H.R. 1811-- Family Opportunity Act of 2003
H.R. 1811--FAMILY OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2003 -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 18, 2004)
SPEECH OF
HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2004
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of and as a cosponsor of H.R. 1811, the Family Opportunity Act. By passing this legislation we are giving the States the opportunity of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for them as well as providing treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment of part or all of the cost of home or community-based services.
This is a great first step of fixing the bias of institutional care in Medicaid compared to home or community-based services. Parents will no longer have to drive hours to visit their child but instead opt to have them remain at home or live close by in a community setting and still receive their Medicaid dollars. Another great aspect in this legislation is establishing family-to-family health information centers. Sometimes just talking or listening to another person, another family that actually understands what one family is experiencing can settle nerves and make one feel more comfortable with the future challenges they may face. I commend my colleague from Texas, Mr. SESSIONS for sponsoring this legislation.
I hope we can continue to work together to enforce the Olmstead decision and develop more opportunities for individuals with disabilities over the age of 21 through more accessible systems of cost-effective community-based services. I am proud to have introduced H.R. 2032, the Medicaid Attendant Services and Supports Act also known as MiCASSA with my friend from Illinois, Mr. SHIMKUS. MiCASSA as the Family Opportunity Act would change the system of long-term care as we know it today. Nationally, approximately 70 percent of the Federal and State spending still goes to institutions instead of home or community settings. Our colleagues in the Senate held a hearing on MiCASSA, S. 1394, Money Follows the Person, and the President's New Freedom initiative earlier in the year. I urge my colleagues in the House to hold a similar hearing.
Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, I support H.R. 1811 and believe it is a great step towards Olmstead. But it is wrong to provide such great services to individuals with disabilities that only end once they become adults. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and support continuing services for individuals with disabilities beyond the age of 21.