UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION for UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION

Defense DEF

Supports advocating for National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) FY 2019 Worked with supporters in Congress and other veteran service organizations to expand benefits for disabled veterans and help improve the military commissary system by expanding the pool of eligible shoppers.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

Support Disability Integration Act - HR. 555/S. 117. United Spinal staff attended and gave public comment before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights briefing on the 14(c) program, which allows certain employers to run sheltered workshops for employees with disabilities and pay them less than the minimum wage. United Spinal supports the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (S. 260/H.R 873), which is legislation that would responsibly end the 14(c) program. Submitted comment letter to Sen. Udall and Rep. Lowenthal opposing their ban on single-use plastic straws in all retail and service establishments. Single-use plastic straws are used by members of the disability community (those who do not have use of their hands) to drink. Support Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act - S. 2112/H.R 3760

Contacted: SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Bills named: H.R. 873 (116th), H.R. 3760 (116th), S. 117 (116th), H.R. 555 (116th), S. 260 (116th), S. 2112 (116th)

Transportation TRA

Discussed ADA compliance with AMTRAK. Sent comments on accessible autonomous vehicles to House and Senate. Discussed TNC Accountability, public transits, paratransit and ridesharing with Congressional House staffers. Advocated at DOT Access and Mobility for All Summit -for accessible road transportation for people with disabilities Submitted comments to U.S. Access Board regarding non-binding advisory guidelines for wheelchairs used within aircraft cabins. United Spinal provided comments to eh GAO on mobility disabilities and airplane restrooms for an upcoming GAO report.

Contacted: Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

United Spinal supports S. 651/H.R 1814, the ABLE Age Adjustment Act and engaged in Hill meetings.

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 1814 (116th), S. 651 (116th)

Disaster Planning/Emergencies DIS

H.R. 3208/S. 1755: Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act Signed onto letter of support as part of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in support of the REAADI Act which aims to ensure that older adults and individuals with disabilities are prepared for disasters, and for other purposes. United Spinal supports Disaster Relief Medicaid Act - S. 1754/H.R. 3215.

Contacted: U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Bills named: H.R. 3208 (116th), S. 1755 (116th), H.R. 3215 (116th), S. 1754 (116th)

Health Issues HCR

United Spinal signed onto a Leadership Council of Aging Organizations letter to Congressional leadership urging them to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA is the authorizing vehicle for a number of important programs, including those focused on caregiving. United Spinal was invited to attend a meeting at the CDC to discuss and provide input on SCI registries. United Spinal had signed onto House and Senate Congressional letters in support of the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, which includes provisions of increased support for low-income beneficiaries and caps on out-of-pocket costs and supports preservation and improvement of the Medicare Rebate Drug Program. Personal Connected Health Alliance (United Spinal is a member) Committee on Ways & Means Rural and Underserved Communities Health Task Force - the Committees forum to convene Members and experts to discuss the delivery and financing of health care and related social determinants in urban and rural underserved areas and identify strategies to address the challenges that contribute to health inequities, issued a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting input on priority topics that affect health status and outcomes for consideration and discussion in future Member sessions of the Task Force. United Spinal supported increased Federal Government funding at NIH. United Spinal signed onto House and Senate letters, in support of extending the 7.5% threshold for the medical expense deduction, S. 110, The Medical Expense Savings Act, introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and a similar bill in the House, H.R. 2073, introduced by Rep. Katie Porter (D- CA 45). National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Medstar Health Research Institute MHRI and United Spinal Association - United Spinal Association finalized an agreement in December with MHRI as a subcontracting partnership to NIDILIRRs Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program which conducts research to improve rehabilitation methodology and service delivery systems; improves health and functioning; and promotes employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. United Spinal will be assisting with recruiting participants for research projects and reviewing educational material: Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Health and Function for People with Physical Disabilities focused on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

Contacted: SENATE; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Government Accountability Office (GAO); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Bills named: S. 110 (116th), H.R. 2073 (116th)

Veterans VET

Supports Specially Adaptive Housing (SAH), S.2022 / H.R. 3504 The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains an SAH grant program to help seriously injured veterans purchase or construct an adaptive home or make modifications to an existing home to help accommodate their level of ability. Supports Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act, S.1881 / H.R. 3356 The VETS Safe Travel Act would grant TSA Pre√ to veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind at no cost and enable them to pass through airport security easier with prosthetics, wheelchairs, or other mobility aids - allowing for a more dignified experience when passing through security checkpoints at our nations airports. Supports National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019, S.2661 / H.R.4194 Veteran mental health is a national crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a critical tool for preventing suicide, giving people a lifeline in a time of need. Supports Permanent Grants for Rural Veteran Medical Care Transport, H.R 4589 This bill makes permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants for the transportation of highly rural veterans to medical care. Supports Modernizing VAs Records Management Program Act, H.R 4588 Amends title 38, United States Code, to treat digitized records as originals with respect to claims under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Supports Protect the GI Bill Act, H.R 4625 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that educational institutions abide by certain principles as a condition of approval for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Contacted: SENATE; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 2022 (116th), S. 1881 (116th), H.R. 4589 (116th), H.R. 3356 (116th), H.R. 4625 (116th), H.R. 4194 (116th), H.R. 3504 (116th), S. 2661 (116th), H.R. 4588 (116th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

