For Immediate Release: 09/09/2021
Contact: Jess Davidson, jess@davidsonjess.com
Washington, D.C. – In response to recent reports that the full $400 billion initially promised to fund improvements to home- and community-based services (HCBS) may be cut by more than half, AAPD President and CEO Maria Town issued the following statement:
“If Congress only provides $150 billion in HCBS funding in the budget reconciliation bill, it will be a clear abandonment of its obligation to disabled Americans. In the wealthiest nation in the world, almost one million Americans are on waiting lists to receive the home- and community-based services they need. The need for increased access to HCBS has never been greater or more clear, and yet Congress continues to treat necessary supports and services for disabled people as a bargaining chip rather than a priority. This is unacceptable.
“Time and again, disabled Americans have fought for every single American to have high-quality and affordable care, while often being denied that care themselves. In this moment of urgent need, it’s time for everyone, including members of Congress, to fight alongside the disability community so that everyone can get the supports they need to thrive.”
Funding HCBS is not a matter of our national ability to find the money, but rather one of political will. $150 billion would not go far enough to ensure that our HCBS system serves everyone who needs it. The American Association of People with Disabilities strongly urges Congress to commit to the largest amount of HCBS funding possible.
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The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 61 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.