from the National Council on Independent Living, and the Advocacy Monitor on December 7

Please Take Action! Contact your Members of Congress to tell them we need a COVID-19 relief bill, and we need it to address the needs of the disability community!

Our Members of Congress need to hear from us again. They need to hear how critical it is to address the needs of their disabled constituents in this COVID-19 package. In particular, they need to include targeted funding for home and community based services (HCBS) to keep people out of congregate settings where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly; an FMAP increase to ensure Medicaid and state government can meet the needs of their residents; and permanent reauthorization and funding for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program to help get people out of dangerous congregate settings where COVID-19 is rampant. They also must NOT include the dangerous liability shield included in the Senate’s HEALS Act that would protect businesses (including schools, medical providers, and more) from being held responsible for harm they cause in almost all circumstances. You can see a longer list of priorities in this letter from CCD (PDF), of which NCIL is a member.

For more information on what Congress should do, what you can tell Congress, and how to contact your Senators and Representative, visit AdvocacyMonitor.com.