Advocacy Updates

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."

The Center for Public Representation celebrates the nationwide preliminary injunctions issued today by federal courts in New York and Washington state, preventing the Administration from implementing its cruel and discriminatory public charge rule and finding the rule could discriminate against people with disabilities.  These decisions are a clear victory for disabled immigrants and their families. 

CPR joined a coalition of 38 organizations including leaders and allies in disability rights, civil rights, education, and privacy communities to issue a joint statement affirming that mental health disabilities are not predictors of gun violence and that people with mental health disabilities must not be scapegoated for the acts of mass gun violence in this country.

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.