Information     Alert: President’s Budget Requests Increase in IL Funding    

   

President Obama’s FY16 budget was released     today, and it includes a request for $111 million for the Independent     Living Program. This is a $5 million increase over the FY15 enacted level,     and it is the first time in many years that such a request has been made.

   

The President’s Budget intends to     strengthen middle class economics, and the Administration has acknowledged     that Americans with disabilities must share in the nation’s economic     prosperity. The White House has released a fact sheet entitled Expanding Opportunities for     People with Disabilities (PDF) that outlines how the President’s Budget     works toward that. In addition to the IL program funding increase, there     are specific focuses on extending the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing     demonstration and expanding eligibility for the Community First Choice and     1915 (I) HCBS state plan options. Additionally, the Budget addresses     transition for youth with disabilities, improvements to the VR system,     access to HCBS long term services and supports through ADRCs, HUD Section     811 expansion, and new transit investments.

   

NCIL has been pushing Congress and the     Administration to invest an additional $200 million in the Independent     Living program. While we are happy to see the President’s Budget request an     increase, it certainly does not go far enough. Furthermore, the President’s     Budget is only a request, and these increases need to make their way into     the House and Senate budget resolutions as well. 

   

The IL Program is one of our country’s most     important investments, and we need to ensure that the FY16 budget includes     an increase in funding. In order for this to happen, Congress needs to hear     from you! Make sure our voices are heard. Call or visit your Senators and     Representatives so they can better understand how vital the IL Program is     to their constituents around the country. It is essential that we keep     Independent Living in the conversation as Congress works to develop the     FY16 budget!