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The Washington Connection 5-15-25

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind. The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Claire Stanley.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of May 15, 2025. Messages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

ACB Recognizes Global Accessibility Awareness Day

 

The American Council of the Blind proudly celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) — a worldwide day of recognition and action to promote inclusive design and equal access for people with disabilities.

GAAD is a powerful reminder that for millions of Americans who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision, full inclusion in society depends on accessibility in all aspects of life. ACB calls on industry leaders, developers, and policymakers to prioritize inclusive design — not just today, but every day.

“Global Accessibility Awareness Day is about more than recognizing barriers — it’s about removing them,” said ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill. “At ACB, we believe that accessibility must be built into every platform, every device, and every experience. That belief drives our advocacy and partnerships each day.”

In honor of GAAD, ACB is highlighting its advocacy on Capitol Hill by urging Congress to support and pass the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act in the 119th Congress. Introduced by Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), the CVTA would improve accessibility requirements for video conferencing platforms, video user interfaces, and audio-described content — tools that are essential for work, education, healthcare, and civic participation in the 21st century.

“As technology continues to evolve, so must our laws,” said Claire Stanley, ACB’s director of advocacy and governmental affairs. “We are proud to work with our partners across the disability community to ensure that digital accessibility is not just a promise, but a reality.”

 

Disability Advocates Protest at House Committee on Energy and Commerce Meeting

 

On Tuesday, May 13, disability advocates protested at the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce meeting, where the new budget was being discussed. The newly proposed budget included language to significantly lessen the resources for Medicaid services. Many disability advocates have spoken out about the services that will be cut if such funding is reduced or eliminated. For instance, many fear that coverage of services will force people with disabilities into nursing homes. At Tuesday’s event, 26 people with disabilities were arrested as they protested.

 

CMS Moves to Shut Down Medicaid Loophole - Protects Vulnerable Americans, Saves Billions

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would close a Medicaid tax loophole exploited by states to inflate federal payments to states, and free up state funds for non-Medicaid purposes. Some states have exploited these tax loopholes to take money from federal taxpayers and then simultaneously spent “state” money on new benefits for illegal immigrants. This regulatory move is projected to save taxpayers more than $30 billion over five years and continues CMS’ work in ensuring this vital safety net continues to be available for the country’s most vulnerable populations in the future.

“States are gaming the system — creating complex tax schemes that shift their responsibility to invest in Medicaid and rob federal taxpayers,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This proposed rule stops the shell game and ensures federal Medicaid dollars go where they’re needed most — to pay for health care for vulnerable Americans who rely on this program, not to plug state budget holes or bankroll benefits for noncitizens.”

Here’s how it works: Under the law, states can tax stakeholders and use that as part of their state share for Medicaid, as long as those taxes are uniform and broad based, or they can pass certain regulatory tests. Taxes are not permitted when they are not generally redistributive – and these loophole taxes are solely designed to game the higher federal match by taxing a type of entity, drawing down a high federal match (ranging up to 77% for traditional Medicaid populations), and then redistributing those federal dollars back to the very same entities that were taxed – that’s what most Americans call money laundering. Specifically, certain states are imposing taxes on all managed care organizations (MCOs), yet structuring the tax so that it only affects Medicaid business within those MCOs – the ones who will benefit from the federal match in the form of payments from the state back. In California, Medicaid business in certain cases is taxed at $274 per member/per month, while non-Medicaid business is taxed at just $2 per member/per month.

These arrangements allow states to benefit from a budget surplus to reinvest in unrelated programs — including the $8.5 billion program in California to cover more than 1.6 million illegal immigrants and other non-citizens.

“This isn’t just wasteful — it’s wrong,” said Drew Snyder, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Services. “Medicaid was designed to protect low-income seniors, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities —not subsidize coverage schemes that displace our most vulnerable. We are restoring Medicaid to its original purpose and ensuring the intent of the law is followed.”

In its final year, the last Administration approved four waivers that exploit this tax loophole, submitted by California, Michigan, Massachusetts, and New York. Together, these four states are responsible for more than 95% of projected federal taxpayer losses under the loophole. If CMS had not taken decisive action, more states could have exploited this tax loophole. A CMS estimate shows that if just two more states adopt these schemes each year, excess federal costs could balloon more than $74 billion over 5 years.

The CMS proposed rule would:

  • Prohibit states from taxing Medicaid business at higher rates than non-Medicaid business;
  • Bar the use of vague language to disguise Medicaid-specific taxes;
  • Maintain statistical testing while adding safeguards to prevent system gaming; and
  • Provide a transition timeline based on the age of existing waivers.

Medicaid is a shared federal-state responsibility. CMS’ proposal reaffirms that partnership, while ensuring states cannot manipulate the system at the expense of federal taxpayers.

