Advocacy Updates

The Center for Public Representation is extremely concerned by today’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Texas v. US that puts the healthcare of tens of millions of people at risk. The Court ruled that the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional and sent it back in the hands of the district court judge – who has already once struck down the entire ACA as unconstitutional – to decide whether to invalidate the entire law.

A coalition of stakeholders issued a statement opposing a reinterpretation by the Department of Education of the least restrictive environment (LRE) provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

CPR, the ACLU, and 17 other disability advocacy organizations represented by Latham & Watkins filed an amicus brief in the Second Circuit opposing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) motion to stay the preliminary injunction issued by the district court last month against the public charge rule.

CPR, through its work with Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination (CPSD), submitted a letter to the new Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) opposing the Department’s expressed intent to reopen the implementing regulations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Today, CPR released new materials detailing what the Department of Homeland Security’s public charge rule will mean for immigrants with disabilities if it goes into effect, including a fact sheet reviewing the basics of the rule and its impact on people with disabilities and a more in-depth explanation of the rule and the lawsuits challenging it.

On November 15, CPR’s Director of Advocacy, Alison Barkoff, will present testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) for the Commission’s public briefing, “Subminimum Wages: Impacts on the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities.” USCCR is also accepting public comments until December 15 that, along with the briefing, will help shape a forthcoming report analyzing the use of the 14(c) program and making recommendations.

CPR is pleased to have contributed to a new report by the National Council on Disability (NCD) evaluating federal agencies’ implementation and enforcement of disability rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and enforcement of the Olmstead decision. The report provides not only key findings regarding agencies’ progress, but recommendations for improvement.

Yesterday, CPR submitted comments urging the State Department to reconsider its efforts to implement a presidential proclamation issued October 4, 2019 mandating that visa applicants abroad buy certain approved health insurance or have the financial means to cover foreseeable medical expenses.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30th), we’re joining with CPSD and other organizations for a call-in day to help make the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act a reality, which would provide resources for competitive integrated employment to states and providers and end the subminimum wage. This is our chance to tell elected officials what TCEA would mean for the disability community and we need your help!

Over 20 member organizations of the Coalition for Smart Safety, including CPR, have released a letter addressing concerns with the RESPONSE Act, which was introduced today by Sen. Cornyn. While we support efforts to reduce mass violence, the coalition opposes any legislation that ties those efforts to mental health reform. Doing so will only serve to "fuel prejudice, fear, and marginalization of individuals with mental health disabilities."