The House and Senate Budget Committees have both recently released FY16 budget resolutions. Both budgets propose trillions of dollars in cuts, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and include significant changes to Medicaid that would likely result in substantial cuts. These budget cuts will be detrimental to people with disabilities.
Centers for Independent Living provide services to millions of individuals with disabilities annually, and in doing so, we save the federal government millions of dollars every year. Yet CILs have been underfunded for decades. With the addition of transition as a federally mandated fifth core service, it is more important than ever to invest in Independent Living!
NCIL staff and board members have met with both House and Senate appropriations staff, and have also submitted an appropriations request for an increase of $200 million for the Independent Living line item in the FY16 budget. But our members of Congress need to hear form their constituents! With appropriations requests going in, now is the time to make our requests. Please call your Senators and Representatives and tell them that Independent Living is essential, and demand that they invest in people with disabilities!
I worked with a CIL in Norfolk, Va. for six years and the training and knowledge I learned was so useful and important for people with disabilities. I have a disabled son and with their help and guidance I was able to get the services he deserved. CILS are already on extreme budget, to cut more or get rid of them would be a severe disservice for our disabled people in Hampton Roads. I suggest the people in Washington read and visit to see the fantastic work they are doing.