For those who read on the run, please take a minute to read this important ALERT on the issue of proposed funding cuts to Titles, I, III, VI of the Rehabilitation Act recommended in the President's 2009 Federal Budget.

The President's 2009 Budget, which was released last week, recommends the ELIMINATION of the Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) (also known as the Consumer Price Index Adjusted for Urban areas (CPIU)) from Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This potential loss of MILLIONS OF DOLLARS will hurt individuals with disabilities seeking the American Dream of going to college, having a career and community living.

The President's 2009 Budget also recommends, once again, to consolidate (ELIMINATE) funding for Supported Employment, Projects with Industry (PWIs), Migrants and Seasonal Farm workers into Title I and eliminate funding for Recreation programs, important programs funded under Title III and VI of the Rehabilitation Act. The President's Budget describes these programs as duplicative of the programs funded under Title I, which is not the case. Supported Employment, Projects With Industry and Migrants and Seasonal Farm workers are programs that are COMPLEMENTARY, NOT DUPLICATIVE, of Title I programs. A separate Alert will be forthcoming on the proposed elimination of these programs.

These funding cuts have been proposed in the President's Budget in previous years and, thankfully, have been restored by Congress, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We must alert our Representatives in our respective home States and here in Washington of the harm these funding cuts will have on individuals with disabilities.

If we allow these enormous, serious funding cuts to occur, we are looking at a potential funding cut of millions of dollars annually.

The National Rehabilitation Association will conduct its 27th Annual Legislative Summit beginning on Sunday, March 9, 2008, continuing on March 10, and culminating on Tuesday, March 11, with NRA's traditional "Day on the Hill." This year's Summit will take place at the King Street Alexandria Hilton Hotel in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Please know we will be devoting an entire session at the Summit to the ELIMINATION OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS from Title I, Title III and Title VI of the Rehab Act.

Title I of the Rehab Act provides through mandatory appropriations (guaranteed Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)) formula grants to State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies to help individuals with disabilities become competitively employed. A wide range of services are provided each year to over one million individuals with disabilities, including vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, work adjustment, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental disabilities, education and vocational training, job placement and post-employment services.

Congress intended that Title I receive the Cost of Living Allowance annually to assist in reducing the rate of unemployment among individuals with disabilities, including our heroes at home, who face multiple barriers to pursing careers and living independently in the community.

ELIMINATING THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE will result in far fewer individuals with disabilities being served by the State/Federal/Public/Private VR program, will result in an even higher rate of unemployment among individuals with disabilities than we have now and WILL HURT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO SEEK ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.

Veterans who bravely serve/served our country and are surviving serious injuries thanks to the skilled medical technicians on the battlefield are returning home with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in greater numbers than the Department of Veterans' Affairs is prepared to handle. The VR Program has many years of history in understanding and serving individuals with TBI and continues to seek ways in which to expand its partnership with the VA to serve many more of our heroes at home. DON'T LET DOWN OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOW AND:

TELL CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE TO TITLE I OF THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE DO LESS WILL RESULT IN GREAT HARM TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO WANT ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.

Title I has experienced increased demands on its funding. Presently, there are 41 State Agencies on an Order of Selection which places a priority on serving individuals with significant disabilities. If Congress allows Title I funding to be cut thousands of eligible individuals with disabilities will not be served.

The VR Program has served MILLIONS of eligible individuals with disabilities for almost 9 decades. And, when we say "served" we mean assistance with career planning, career counseling and development, and employment training and assistance with placement in competitive employment by qualified rehabilitation counselors.

REDUCING FUNDING FOR TITLE I of the Rehab Act by millions of dollars will force some individuals with disabilities who wish to work and live independently to seek public assistance because FEWER AND FEWER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WILL RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE VR PROGRAM.

We know, too, that the VR Program has an impressive return on investment. Indeed, for every 1 dollar spent in service SSI/SSDI recipients/beneficiaries, $6 of taxpayer dollars is returned to the U.S. Treasury per the Social Security Administration.

If the Congress does not restore funding to Title I of the Rehabilitation Act, waiting lists for the proven services and supports that the VR Program provides will return in many States and many individuals with disabilities will be left behind as the door to the American Dream closes due to significantly reduced funding proposed in the President's 2009 Budget. Don't let that happen. Call your Representatives now and:

TELL CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE TO TITLE I OF THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE TO DO LESS WILL RESULT IN GREAT HARM TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO WANT ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.

If the Congress does not restore the Cost of Living Allowance to Title I of the Rehab Act, thousands of individuals with significant disabilities will have no where to go for services because many times individuals with significant disabilities' services and supports cost more and require the services of staff who are fully qualified to assist those individuals who desire challenging careers and full independence.

Employers and businesses tell us through the VR Business Network, who have presented at NRA's Legislative Summit for the past 5 years, how important proper training of employees is to them and to the viability of their businesses. Consumers of VR services, coupled with their self-determination, are prepared to tackle the tasks presented to them in an increasingly globalized world because of the services and supports they receive from the qualified personnel in the VR Program and their Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs).

Businesses want well-trained, reliable employees. The Public/Private VR program provides well-trained and reliable employees to many businesses. Don't let down consumers. Don't let down businesses who need and appreciate well-trained employees with disabilities. Call Congress now and tell them:

TO RESTORE THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE TO TITLE I OF THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE TO DO LESS WOULD HURT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO WANT ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.

How many times have we heard from consumers of the VR Program at NRA's Government Affairs Summits and in other forums that the services and supports that they received from the VR Program provided much-needed hope to them in achieving the American Dream. DON'T DASH THE HOPE -- call your Representatives now and tell them:

RESTORE THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE TO TITLE I OF THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE TO DO LESS WILL HURT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO WANT ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.

Please call your Members of Congress in your respective States and Districts and, if you can, here in Washington, D.C. and tell them TO RESTORE THE COLA TO TITLE I OF THE REHABILITATION ACT.

We are attaching for your information a link of all Members of Congress, Members of Congress who sit on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as the House Budget Committees.

You can and have made a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in the past and will do so in the future. Continue the good work. Call your Members of Congress now. Let them know you care about these funding cuts which can and will do so much harm to those who can least afford it.

And, please always remember the adage: "ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL."

Thank you.

http://appropriations.senate.gov/members.cfm (Senate Appropriations Committee)

http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml (House Appropriations Committee)

http://www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf (110^th Senate listing)

http://clerk.house.gov/committee_info/oal.pdf (110^th House listing)

http://www.senate.gov/~budget/ (Senate Budget Committee)

Patricia Leahy

Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy

National Rehabilitation Association

633 South Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314