional $3.1 billion being promised for health, education and labor programs. House and Senate leaders will now attempt to "reconcile" the two different versions of their budget resolutions. House Budget Committee Chair Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) has stated that he will begin discussions with Senate Budget Committee Chair Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) about reconciliation with the Senate budget resolution.

Some advocates feel that an agreement between the House and Senate on a budget resolution is not likely. However, we will continue to follow the process closely and continue our efforts for adequate funding for services for people with disabilities.

Join Campaign to Improve the Lives of People with Disabilities

If your son or daughter receives services in the community from "direct care workers," you are aware of the difficulty in finding qualified and compassionate individuals to support them because of low wages. The United Cerebral Palsy Associations and ANCOR, organizations which mainly consist of services providers, have developed a new flash cartoon to highlight this issue which directly affects the quality of lives of all people with disabilities who receive adult services.

To see this cartoon go to www.whowillcare.net.

This campaign asks you to tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers to visit this site and "to let their U.S. Representative know that people with disabilities deserve quality, consistent support in their communities."