The proposed rule can be viewed at the Federal Register and will be open for public comment until July 14, 2025.

 

Submit Your Candidate’s Page Now!

 

If you plan to run for any ACB elected position, you’d best hurry and send in your Candidate’s Page! The deadline is May 19th at 4 p.m. Eastern.

The ACB Candidates’ Page is where you can introduce yourself, post links to your social media pages, and provide responses to the following questions. (Please note: Your response to each question will be cut off at 300 words; ACB’s Board of Publications will not edit your responses for spelling or grammar.)

  1. Introduce yourself, indicate which position you seek, and explain why you wish to serve in this position.
  2. What do you consider to be your strongest contribution to ACB at either the national, state, special-interest affiliate or local chapter level and why?
  3. What do you consider to be the most important challenge facing ACB? How will you work to address it?

Instructions for Candidates’ Page Submissions

  • You must be an ACB member in good standing.
  • Submissions must be in Word, text file, or in the body of an email.
  • Send email, Word or text file submissions to [email protected] with the subject line “Candidates’ Page Submission.”
  • The deadline for all Candidates’ Page submissions is May 19, 2025 at 4 p.m. Eastern. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.
  • All candidates who submit information are invited to produce a promotional announcement to air on ACB Media.

Other Important Dates

  • May 30: Candidates’ web pages are posted and announced. Candidates’ ACB Media promos are due (optional).

  • June 11: Candidates’ Forum takes place via Zoom and ACB Media. Note: You must register as a candidate on the ACB Candidates’ Page to participate in the ACB Candidates’ Forum as a candidate.

     

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act Reintroduced in the House

 

ACB is excited to announce that the Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act has once again been introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 14. This was a wonderful way to usher in Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on Thursday, May 15. The bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Pete Sessions from Texas. We are elated to once again see bipartisan support for this important bill. The bill, which has been introduced in the previous two Congressional sessions, will work to ensure that website and applications are accessible to all people with disabilities. The bill number is H.R. 3417. To reach out to your Congressmembers and encourage them to become a bill co-sponsor, please call the House of Representatives switchboard at (202) 225-3121.

 

ACB Signs Onto Letter Calling for the Elimination of the Low Vision Aid Exclusion

 

ACB signed onto a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to call for the elimination of the low vision aid exclusion that was set in 2008 by CMS. The coalition, the Independence through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) coalition works to advocate for the needs of persons with disabilities. In light of the creation of numerous executive orders in the new presidential administration, the ITEM coalition decided to utilize two of those orders to advocate to eliminate the low vision aid exclusion. ACB has been advocating for legislation for many years to overturn the exclusion. The exclusion states that Medicare does not have to cover any kind of low vision aid that has at least one lens. This eliminates the coverage of things such as electronic magnification devices, which are quite costly. However, the use of such devices enables many persons, especially the elderly who are losing their vision, to remain independent in their homes.

The letter written by the ITEM coalition applies two recent executive orders to argue for the elimination of the low vision aid exclusion provision. First, one order, known as the Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation, calls for the elimination of ten regulations for every newly created regulation. Thus, this is one regulation that can rightly be rescinded. Second, the executive order that created the Department on Government Efficiency (DOGE) calls for the identification of any regulations that are unlawful or that undermine the national interest. The 2008 exclusion undermines the purposes of Medicare. The letter highlights how these two executive orders can help move to eliminate the pre-existing regulation that ACB has been advocating to overturn for numerous years.

 

NLS Fully Funded through End of September

 

ACB has learned that the National Library Service (NLS) will not be immediately impacted by the executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). NLS, which is under the Library of Congress, is part of the legislative branch. As a result, the executive order does not have the authority to dismantle the program. NLS is separate from IMLS. Additionally, through the recent legislative continuing resolution, NLS is fully funded through the end of September. Many of us are nervous about the many cuts that are occurring around us. Rest assured, at least at this time, that NLS is still funded and NLS books are still readily available to patrons.

Many of us want to know how we can help advocate to prevent the loss of library sources and accessible literature. The elimination of IMLS can impact network libraries; many NLS patrons visit such libraries for services. To advocate, speak out for funding of your local network libraries.

 

Congress Proposes to Cut $12 Billion from the Department of Education

 

On May 6, 2025, a Senate hearing was held to discuss the recent changes to the Department of Education (DOE) under the new presidential administration. Seven of the twelve regional offices of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) have closed. Witnesses at the hearing reported that schools have become less responsive to civil rights complaints. Furthermore, in anticipation of less federal funding, they are less willing to follow IEPs as written.

In total, Congress has proposed to cut $12 billion from the Department of Education. These cuts raised concerns regarding the continued administration of financial aid, the effectiveness of the IDEA if it is moved outside the DOE, and the future of the financial assistance states receive from the federal government.