This section is devoted to keeping you updated on issues TASH responds to whether it is a chapter testifying before their state legislature or TASH attending advocacy meetings in Washington, DC. Check back often to see the latest.
March 2008:
TASH Opposes Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) Proposed Rules which will hurt school district reimbursement (.doc)
TASH Supports passage of the Protecting of Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613) (.doc) U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Chairman Dingell released a statement for the Medicaid Regulations hearing.
TASH urges the U.S. to sign the International Convention on Persons with Disabilities (.pdf)
For more information visit our International Issues Committee page.
TASH supports full funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Act (.doc) Letter to House Chairman and Ranking Member (.pdf) requeseting full funding for the Lifespan Repite Care Act. Twenty-six Members joined Rep. Langevin and Rep. Ferguson in making the request
February 2008:
TASH signs on to a letter of support for H.R. 4188, the IDEA Restoration Act! (.pdf)
H.R. 4188 will restore Congress' original intent when it passed the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986--to allow prevailing parents to recover their expert witness fees. Congress knew then that parents have far fewer resources than school districts and most cannot afford expert witness fees. Twenty-one years later, this remains true. Approximately 36% of children with disabilities live in families earning less than $25,000 a year; about 2/3 live in families earning less than $50,000 a year. Few parents can afford the thousands of dollars needed to pay qualified medical, educational, and technical experts. While parents must hire expert witnesses to testify, school districts can use therapists, psychologists, and other expert witnesses on their payroll or hire witnesses at public expense.
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