Amidst an unprecedented presidential election season, a delegation of 28 Jewish community lay leaders and staff of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF/JF) flew to Washington, D.C., in May to make their voices heard.
Members of the Federation Government Affairs Committee (GAC) advocated on behalf of issues important to JUF/JF, the largest non-governmental social service agency in the State of Illinois.
On the international scene, they urged their congressional representatives to take steps to deter Iran’s nuclear threats against Israel and the rest of the Western world. Domestically, the Illinois delegation spoke on the issues of Medicaid, the IRA Charitable Rollover, and disability and caregiver issues.
“The importance of being in Washington D.C. is to remind our representatives that we are the largest provider in social services in the state and that federal dollars are critical to the services that we offer to the community,” said David T. Brown, GAC Chairman. “We have a job to advocate on behalf of those who are disabled and elderly and below the poverty line or can’t afford health care and we have to do everything we can to make sure our message is brought forward.”
Along with Brown, Pamela Seubert, vice president, Planning & Allocations: Government Affairs; Amy York, assistant vice president, Federation Washington Office; Kevin H. Rachlin, legislative assistant; and Naomi Shapiro, assistant director, Events, organized the two-day mission.
The agenda…
The Chicago delegates attended a White House briefing with two Bush administration staffers, Jeremy Katz, special assistant to the president for policy and White House liaison to the Jewish community, and Julie Goon, special assistant to the president for economic policy, National Economic Council.
On the legislative side, the GAC delegates met with Sen. Richard J. Durbin.
“You all come here and speak for the people who don’t have the wherewithal to speak for themselves,” said Durbin. “You’re here to speak for people who are not very well-off and who just want a chance. I thank you for that.”
The group also met with Michael J. Strautmanis, chief counsel for Sen. Barack Obama, who recalled attending a Federation dinner.
“I’ll never forget seeing the video montage of the work that you all do,” he said. “Part of what makes this country great is that you’re here looking for a partner from the federal government, but you’re only looking for a partner. You’re not looking for anybody to do it for you. You all have decided to dive into your community and help people of all races, backgrounds, and ages, and that’s part of what makes Chicago special. If we continue to bring that spirit across the nation and the world, it’s what is going to lift us all up.”
Following the Senate meetings, the Chicagoans met in small groups with 18 members (or staff) of the Illinois House Delegation including the following U.S. representatives: Melissa Bean, Judy Biggert, Jerry Costello, Danny K. Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Bill Foster, Luis V. Gutierrez, Phil Hare, Jesse Jackson Jr., Mark Steven Kirk, Ray LaHood, Daniel Lipinski, Timothy V. Johnson, Peter Roskam, Bobby L. Rush, Janice D. Schakowsky, John M. Shimkus, and Jerry Weller.
The Chicago visitors also took a behind-the-scenes tour of the House Floor, immediately preceding a congressional vote, and attended an Illinois Congressional Delegation staff reception, honoring Reps. James Langevin (Rhode Island) and Schakowsky in recognition of their leadership and service on disability issues.
Schakowsky has long advocated for the most vulnerable members of the community and has supported many bills to help support people with disabilities and their families.
At age 16, Langevin was injured when a gun accidentally discharged, rendering him quadriplegic. His community’s support inspired him to give back by entering public office. In 2001, he became the first quadriplegic in the U.S. House of Representatives and has championed stem cell research and other issues relating to people with disabilities.
“Your grassroots efforts are absolutely essential to getting pieces of legislation on disabilities issues through Congress,” he told the GAC members. “You raise awareness, you create momentum, and you educate people on the importance of how this will make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. We could not do it without your dedicated help and support.”
Overseas…
Israel
The trip took place amidst the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel. GAC participants thanked members of the Illinois delegation for their ongoing support for the Jewish state as well as the delegation’s support of H. Con. Res. 322, which recognizes the anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and reaffirms the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel.
For the participants, the celebration of Israel’s 60th was tempered by the knowledge that Israelis—and Jews throughout the world—have been forced to defend that country throughout its existence. GAC members explained to the delegation that the Bush administration’s request for $2.55 billion in security assistance for Israel represents the first year of a decade-long U.S.-Israeli security agreement to help Israelis face growing threats.
Back in 2001, the first rocket from Gaza fell on Israel and, since then, more than 3,000 rockets have hit Israeli towns and villages, jeopardizing more than 200,000 people. During that same period, more than 3,000 mortars have fallen in Israel and more than 2,400 of those attacks occurred after Israel’s complete unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The rocket and mortar attacks have killed 18 Israeli civilians and wounded more than 600.
Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad consistently calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, and Iran provides significant military support to the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran is a threat not only to Israel but to the United States and the rest of the world. Trip participants urged the delegation to make Iran a top priority for 2008 and 2009.
Along with the federal government, many states, including Illinois, are taking steps to ensure that Iran doesn’t garner the financial capabilities to continue its nuclear program. GAC attendees thanked the Illinois delegation for co-sponsoring the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act (H.R. 1400/S. 970), which would exert economic and political pressure on Iran to end its nuclear program. They also thanked the House for passing the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007 (H.R. 2347), which would authorize state and local governments to divest from companies investing in Iran’s petroleum and natural gas sector and protects fund managers who divest from such companies from potential lawsuits. On the Senate side, they urged Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) to co-sponsor the same bill, S.1430.
On the home front…
Medicaid
A worrisome issue on the domestic agenda was the fate of Medicaid, the primary health care delivery system for the poor. Medicaid is a federal-state heath care program that provides assistance to more than 60 million low-income children, families, elderly, and people with disabilities. Many of Federation’s partner agencies—Sinai Health System, CJE SeniorLife, particularly in connection with the Lieberman Geriatric Health Centre, the Jewish Child and Family Services, and Jewish Vocational Service—serve Medicaid recipients and receive a Medicaid reimbursement, and cuts to Medicaid would have a direct impact on their programs.
