X-Sender: alrt@pop.igc.apc.org
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:15:49 -0700
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: alrt@igc.org (Alana R. Theriault)
Subject: * MARKUP - NEW DATE! - APRIL 20th - HOUSE WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT *

* MARKUP OF WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT of 1999 ! *

"Date and Time Change to Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at 2:00 p.m. in 2123
Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health and Environment markup of H.R. 1180, the Work
Incentives Improvement Act of 1999."
Subcommittee on Health and Environment website

House Markup of WIIA, April 20, 1999

H.R. 1180 now has 63 cosponsors and can be read at: <www.thomas.loc.gov>.

This Subcommittee, which introduced WIIA in the House on March 18, only has
jurisdiction over the Medicaid portions of WIIA. The announcement of the
markup is on the Commerce website: http://www.house.gov/commerce/schedule.htm

IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE LISTED BELOW? YOUR RELATIVES' REPRESENTATIVE?
Phone calls, FAX, letters or email to the subcommittee members in support
of WIIA, H.R. 1180 will keep the bill's package of reforms on track. H.R.
1180 contains the health care reforms, Social Security work incentive reforms
and employment services reform that we need, the same as found in Senate bill
331. This package TAKES THE FIRST STEP TO REMOVING SOCIAL SECURITY BARRIERS
TO EMPLOYMENT.

Talking Points
Provisions in H.R. 1180 that must remain for the bill to do its job!

Ø Modernizes the employment services system by creating a "ticket" that
will enable SSI or SSDI beneficiaries to use a range of public or private
providers for vocational rehabilitation. If the person goes back to work
and achieves substantial earnings, providers would be paid a portion of the
benefits saved.

Ø Improves access to health care by expanding states' ability to provide
Medicaid buy-ins to people with disabilities who return to work.

Ø Extends Medicare coverage for people with disabilities who return to work.

Ø Creates a new Medicaid buy-in demonstration to help working people with a
physical or mental impairment that is not severe enough to qualify
for health assistance, but is likely to lead to a severe disability in the
absence of medical treatment.

Ø Provides for appropriate Protection and Advocacy services to
beneficiaries who attempt a return to work.

Ø Creates a Work Incentive Grant program to provide community based
benefits planning and assistance, facilitate access to information about
work incentives, and better integrate services to people with disabilities
working or returning to work. Establishes a corps of trained, accessible
SSA work incentive specialists.

Ø Authorizes a mandatory demonstration project in the SSDI program that
explores the effectiveness of reducing cash assistance to beneficiaries on
a sliding scale of $1 of cash assistance for each $2 of earned income as an
incentive to employment.

Ø Provides for an expedited reentry process so that people with disabilities
know that
supports are there should they fail in their first attempts at work.

Ø Ends the misuse of Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) by prohibiting
work activity from triggering a medical improvement review (CDR) and adds a
provision to ensure that work is not used as evidence of medical
improvement.

Ø Ensures that the subject matter expert Work Incentive Advisory Panel
strongly reflects the views of consumers but fairly addresses the views of
all the stakeholders.

Clearly legislation of this scope falls under the jurisdiction of more than
one House Committee. We are working actively with the bipartisan members
of all relevant House committees to help pass a bill that will DO THE JOB it
says it will--increase employment for people with significant disabilities.

