House to Vote On Health Care Reform Bill with Community First Choice and CLASS Act

From the JFA Moderator:

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) by the end of today, Saturday, November 7.  This bill includes both the CLASS Option and a Community First Choice Option as a Sense of Congress (for an explanation see below), two MAJOR long term services and support provisions that the disability community has been advocating hard for over the last several months and years. Passing this bill will be the first of several very important steps toward ensuring all Americans have the choice to live in their homes and continue to work.

For More information on the CLASS Act see http://www.passtheclassact.org/

For More information on the Community First Choice Option see http://www.passthecommunitychoiceact.org/ 

What Comes Next?  Senate negotiators are merging the Senate Finance and HELP Committees' bills.  Advocates are working to ensure that the CLASS Act and the Community First Choice Option are included in the merged Senate bill.  The timeline for the Senate debate and vote on their version of the bill is uncertain.  

What Can You DO? Call your Senators and tell them you support inclusion of both the CLASS Act and the CFC Option in Health Care Reform. You can reach your Senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

From Mike Oxford and ADAPT (11/4/09):

Hey ADAPT & Community Choice Supporters!

Your hard work is paying off once again.  As you know the Community First Choice Option (CFC) is in the Senate health reform bill.

I just received word from Congressman Danny Davis' office that CFC has been included in the House health bill as a "Sense of Congress."  What does this mean?

A Sense of Congress is not legislation, itself.  It does express the desire and support of Congress to have the language become law eventually.

What this means is that the House is sending a message that when the Senate and the House conference the final bills, the House wants the CFC legislative language in the Senate bill to remain in the final bill that passes into law.  The reason for doing the Sense of Congress instead of actual legislative language is so their aggressive timetable can be kept; so they won't have to score the whole bill again.  The House is supposed to finish their health bill work this week and not break until they do.

Ours is the ONLY Sense of Congress in the health bill and word is, no other amendments will be allowed.  Rep. Danny Davis was very vocal in support and Chairman Rangle, Waxman and Miller were all supportive of getting it in.

Quite an accomplishment!  Great work ADAPT & Community Choice Supporters.

You're the best! Stay tuned for next steps we need to take in the next couple of days.

 Mike O.

Comments

[Ric]

The Affordable Health Care for America Act should be called "The Unaffordable Health Plan for Young People in America without Disabilities Act". We cannot afford the increased burocricies, rationed "care", (only available to the young). And who do you suppose is going to have their services cut first? People with disabilities! THINK people.