As many of you learned this week, President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan will be offered in sections as negotiations for a compromise failed this past month.
Despite the failure to reach a compromise in the Senate, we have heard that Senator Joe Manchin included home and community-based services (HCBS) funding in his alternative proposal.
On January 6, our colleague at The Arc US, Bethany Lilly was quoted in Disability Scoop as saying, “Every day that Congress fails to pass increased funding for HCBS means that people with disabilities and their families are facing impossible choices about how to access care, direct support professionals aren’t being paid enough to live and people are stuck on those waiting lists. … Congress should act ASAP.”
And in Massachusetts, we await the release of ARPA dollars for residential services even though months have passed. We hope to see funding released in February.
At the same time, we await the release of Governor Charlie Baker’s FY 2023 budget. We will provide an analysis soon after the release, so be sure to stay tuned.
Last but not least, thank you to the hundreds of you that emailed your legislators about bill priorities through our action alerts over the past two weeks. There are more alerts to come, so be sure to keep an eye out for next steps.
Our appreciation again to individuals, families, and staff who continue their advocacy and work together through this continued crisis.
Keeping Hope Alive, Leo . . .
Thank you for your efforts along with your staff!
Linda Cox