Friday Fax

NO. 203

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Family Opportunity Act (FOA) - S. 2274/H.R. 4825
Senator Grassley offered the FOA as an amendment to a bill being marked-up this week "the Community Renewal and New Markets Act of 2000." Two mark-ups were scheduled and both were postponed. Time is running out. We need to get FOA passed before October 6th. Congressional leaders need to hear that we are watching their actions. This legislation is important to families of children with disabilities, and it should  be one of their top legislative priorities. President Clinton has indicated his support for this bill, but does not have it among his priorities.

ACTION NEEDED

Call and fax letters to your members of Congress and to key members of government and make them aware of the importance of this law. Ask them to show their support for families with children with disabilities by making the FOA a priority.

• Sen Trent Lott (R-MS), Senate Majority Leader, 202-224-4639
• Sen Don Nickels (R-OK), Senate Majority Whip, 202-224-3913
• Rep Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Speaker of the House, 202-225-5646
• Sen Tom Daschle (D-SD), Senate Minority Leader, 202-224-7895
• Sen Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Whip, 202-224-7362
• Rep Dick Gephardt (D-MO), House Minority Leader, 202-225-7414
• John Podesta, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Clinton, 202-456-2883
• Jack Lew, Director of the Office of Management and Budget,202-395-3888

www.senate.gov  / www.house.gov  / US Capitol 202-224-3121

 IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000 (S. 2341) Update
S. 2341 was passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Wednesday, 9-20-00. It authorizes monies to achieve full funding for Part B of IDEA by 2010. NPND will continue to follow the activity of this legislation.

National Council on Disability Briefings

NCD is conducting regional community briefings to share findings and
recommendations on federal enforcement of disability civil rights laws with
people with disabilities. The briefings are open to the public, and free of
charge, and will focus on NCD's new Ten Point Strategy for the Next Decade of Disability Civil Rights Enforcement.

Dates, Times, Locations, Contact/Registration

· Date/Time: September 27, 2000 - 1PM - 5PM
Location: Rapid City Regional Hospital (West Auditorium)
RAPID CITY, SD
Contact: Barb Beck 605-361-3171

Updates From WeMedia

Vote Access the Vote is WeMedia's initiative to encourage people with disabilities to register to vote in the Tuesday, November 7th election. Why vote? Because your vote and the votes of the 45 million citizens with disabilities can swing any election. At wemedia.com   you can register to vote (Only until Sunday, Sept. 24 so act now!), request an absentee ballot (Only until Sunday, Oct. 7), find out how to get a ride to the polls, track legislation  and learn the candidates' positions. This election can be different.  Right now, if you and 45 million other people with disabilities vote, you will decide. Access the vote at www.wemedia.com. 

Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games WeMedia is bringing the world together with our unprecedented and exclusive webcast coverage of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Webcasting is like watching TV on your own personal computer. WeMedia's Paralympic webcast promises to be an extraordinary moment in history - bringing you the Role Models of the 21st Century. To pre-register and learn about the Paralympic experience, go to www.wemedia.com .

March For Justice

Join thousands of civil rights advocates to support the ADA and the civil rights of all Americans on Tuesday, October 3rd at noon on the U.S. Capitol grounds at Upper Senate Park (North side of the Capitol) in Washington, DC. For more info: www.tash.org/marchforjustice.

Linda Shepard, New Executive Director

Linda Shepard would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce herself as the new Executive Director of NPND. She looks forward to working with all of you to advocate on behalf of individuals with special needs. Please feel free to communicate with Linda by phone: 202-463-2299, or by e-mail: npnd@cs.net . Include Linda and NPND in your correspondences on upcoming meetings, conferences, legislative alerts and issues of importance.

Supported by:
www.wemedia.com