As 2016 nears its end, Congress is hard at work on the budget before the current short-term continuing resolution expires on December 11. Lawmakers are expected to write an omnibus combining the 12 annual funding bills into one. As we wrote in a previous alert about the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, overall funding levels are higher now due to $33 billion in sequestration relief. But that still does not bring us up to pre-sequestration levels, which means that we are still at risk for budget cuts – cuts that the IL program simply cannot afford.
We must keep advocating for increased funding for Independent Living. Congress has until next week to work on appropriations. Please contact your members of Congress today to ensure that they know how important IL is to their constituents around the country. You can do so by visiting the NCIL Action Portal and sending a message to your Senators and Representatives. While it is important that we reach all members of Congress, this is especially important if you have Senators on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (list below). Please take action now!
Appropriations L-HHS-Ed Members
Republicans:
- Tom Cole, Chairman (OK)
- Steve Womack, Vice Chair (AR)
- Charlie Dent (PA)
- Chuck Fleischmann (TN)
- Andy Harris (MD)
- Scott Rigell (VA)
- Martha Roby (AL)
- Mike Simpson (ID)
Democrats:
- Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member
- Chaka Fattah (PA)
- Barbara Lee (CA)
- Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA)
http://www.advocacymonitor.com/
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