Further Agency Cuts Will Affect People with Disabilities

Take Action!

Background

Congress returns to Washington, DC for its lame-duck session on December 5, and one of its top priorities will be appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007. However, instead of dealing with all FY 2007 appropriations bills, Congress will likely pass a Continuing Resolution that will fund major portions of the government until sometime in 2007.

During the passage of the Continuing Resolution, the level of funding for the Social Security Administration will be at-stake, and the results could significantly hinder the agency's ability to serve people with disabilities and their families who need Social Security disability, SSI and other benefits.

Status

In the House's FY 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations (L-HHS-ED) committee report, the funding level for SSA is $201 million short of the president's budget request.

In the Senate's FY 2007 L-HHS-ED appropriations bill, funding level for the Social Security Administration (SSA) is woefully inadequate. In the Senate's L-HHS-ED committee report, SSA was funded at $9.093 billion, which is $401 million less than the President's request and a cut that would truly exacerbate reductions in its budget. On November 21, fifty-four U.S. Senators wrote to the Senate leadership urging full funding.

Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart indicated such a significant cut below the president's request for SSA would result in:

• Closing of local SSA offices nationwide for 10 days.
• Increasing serious delays for individuals to receive services and benefits.
• Reducing the number of continuing disability reviews.

Take Action

Now, only a few days are left to ensure that Congress passes legislation with full funding for SSA. Please e-mail your Senators and House Member today and ask them to push their leadership to ensure full funding of the president's request for the Social Security Administration. This funding is critical to the agency providing services and benefits to people with disabilities and their families.