Negotiations continue in Congress on a COVID relief package.
The House has passed two different COVID relief packages since May. The Senate and the White House offers fail to meet the urgent needs of the disability community. The “Skinny” Bills offered to date do not include ANY of the priorities we have been urging our members of Congress to address, like targeted funding for home and community based services (HCBS). HCBS keeps disabled people out of congregate settings where COVID-19 is deadly.
Senate Republicans have been insistent that COVID relief include a dangerous provision that would give businesses – including schools and medical providers – immunity from being held liable for harm they cause in almost all circumstances. They want provisions that shield employers and people who own, lease, or operate public accommodations from violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Liability relief provisions such as these remove accountability. These demands are about protecting businesses and profits over people.
Congress needs to hear from us again. They need to hear from advocates about the importance of including the needs of the disability community in their COVID-response.
COVID Relief must contain:
Funding and support for Home and Community Based Services.
Extension of Money Follows the Person demonstration project grants.
Resources to help people living in the community with personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies for them and their workers.
Support for Direct Support Workers through sick leave, benefits, and wage enhancements, including hazard, retainer, and overtime pay.
Support for people to maintain and secure affordable, accessible, integrated housing.
Take Action!
Contact your Members of Congress today! It is critical our Members of Congress hear from us while they are negotiating a final package. Even if you have called your Members before, they need to hear from you again. Make sure to tell them why HCBS funding is critical, and that it MUST be included in the next COVID-19 package! Disability Priorities CANNOT be negotiated out of this next package.
-You can find your Senators’ contact forms at senate.gov and your Representative’s contact form at house.gov/representatives.
-You can find your Members’ phone numbers, Twitter handles, Facebook pages, and other contact information on Contacting Congress.
-You can also tweet at Congressional leadership – Mitch McConnell (@SenateMajLdr), Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer), Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi), and Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader).
Here is a sample script for calling or emailing. Please personalize it and put it in your own words if you can:
Hi, my name is (NAME), and I’m from (CITY, STATE).
I am (calling / writing) to ask you to include funding for home and community based services in the COVID-19 relief bill. The need for dedicated HCBS funding is more urgent than ever. We have seen alarming rates of death in nursing facilities and other congregate settings. Many disabled people use HCBS to live in their own homes, but people are struggling to stay in the community. Without more funding, many more people will be forced into congregate settings, where they will be at much greater risk of catching COVID-19.
HCBS funding is desperately needed to ensure we can stay safe in our own homes. The House included funding for HCBS in the HEROES and HEROES 2 Acts. It is critical that this funding be included in the final Congressional package.
I also ask that you oppose efforts to shield businesses from liability for harm they cause related to COVID-19. This threatens the rights and safety of disabled people.
Thank you for your time, and I hope I can count on you to protect your disabled constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Your name)