NISH Government Affairs Update

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NISH Government Affairs Update

• Nancyellen Gentile

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Government Affairs Team
• NISH Legislative Agenda
• Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act
• Regulatory Other Policy Activity
• Grassroots Advocacy the AbilityOne Champion
  Program
• Questions

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Government Affairs Team

• Who We Are
• Barbara Van Allen, VP Corporate Communications,
  Public Policy and Performance Excellence
• Tony Young, Senior Public Policy Strategist
• Nancyellen Gentile, Director
• John Kelly, Senior Manager Grassroots Advocacy
• Debbie Ignatz, Manager, State Relations
• Bill Jefferson, Liaison Officer Armed Forces
• Alicia Epstein, Manager Disability Policy
• Shari Walton, Senior Activities Specialist
• David Fields, Legislative Outreach Coordinator
• Rachel Kelly, Executive Assistant

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Government Affairs Team

• Serve as an Advocate for CRPs and People with
  Severe Disabilities
• On a national level, monitor, influence and
  initiate legislative, regulatory and other policy
  actions affecting employment opportunities, and
  services and supports for people with severe
  disabilities.
• In cooperation with the NCWC and,
• In coordination with the NISH Regional Offices.

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NISH Legislative Agenda

• 110th Congress Second Session
• Agenda
• Disability Policy
• Mini-Modernization of the Javits-Wagner-ODay Act
• ADA Amendments Act
• Workforce Investment Act/Rehabilitation Act
• Employer Work Incentive Act for Individuals with
  Severe Disabilities
• Procurement Policy
• Small Business
• National Defense Authorization Act
• Veterans Priority
• Appropriations
• Nonprofit Governance

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Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act

• Committee for Purchase, NIB NISH
• Collaborative Process
• NISH Board of Directors Approved Modernization
  Principles Provisions
• Administration Bill
• OMB Circular A-19 Legislation Coordination and
  Clearance Process
• Delivered to Leadership and House and Senate
  Oversight Committees in Late May

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Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act

• Highlights of the Proposed Bill
• Committee Composition
• Subcontracts
• Streamline PL Addition Process
• Ratio Requirement
• Exceptions to 75 Percent Ratio
• Upward Mobility
• Definition

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Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act

• Key Message Track
• Modernizing the Act will
• Create job growth for people who are blind or
  severely disabled
• Align the law and the AbilityOne Program with
  todays federal acquisition environment and move
  it towards prevailing disability policy
• Allow AbilityOne to be more responsive to federal
  customers and establish employment opportunities
  at the subcontract level
• Promote integration and upward mobility for
  people who are blind or severely disabled and,
• Create more focused oversight and accountability,
  while increasing efficiencies and reducing
  unnecessary paperwork.

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Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act

• Status
• Bi-weekly Informal Staff Discussions with Senate
  Committee on Homeland Security Governmental
  Affairs
• Meetings with House Oversight and Government
  Reform Committee
• AbilityOne Stakeholders Engaged
• CRP Community Involvement
• Board Approved Modernization Principles and
  Provisions
• Preliminary Bill Text
• Provisions to grow the program accompanied by
  oversight accountability and training language
• Gold Standard Bill

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Mini-Modernization of the JWOD Act

• Outlook
• Legislative Language - Fall 2008
• Potential Hearing/Roundtable - TBD
• Bill Introduction - This Congress
• Bill Passage - Next Congress

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Regulatory Other Policy Issues

• Committee for Purchase
• Tiger Team
• Small Business
• Womens Procurement Program
• Vets First Priority Program
• Commercial Services Management and A-76
• Morale Welfare Recreation/Nonappropriated Fund
  Instrumentality

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Tool Box

• NISH Public Policy Advocates Calls
• Monthly forum to share current congressional and
  regulatory issues and strategies about
  communicating more effectively with Members of
  Congress
• NISH Public Policy Updates
• Published on an as needed basis to share breaking
  public policy news.
• Other NISH information sources
• CapWiz and NISH Action Alerts
• CRP Connection
• NISH Workplace
• Grassroots Advocacy Training

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AbilityOne Congressional Champions

• Recruit Nurture Congressional Champions through
  CRPs
• Office Visits
• AbilityOne Contract Site tour
• Communication of Support
• Use AbilityOne Products and/or Services
• AbilityOne Champion Renewal
• Two year process

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AbilityOne Congressional Champions

• Senate Committees of Key Concern (7)
• Homeland Security Governmental Affairs
  (AbilityOne Oversight)
• Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Armed Services
• Appropriations
• Veterans Affairs
• Finance

• House Committees of Key Concern (9)
• Oversight Government Reform (AbilityOne
  Oversight)
• Homeland Security
• Education Labor (disability employment policy
  oversight)
• Small Business (oversight of the competing
  priority)
• Armed Services
• Appropriations (CRP Committee Funding)
• Energy and Commerce (Medicaid)
• Veterans
• Ways and Means

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AbilityOne Congressional Champions
North Central Senate Priorities
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AbilityOne Congressional Champions
North Central Current Senate Champions


2008 Jacob K. Javits Legislative Award Recipient
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AbilityOne Congressional Champions
North Central House Priorities
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AbilityOne Congressional Champions
North Central House Priorities
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AbilityOne Congressional Champions
Current House Champions
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Looking Forward

• Bottom Line We Need Your Help!
• Champions Need 4-6 more by September 30
• Losing up to 22 Champions on November 4th
• More CRPs involved in key Congressional Districts
• CRP Self-Advocacy Family Friends Groups
• 12 in 12 months

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Questions

• Contact Information
• Nancyellen Gentile
• 703-584-3984
• ngentile_at_nish.org