Legislative Updates – March 2015
By Texas Hands & Voices
We would like to update you on some legislation that will impact deaf and hard of hearing children in the US and in Texas. Please take a minute to review the following and then contact your Senators and Representatives! NCHAM has some talking points and sample letters for you to consider when communicating with your legislators – http://www.infanthearing.org/legislation/hearingaid.html
US HR 1344
On Tuesday, March 10th, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA) introduced HR 1344 in the House of Representatives to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children (EHDI).
Why is this important? In Texas there were approx 950 infants diagnosed deaf or hard of hearing in 2014. (approx 2-3 infants out of 1000 births). Those families had to get from screening to early intervention some how- with the connections and support (professional support, parent peer support, and system support) provided by the federal EHDI and State EHDI programs these children and their families now have equal opportunity. That’s huge!
Updated information about the status of the bill, including cosponsors can be found at
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1344
How can you help ensure the success of the EHDI Reauthorization Act (HR 1344)?
Contact your Congressman or Congresswoman and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor of HR 1344. Generally, the more cosponsors a bill has, the more quickly it can become a law.
Find your Representative at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. Click on the link under his or her picture to visit their website and get their telephone number. It is generally most effective to call the DC office. Phone calls have been shown to be more effective than emails and letters.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1344
Texas HB 2979
Texas HB 2979 has been introduced to require private insurance to cover hearing aids for children through age 18.
This bill will need co-sponsors and a strong parent voice to pass! YOU as a voter have the power to influence the outcome of this legislation! Please call, email and send letters!
Your Texas House of Representatives can be found here
http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_tx
If you would like some talking points please visit the NCHAM page here
http://www.infanthearing.org/legislation/hearingaid.html
And see the table of mandates by state here
http://www.infanthearing.org/legislative/summary/index.html
Click the link see the bill and follow its progress!
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB2979
At My TLO (Texas Legislature Online) you can Create a list of bills that you would like to watch. Each time you run the list, the bill information is updated.
Enter bills on the alert list, be notified of committee and calendar postings, be notified when bills are assigned subjects of interest, be notified when the house or senate adjourn.
Access a mobile version of TLO, Who Represents Me, and DistrictViewer on an iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device. From the mobile device browser, enter http://www.txlegis.com/. NOTE: Some applications or features within an application may not be accessible on all mobile devices.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/mytlo/pda/mobilepda.aspx (mobile)
More …
Your Texas Senators
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/MnuSenate.aspx
Your Texas House of Representatives
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/MnuHouse.aspx
US Senators – Texas
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/MnuHouse.aspx
US Representatives – Texas
http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_tx
The following bills may or may not apply to your family:
Texas SB 219 updating Texas statutes relating to the provision and administration of health and human services. A section of this bill relates to midwifery regulations and newborn hearing screening.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB219
Texas SB 1664 the Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program will give people with disabilities diagnosed before the age of 26 the ability to save up to $100,000 in a tax free savings account.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1664
Texas HB 2463 outlines the movement of blindness services (including deaf blindness) to separate agencies as per recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB2463
The Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans (AVIT), a coalition of 28 organizations of and for persons with blindness or visual impairment, strongly urges the continuation of all programs serving this population, Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans for individuals who are blind to remain together to ensure high quality programs with positive outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of service delivery to the children and adults of Texas who are blind or visually impaired.