2009 Labor-HHS-Ed Omnibus Appropriations Bill
The Omnibus bill includes the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for Title I of the Rehabilitation Act, which was 3.5%, an increase of $100,592,000. With the 2009 COLA, the total amount for Title I, including the American Indian VR Program, is $2,974,635,000.
It appears that the Independent Living Programs received a $7 million dollar increase overall, including an increase of $1,831,000 for Older Blind. Assistive Technology received an increase of about $1 million over FY 2008, as well as Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR), which received a $900,000 increase over FY 2008. NIDRR has gotten a small increase over 2008 and there are some slight changes to Demos, which include earmarks.
Feb 10, 2009
U.S. SENATE PASSES THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT, AS AMENDED
The full United States Senate passed H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as amended by the Collins-Nelson Substitute (which includes $500 million for VR, $110 million for IL and $13.5 billion for IDEA and other provisions that will benefit individuals with disabilities), on a roll call vote of 61-37. http://nationalrehab.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128
Feb 02,
Social Security Expands Fast-Track Disability Processes: More than 100,000 Disabled Applicants Get Quick Decisions
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that improvements to the agency’s computer modeling system have increased the number of claimants receiving expedited approvals for disability benefits. Social Security’s two-track system -- the Quick Disability Determination (QDD) process and Compassionate Allowances -- is now fast-tracking about 4 percent of all disability cases, a sharp increase from the 2.7 percent of cases fast-tracked last year. http://nationalrehab.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123 |