House Commerce Subcommittee on Health and Environment Members

Representative
Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Chairman
P: (202) 225-5755 F: (202) 225-4085 fl09@mail.house.gov
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member
P: (202) 225-3401 F: (202) 225-2266 sherrod@mail.house.gov
Brian P. Bilbray (R-CA)
P: (202) 225-2040 F: (202) 225-2948 brian.bilbray@mail.house.gov
Tom Bliley (R-VA)
P: (202) 225-2815 F: (202) 225-0011
Ed Bryant (R-TN)
P: (202) 225-2811 F: (202) 225-2989
Richard M. Burr (R-NC)
P: (202) 225-2071 F: (202) 225-2995 Richard.BurrNC05@mail.house.gov
Lois Capps (D-CA)
P: (202) 225-3601 F: (202) 225-5632
Tom A. Coburn (R-OK)
P: (202) 225-2701 F: (202) 225-3038 rep.coburn@mail.house.gov
Barbara Cubin (R-WY)
P: (202) 225-2311 F: (202) 225-3057
Nathan Deal (R-GA)
P: (202) 225-5211 F: (202) 225-8272
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
P: (202) 225-4431 F: (202) 225-5657 degette@mail.house.gov
Peter Deutsch (D-FL)
P: (202) 225-7931 F: (202) 225-8456
John D. Dingell (D-MI)
P: (202) 225-4071 F: (202) 225-4637
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
P: (202) 225-8104 F: (202) 225-8890 annagram@mail.house.gov
Greg Ganske (R-IA)
P: (202) 225-4426 F: (202) 225-3193 Rep.Ganske@mail.house.gov
Gene Green (D-TX)
P: (202) 225-1688 F: (202) 225-9903 ggreen@mail.house.gov
James C. Greenwood (R-PA)
P: (202) 225-4276 F: (202) 225-9511
Ralph M. Hall (D-TX)
P: (202) 225-6673 F: (202) 225-3332 rmhall@mail.house.gov
Rick A. Lazio (R-NY)
P: (202) 225-3335 F: (202) 225-4669 lazio@mail.house.gov
Charlie Norwood (R-GA)
P: (202) 225-4101 F: (202) 225-0279
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
P: (202) 225-4671 F: (202) 225-9665
Charles W. Pickering (R-MS)
P: (202) 225-5031 F: (202) 225-5797
John B. Shadegg (R-AZ)
P: (202) 225-3361 F: (202) 225-3462 j.shadegg@mail.house.gov
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
P: (202) 225-5744 F: (202) 225-3973 cstearns@mail.house.gov
Ted Strickland (D-OH)
P: (202) 225-5705 F: (202) 225-5907 ted.strickland@mail.house.gov
Bart Stupak (D-MI)
P: (202) 225-4735 F: (202) 225-4744 stupak@mail.house.gov
Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
P: (202) 225-5936 F: (202) 225-1018
Fred Upton (R-MI)
P: (202) 225-3761 F: (202) 225-4986 talk2fsu@mail.house.gov
Henry A. Waxman (D-CA)
P: (202) 225-3976 F: (202) 225-4099
Edward Whitfield (R-KY)
P: (202) 225-3115 F: (202) 225-3547 ed.whitfield01@mail.house.gov
--------------------------------------

On the Senate side, we learned this week that WIIA S. 331 may be brought to
the floor of the Senate for a vote ANY DAY NOW. Please be prepared to FAX
and phone your Senators as events develop. We will keep you posted with
the facts as we get them.

CONGRESS DIRECTORIES: http://www.senate.gov  for your Senators
http://www.house.gov  for your Representatives
or http://www.congress.org

Capitol Telephone Switchboard: 202-224-3121

www.thomas.loc.gov - bills and bill summaries

end


In Solidarity,

*Bryon R. MacDonald, Community Advocate
The Center for Independent Living - Berkeley/Oakland
436 Fourteenth Street, Suite 218
Oakland, CA 94612
Voice: 510-763-9999, press ext. 19
TDD: 510-444-1837
FAX: 510-763-4910
bryosemite@aol.com

*Alana R. Theriault, Disability Advocate/Consultant
Work Incentives Update Listserv Manager
Berkeley, CA
alrt@igc.org

=====
This post is from the Work Incentives Update Listserv. If you would like
to add, delete or change your address on this list; have questions about
The Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999; or have other comments,
contact Alana R. Theriault <alrt@igc.org> or Bryon R. MacDonald
<bryosemite@aol.com>.
=====