New Bills, Big Impact
There are a few new bills that are getting a lot of attention, but you may have already heard about them if you watched our Capitol Snapshot with Rep. Josh Turek. They were introduced last week, but we are not sure they have enough time to get through the process. It's clear that they will need help from advocates.
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HF 387 requires Medicaid to cover catheters that are made without the chemical DEHP, which is known to cause serious health conditions. Individuals with disabilities exposed to this have four times the rate of bladder cancer. The subcommittee on this (Rep. Steven Bradley, Rep. Michael Bergan, Rep. Josh Turek) will meet on Tuesday (2/28) at Noon.
You can watch this subcommittee Tuesday @ Noon here.
You can add written comments here.
You can learn more about this issue at bettercaths.com and read the fact sheet here.
Click on the names of the subcommittee members above to send an email!
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Three bills came out this week that create a new "Work Without Worry" program (HF 403, HSB 198, SF 368). This bill has sponsors from both parties - Rep. Josh Turek is a Democrat, and Sen. Brad Zaun and Rep. Ann Meyer are Republicans. The bills are modeled after other state efforts and a federal proposal that allows people with disabilities to work to their full potential without losing the Medicaid benefits that support them in the workplace. No subcommittee has been set yet for this, but it could be added to the HHS budget later this session if enough people support it.
You can email the House subcommittee:
Rep. Joel Fry, Rep. Josh Turek, Rep. Michael Bergan (HSB 198, HF 403)
Sen. Jeff Edler, Sen. Mark Costello, Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (SF 368)
Remember when emailing legislators - keep it short, include the bill number and ask for support, and explain why the bill will help. YOUR STORY is what gains votes.
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New Capitol Chat
Carlyn Crowe and Amy Campbell are joined by University of Iowa Law Professor Josy Gittler and advocate Bill Stumpf, who give one of the best explanations of the guardianship bills.
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Sign Up for Capitol Chats
You can watch our Capitol Chats here.
Sign up for our next Chats:
Mar. 31
Apr. 28
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UI REACH is a comprehensive, transition program for college age students with intellectual, cognitive and learning disabilities at the University of Iowa College of Education. | |
This week's SHOUT OUT goes to the UI REACH (Realizing Educational and Career Hopes) program and the members of their student council and program leaders who spent the day at the Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 23.
Six students met with Senators and Representatives to discuss issues and bills related to independent living and employment.
They also met with State Auditor Rob Sand and the Attorney General’s office. They were led by Bill Boyd, the director of UI REACH, and Erica Kaldenberg, UI REACH Associate Research Scientist and advisor to the Student Council.
The student advocates who participated are Sebastien Janelle, Binh Nguyen, Mia Able, Adam Connor, Finn Wicklow and Simon Janelle.
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Iowa legislators still take time out of their weekends home to go to public forums or town halls. It's their time to meet the people they represent, share what they are doing at the State Capitol, and hear what people think that work.
You can find these on our calendar, and you can download the list for the next two weeks here.
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infoNET is the disability policy project of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council and its network of Iowans with Disabilities in Action. | |
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This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $774,176 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government. | | | | |