Illinois faces an economic downturn with a projected deficit of $2 billion-$3 billion, and the state is legally required to balance its budget. About a quarter of Illinois’ total state budget of $49 billion comes from federal funds, primarily for Medicaid.
GAC trip participants advocated for a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)—the rate that the federal government pays for each state’s Medicaid program—in order to strengthen delivery of services. Currently, the federal government matches Illinois state Medicaid dollars at 50 percent, one of the lowest federal matching rates in the country.
The Bush administration has issued regulations that would reverse longstanding Medicaid policies, reducing funding to Medicaid by $15 billion over the next five years. One of the pending proposals would cut the amount of Medicaid payments to $600 million per year to hospitals, nursing homes, and other state and local institutions. Another proposal would prevent providers from assisting people with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities.
The Chicago delegation urged Congress to pass legislation to stop these harmful Medicaid regulations. H.R. 5613, which has passed the House, would place a moratorium on these regulations for one year. In addition, to help state Medicaid programs facing financial stress, legislation was recently introduced (H.R. 5268/S. 2620) to increase the federal share of Medicaid funding.
IRA Charitable Rollover
The IRA Charitable Rollover—allowing eligible IRA owners to make direct gifts to eligible charities from their IRAs without suffering tax penalties—expired at the end of 2007. The Rollover, already supported by the president, generates new charitable resources with comparatively little negative impact on revenue. An important new tax incentive for charitable organizations such as the Jewish Federation, it offers a way to reach out to older contributors.
The participants urged Congress to extend the Rollover by co-sponsoring and supporting the following bills: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 (S. 2886) would renew and extend the IRA Charitable Rollover through 2008, making all charities eligible to receive donations, and providing IRA owners with a planned giving option starting at age 70 ½. The Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007 (S. 819/H.R. 1419) would make the IRA Charitable Rollover permanent.
Disability and caregiver issues
This year, Illinois delegates focused much of their attention in Washington on improving the lives of those with disabilities and their caregivers.
“Jewish tradition teaches that we have an obligation to ensure equal access for all people and to help facilitate the full participation of individuals with disabilities in religious and public life,” said Amy York.
In answering that mandate, in 2000-2001, the Jewish Federation conducted a survey that found that 15 percent of Jewish households report an individual in their home suffering from a physical, mental, or health disability or condition that lasted more than six months and limited activity. A recent study of the Federation and its affiliated agencies found that 15.6 percent or almost $70 million of expenditures were for services provided to people with disabilities and their caregivers. These services address needs including preschool education for autistic children, stroke rehabilitation, and adult day care.
In the disability services arena, Illinois this year has dropped from the 48th-worst state to the 51st worst state (including Washington D.C.) in terms of services for persons with developmental disabilities.
Illinois spends too much money, according to Anne Sommers, policy counsel for the American Association of People with Disabilities, “funding nursing facilities and institutional care for people with disabilities and not investing in infrastructure… to provide alternatives.” Alternatives such as home care could allow disabled people to have a higher quality of life and become productive members of society.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), originally signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, has been watered down over the past two decades by Supreme Court decisions narrowing the interpretation of the act, particularly in the workplace, according to Sommers. Yet she sees hope for the future.
“I’m very optimistic that [disabled] people will enter the workforce in larger numbers because they are used to being protected under laws and are used to equal access and meaningful opportunities with their peers,” she said.
GAC delegates pressed their congressional representatives to support and co-sponsor four key disability/caregiver bills or provisions:
The Community Choice Act of 2007 (H.R. 1621/S. 799) would offer an alternative in long-term care by expanding access to services for the elderly and to people with disabilities.
In 2006, Congress passed the Lifespan Respite Care Act authorizing funding to develop community-based respite programs. Then, in March of 2008, the Senate passed an amendment by unanimous consent to the Senate Budget Resolution allocating $53 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Act.
The ADA Restoration Act (H.R. 3195/S. 1881) would restore the original intent of the ADA, in which people are judged solely on their qualifications for the job, and it harmonizes ADA with other civil rights laws.
The Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2008 (H.R. 2370/S. 2730) would create accounts that operate like IRAs.
The Disabilities Savings Act of 2008 (S. 2741) would create disability savings accounts that function like a 529 savings account for future expenses associated with a disability.
L’dor V’dor…From generation to generation
While briefing the Chicagoans on Medicaid issues, Jonathan Westin, assistant director of legislative affairs for United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella organization for JUF/JF, reminded the Chicago delegation of the people their work on the Hill ultimately helps.
He told the delegation about a visit to CJE SeniorLife’s Lieberman Geriatric Health Centre in Chicago, where he met a centenarian named Molly, who is now 103 years old. Molly wakes up every morning and climbs onto a Jewish senior services bus, he explained, to go volunteer, both at a library and at a hospital.
“I shook her hand and I thanked her so much for everything,” said Westin. “Six hours later, that same hand that I shook was clutching the little pinky of a 14-hour-old preemie at Mount Sinai Hospital, where I was taken for a tour. It really hit me that that’s what this is about. It’s about L’dor V’dor, caring from generation to generation.”
Representatives from the following agencies and organizations participated in the GAC trip: Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, CJE SeniorLife, HIAS Chicago (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), Jewish Community Centers of Chicago, Jewish Child and Family Services, Jewish Vocational Service, Keshet, and Sinai Health System.
Amy York and Kevin H. Rachlin, of the Federation Washington Office, contributed to this article.
