Advocacy Updates

CPR and other disability organizations filed an amicus brief in litigation challenging the new "public charge" rule, which would prevent people with disabilities from entering this country or becoming legal residents, alleging illegal disability discrimination.

The Center for Public Representation (CPR) joins other disability, immigration, civil rights, and health care organizations in condemning the Department’s Homeland Security’s new “public charge” rule.

In the wake of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Trump has called for building new institutions to involuntarily commit people with mental health disabilities and has suggested that mental illness is the primary cause of gun violence. CPR condemns these blatantly untrue and stigmatizing statements. 

The Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new proposed rule that would significantly weaken the current rules interpreting Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Section 1557 prohibits discrimination by health programs or facilities that receive federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.  The public can submit comments before August 13th.  It is critical that you make your voice heard opposing these rollbacks in the ACA’s discrimination protections.

Last week, the House passed the Raise the Wage Act.  This federal minimum wage bill makes clear that EVERYONE deserves a fair and living wage; it would eliminate subminimum wages to people with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Let’s keep the momentum going!  Every Tuesday this summer, ask your members of Congress to support and co-sponsor the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (TCEA).

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a new proposed rule that would significantly weaken the current rules interpreting Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Section 1557 prohibits discrimination by health programs or facilities that receive federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 

On June 21, 2019, the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico gave its final approval to a new Settlement Agreement in the longstanding community integration case, Jackson v. Los Lunas.

Last night the House passed H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access and Strengthening Accountability Act.  This bill funds the Money Follows the Person program through the Fiscal Year 2023.  It also extends the HCBS spousal impoverishment protections through March 31, 2024....We now need the Senate to act!  Join our national call-in day and ask your Senators to #FundMFP.

This week the Department of Labor announced its new website, “the Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue.”  The purpose of the website is to collect comments from the public about the impact of paying subminimum wages to people with disabilities under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Input from people with disabilities, families, employment providers and employers is important.  Share your perspective online before Friday, June 21st.

Over 25 national organizations, including the Center for Public Representation, formed the Coalition to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment.