Transcript AIRS SESSION 1

AIRS Conference
WASHINGTON UPDATE
ISSUES IN I&R
Bob Blancato
May 25, 2010
• AIRS 2010 Conference
• Pleased to serve as public policy
consultants to AIRS
• Public Policy Committee working on
variety of issues of interest to our
members in this second session of 111th
Congress
Calling for 2-1-1
• Calling for 211 Act:
• Feeling more optimism about prospects for
passage of this legislation.
• Based in part on the work done by AIRS
and UW and 211 on something grassroots
can influence—co-sponsors.
• Started 2010 with 180 House co-sponsors
and today we have 237.
• Number of factors led to this increase
including the AIRS 211 for 211 by 2/11.
Calling for 2-1-1 Continued…
• To view co-sponsor list, go to www.thomas.gov
and type in S.211/H.R.211.
• Strategy always about getting above a majority
of the House to force action on the bill either in
Committee or directly to the House floor.
• Helped that in House, Committee members are
co-sponsors as well.
• Conversations ongoing about moving H.R. 211
forward. If it moves through Energy and
Commerce Committee (of which 37 members
are co-sponsors), hope would be to attach the
Information and Referral Day resolution
(www.thomas.gov, search H.Res.187)
Calling for 2-1-1 Continued…
• Senate side also good progress to report
• Here there are 60 co-sponsors including 18 cosponsors from the HELP Committee which has
jurisdiction.
• Options for what could happen to 211 in 2010:
• Normal process, hearings, Committee action,
floor votes in House and Senate.
• Attach to another bill of a more ‘must pass’
variety such as renewing 911 or possibly
disaster related legislation.
• Key to the effort is to continue to localize
and humanize this issue.
• Updated data on calls.
• Updated data on what kinds of assistance
is being asked for and where the greatest
increases are.
• Connect members of Congress to their
local 2-1-1.
FY 2011 Appropriations
• Other issues of importance include FY 2011
appropriations:
• Obama has requested an additional $50 million
for the Title III B program in the Older Americans
Act. AIRS is in support of this funding request
and is working with Congress to see that it is
included.
• As of this session, appropriations picture is
unclear in the absence of a Budget resolution
but situation will be monitored.
Taxonomy
• AIRS has communicated to CMS on the issue of
a contract they have issued for the development
of a possible new taxonomy related to home and
community based services.
• The AIRS letter urges that the existing AIRS
taxonomy be considered before any decision to
go to new taxonomy is made.
• Response is pending.
Health Care Reform
• AIRS public policy committee and staff continue
to monitor implementation of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act.
• Our monitoring focused on opportunities that
may exist for conveying information to people
using I&R network.
• Early attention on a proposed consumer call
center within HHS to provide health care
information.
• In addition, the 5 year extension of Aging and
Disability Resource Centers will be important to
the I&R field.
Health Care Reform Cont…
• We will look toward the implementation of
the Elder Justice Act and its provisions
aimed at providing education and raising
awareness about elder abuse and the role
of I&R.
• For ongoing information on health care
reform go to www.healthcarereform.gov
Older Americans Act
Reauthorization
• AIRS will continue to work on the upcoming
reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
scheduled for 2011.
• AIRS through Bob Blancato has participated in
several of the official listening sessions convened by
the Administration on Aging and called for more
coordination and integration of legal, pension,
counseling, enhanced I&R and benefits counseling.
• AIRS Public Policy Committee is working to finalize
AIRS OAA Reauthorization Principles.
Broadband, FCC and Other
Items of Interest
• AIRS is also monitoring various developments
related to broadband and policies and rules
being issued by the FCC. In particular, issues
related to the switching of consumers to bundled
services and the impact it could have on 2-1-1.
• AIRS is also considering submitting comments
related to the “Connect America Fund, A
National Broadband Plan for Our Future” an
effort which the FCC is leading to increase
access to broadband in underserved areas.
911 Legislation
• The Congressional E 911 Caucus which is cochaired by H.R. 211 author Anna Eshoo
introduced legislation in March 2010 called the
Next Generation 9-1-1- Preservation Act of 2010
to upgrade the 9-1-1 call center technology and
to reauthorize key grants and programs to
ensure continued funding for the 6,000 9-1-1
centers and programs.
• Bill numbers are H.R.4829 and S.3115
FEMA and Disaster Legislation
• Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010
(H.R.4899)-Passed by the House in MarchMakes emergency supplemental appropriations
for FY2010 to the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) for the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief.
• We will continue to monitor this legislation along
with any other disaster related legislation that
may be introduced.
Thank you
• We invite all of you to become involved in
AIRS Public Policy as local advocates.
Advocacy is both a national and
grassroots effort.
• Please direct further questions to
[email protected] or visit
http://www.airs.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?p
ageid=3380