United Spinal supports H.R. 2293 introduced by Representatives John Larson and Lee Zeldin - Protecting Access to Wheelchairs Act. United Spinal supports S. 1223 introduced by Senators Bob Casey and Rob Portman. - Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act of 2019. United Spinal supports HR 2408 - Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2019. Signed onto a CMS letter on "Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services- rulemaking. Support Disaster Relief Medicaid Act - S. 1754/H.R. 3215. Support CONNECT for Health Act of 2019. Support permanent reauthorization of Money Follows the Person and HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. Support the Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019. Support Medicare coverage of standing wheelchairs and seat elevation. Support HR 1865, manual complex rehabilitation technology provisions. Sent in comments to CMS on physician self-referral rulemaking, sent in comments to CMS regarding safe harbors as part of Personal Connected Health Alliance, sent in comments on PreventionX - which modernizes prevention, improves the health of our nation, and advance evidence-based connected health and wellness; sent in comments on the Cures 2.0 initiative on health information and technology and signed onto comments submitted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society; as a member of PCHA Alliance, supported comments to the FDA on clinical decision support software.

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation

Bills named: S. 1754 (116th), H.R. 2408 (116th), H.R. 1865 (116th), H.R. 2293 (116th), H.R. 3215 (116th), S. 1223 (116th)

Housing HOU

United Spinal Association signed onto a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter to the U.S. Housing of Urban Development opposing their notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would dramatically increase the burden of bringing a housing discrimination case under the disparate impact standard of the Fair Housing Act.

Contacted: Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Government Accountability Office (GAO); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

District of Columbia DOC

United Spinal and DC Center for Independent Living met with DC HSEMA for an after-action meeting following the launch, at the end of September, of the D.C. Disability Community Advisory Group and of the implementation of the litigation settlement on emergency preparedness for the disability community in the District. United Spinal attended a mediation meeting, with plaintiff attorneys to resolve the issue of the hiring of a subject matter expert (SME) on high-rise evacuation as part of the litigation settlement.

Contacted: Government Accountability Office (GAO); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Insurance INS

Support S. 978 - Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Jobs Act (Support renewal of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit). Support SSI Restoration Act - H.R. 4280/S. 2753. Support the Disability Employment Incentive Act, H.R 3992/S. 255. Support the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. - S. 651/H.R. 1814. Support H.R 4280/S. 2753 - Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act. Support Senior Care Act - H.R. 5429/S. 3010.

Contacted: SENATE; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Bills named: S. 2753 (116th), S. 3010 (116th), S. 651 (116th), H.R. 4280 (116th), S. 978 (116th), H.R. 3992 (116th), H.R. 1814 (116th), S. 255 (116th), H.R. 5429 (116th)

Education EDU

Supports College Affordability Act, H.R.4674 Includes provisions to return to the 85/15 reporting rule for for-profit colleges, instead of the current 90/10 rule, which promotes targeting of veterans for their valuable GI Bill benefits.

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: H.R. 4674 (116th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

United Spinal, along with other members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, met with Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ODEP, and her team, to discuss the agencys efforts on its 14(c) online dialogue as well as its efforts on providing resources to states and providers to move towards competitive integrated employment and away from holding certificates to provide subminimum wage [14(c) certificates] to people with disabilities. United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations as members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Task Force, signed onto a letter to Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) supporting the principles that inform the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act of 2019 without supporting the bill itself. (S. 2112/H.R. 3760). United Spinal policy endorsed Secure the Secure Work Coalitions Statement in support of the Disability Employment Incentive Act H.R. 3992, introduced by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (D-CA-1st) and Josh Harder (R-PA-10th).

Contacted: U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD)

Bills named: S. 2112 (116th), H.R. 3760 (116th), H.R. 3992 (116th)

Pharmacy PHA

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Scientific Data and Information About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds; Public Hearing; Request for Comments United Spinal provided comments on the FDAs Public Hearing for Scientific Data and Information about Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds urging for lifting research restrictions on cannabis. The letter read in part: As more states move forward with medical and recreational marijuana legalization, it is critical that Congress take action to protect their right to do so. For this reason, United Spinal supports the passage of the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which ensures that each state has the right to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana within its borders. This bill extends these protections to Washington, DC, U.S. territories and contains common-sense guidance to ensure states are regulating in a rational and safe manner. We also support H.R. 712/S.179 known as The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019 which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a clinical trial of the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of adults with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. We also support H.R. 601, The Medical Cannabis Research Act which increases the number of manufacturers registered under the Controlled Substances Act to manufacture cannabis for legitimate research purposes and authorizes health care increases the number of manufacturers registered under providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide recommendations to veterans regarding participation in federally approved cannabis clinical trials.

Contacted: Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; SENATE; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Bills named: H.R. 712 (116th), H.R. 601 (116th), S. 179 (116th)

Homeland Security HOM

United Spinal, PVA, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and others, met with a new team at the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss improved dialogue with the disability community and raised questions about training of FEMA staff on disability issues.

Contacted: Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV COM

As a member of the Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance), United Spinal advocacy and policy staff assisted in crafting a letter in response to the FCCs Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers Notice of Proposed Rulemaking WC Docket No. 18-213.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); SENATE; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS)