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Legislative Alerts
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April 30, 2013
45 National Organizations Sign Letter in Support of FY 14 Funding for Lifespan Respite, National Family Caregiver Support and Family Support.
On April 30, 2013, 45 national organizations signed a letter to House and Senate Appropriators in support of FY 14 funding for the Lifespan Respite Program ($2.5 million), the National Family Caregiver Support Program ($154 million), and Family Support in the Developmental Disabilities Act. The House and Senate letters are now available.
House Letter
Senate Letter
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April 23, 2013
35 House Members Send Letter in Support of Lifespan Respite Funding
On April 22, 2013, 35 members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations requesting funding for Lifespan Respite Program in FY 2014. To view or download the letter, click here.
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March 2013
Rep. Langevin Circulates Dear Colleague in Support of Lifespan Respite FY 14 Funding
Members of Congress in Recess until April 9! Visit them while they are in their home districts to urge support for Lifespan Respite Funding.
(Please circulate this alert widely. Feel free to edit or adapt to your state’s needs)
ACTION: Call or visit your House Member today and ask them to sign onto Rep. Langevin’s Letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $2.5 million in the FY 14 Funding Bill. Deadline for Members to sign on is April 8, 2013.
CONTACT: To identify your Representative and obtain local contact information to schedule a meeting in the district, visit www.house.gov. To reach your Representative in DC, call 202-225-3121. Leave a message with the Health or Disability Legislative Assistant.
FY14 Funding Request: Aware of severe budget constraints facing the Administration and Congress, the Lifespan Respite Task Force and its 200 national, state and local member organizations are reducing their request from last year to $2.5 million for FY 14.
For legislative alert in pdf, click here.
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January 3, 2013
President to sign American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 to avoid fiscal cliff – Lifespan Respite and other programs are still at risk.
The legislation, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, expected to be signed into law soon by President Obama, primarily addressed the tax issues associated with the fiscal cliff and postponed automatic and severe across-the-board cuts (or sequestration) for many discretionary programs until March 1, 2013. Funding for Lifespan Respite, National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), and other human services programs survived the fiscal cliff on January 1, but this could be temporary. Congress only delayed decisions about FY 13 funding until March 1 when the current FY 13 Continuing Resolution expires. Lifespan Respite and NFCSP along with other programs are still at great risk of losing funding in FY 2013, especially if program cuts are agreed to in order to get an agreement to raise the debt ceiling – the next politically charged fight that has to take place very soon. Lifespan Respite is especially vulnerable because it is such a small program. If Members of Congress do not hear from their constituents to save the program, it will be easy to cut.
ACTION: Call your US House Representative and Senator today and urge them to support funding for Lifespan Respite in the FY 2013 funding bill.
MESSAGE: Don’t hold family caregivers hostage to reach agreement on the debt ceiling. Fund Lifespan Respite and NFCSP in FY 2013.
For more information on Action, Message and Talking Points, and How to Contact Congress follow this link to the current Legislative Alert. Feel free to download, share, or adapt for your own use.
CLASS Act Repealed -- Bipartisan Commission on Long-term Care Established
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 also included a repeal of the Class Program (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports). CLASS was enacted as part of the health care reform under the Affordable Care Act. CLASS provided a framework to establish a national voluntary long-term services and supports insurance system funded by payroll deductions to help adults with disabling and chronic conditions receive the services and support they needed, including respite. However, the US Department of Health and Human Services had decided not to implement the program at the current time because of questions about its potential solvency. With the President’s re-election and the Supreme Court’s decision last year to uphold most provisions in the Affordable Care Act, advocates were hopeful of working with the Administration to move forward on CLASS implementation. Senator Rockefeller was successful in including language in the Taxpayer Relief Act to establish a bipartisan Commission on Long-term Care to propose a new plan. As a member of the Advance CLASS Coalition, the NRC will be following the work of the Commission very closely.
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Advocacy Tips and Guidance on Contacting the US Congress
Visits to Legislators' Offices: For Guidance on How to Arrange and Conduct a Personal Visit with a Legislator, see Advocacy Tip Sheet for Face-to-Face Meetings
Calling Your Representative or Senator: Making a personal visit or call is the most effective way to get your message across. Do not underestimate the value of legislative staff. Talking with them may be just as effective as talking with the Member directly.
- If you don't know who your Representative and Senators are, visit www.congress.org and enter your zip code.
- Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative's or Senator's office. When connected, ask to speak to the person who works on health or disability issues, usually the Health Legislative Assistant (LA). Leave a voice mail message if you cannot get through directly.
- Identify yourself as a constituent. Explain the importance of respite to you personally and make your request. Follow the directions on the NRC Legislative Alert for Action and Messages or use these talking points to make your case. (Prepare yourself in advance and practice the message).
- Ask the staff member if his/her boss will support your request. If they do not commit, please ask them to get back to you.
- Say thank you.
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Contact Congress |
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To contact your US House member, visit here.
To contact your US Senator, visit here.
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Legislative Action Center
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New! FY 14 Lifespan Respite Funding Alert, click here.
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| New! National Organizations' Letters to House and Senate Appropriators in support of FY 14 Funding for Lifespan Respite and other Family Caregiver Supports. |
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| New! House Members Letter to Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee in support of FY 14 funding for Lifespan Respite, click here. |
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New! House Dear Colleague circulated by Rep. Langevin in support of Lifespan Respite Funding for FY 14, click here.
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| 46 National Organizations Send Letter of Support for Lifespan Respite Reauthorization, click here. |
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| NRC/Lifespan Respite Task Force position statement on Lifespan Respite Reauthorization, click here. |
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National Respite Coalition delivers two official statements to Senate HELP Committee Staff on OAA and Lifespan Respite Reauthorization (signed by 35 national organizations)
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