Fwd: LEND Action Alert President's FY 18 Budget

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Jae Jin Pak

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Jun 14, 2017, 12:08:08 PM6/14/17

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Greetings,

Below is info and request to call to action to call our congress members to urge them to keep funding for the LEND program which is a vital asset in supporting people with disabilities through education, leadership development and building connections between the many disciplines to the families and individuals they serve.

As a LEND alum, I know how powerful the LEND program is. Because I see the value of LEND, I was proud to join LEND staff, when the opportunity arose. LEND is needed. It will benefit, not only the disability community, but it will benefit, doctors, social workers, teachers, occupational/physical/speech therapists, and self advocates.

Please review the attached materials and I ask you to contact congress to keep LEND funded.

thank you,

jae jin

PROUD LEND Alum and Staff

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Former Trainees,

As many of you may know, the President's budget proposes NO funding to continue the LEND program, along with all other HRSA CARES Act programs. I am attaching the action alert was sent to the network with talking points to help educate Members of Congress about the impact of these programs.

While some appropriations committee members are saying the final Fiscal Year 2017 funding bill will be their starting point (not the President’s Budget) for developing funding bills, they will still be operating under very tight funding caps. Cuts will be made to some programs and the President’s Budget will be used for ideas for these cuts. Therefore, it is imperative that AUCD members and supporters reach out to Members of Congress to EDUCATE them about the important work that Centers are doing and how damaging these cuts would be for people with disabilities in your state and the country.

The attached action alert also includes the steps to contact your members of Congress. I am also attaching a policy brief for Illinois LEND. Please take action as soon as possible. We will be scheduling meetings with our Senators. If you would like to join us, please let me know. Also, we are more than happy to join you visit your representatives. We expect appropriations staff are working now to put funding bills together even if final decisions are not made until much later in the year.

Thank you in advance for your help. Please let me know if you need any assistance.

Watch for more alerts as the process moves forward.

Best,

Regina

Regina Meza, MPH

Project Coordinator |Illinois LEND

Department of Disability and Human Development

University of Illinois at Chicago

1640 West Roosevelt Road, 568 (MC 626) |Chicago, Illinois 60608

P: 312-996-8905 |F: 312-996-2472 |illinoislend.org

IllinoisLEND