For Immediate Release
11/19/2021
Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
[email protected]
NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker issued the following statement:
“The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) applauds the House of Representatives on passing the Build Back Better Act. The bill contains many provisions that will positively impact people with disabilities.
“The bill includes a host of programs and policies that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Provisions such as dedicated funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and for the workforce that provides these critical services so that people with disabilities can live and thrive in their home and not in an institution. The bill also includes grants to states to assist in the transition of entities that pay subminimum wages to paying competitive wages in an integrated environment, investment in childcare and universal pre-kindergarten and important tax provisions that expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, which will benefit both people with disabilities and their families. The bill will also produce an abundance of new, accessible and affordable housing, far more than has been seen in a long time, and will ensure that such housing is livable for all persons.
“NDRN is also pleased by inclusion of strong non-discrimination provisions in the bill, covering both the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Collectively, these two laws serve as the preeminent nondiscrimination laws for individuals with disabilities and have allowed people with disabilities to participate fully in our society. These non-discrimination provisions do not expand the scope of these laws, but serve to reinforce taxpayer funds should never be used to underwrite discrimination within government-supported programs.
“This is a historic moment to transform the lives of people with disabilities for the better. NDRN applauds the House for their work and urges the Senate to quickly take up this historic piece of legislation.”
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
