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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Information Alert: An Update on IL Funding in Appropriations

Last night, the House approved the $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill with a vote of 219-206. They also approved a 2-day stopgap measure to keep the government running through Sunday as the Senate considers the spending bill. The Senate may spend the next several days debating, but they will likely vote by Monday. While the bill’s fate in the Senate isn’t certain, it is expected to pass.

The FY15 funding bill keeps the Independent Living Program at level funding, which as we all know, is just not enough. The Independent Living Program is vital, ensuring the rights of people with disabilities and saving the federal government millions of dollar a year.

This is something we need to make sure our elected officials understand when they consider funding for FY16 and beyond. NCIL has pushed Congress and the Administration to invest an additional $200 million dollars in the Independent Living program, and we will continue to do so in the next fiscal year. This next Congress will need to hear from you, too, to understand how important the IL Program is to their constituents around the country.