Center for Disabilities Studies

Interviews with senior Democratic aides and health care policy experts indicate that House Democrats, who retook a majority in yesterday’s election, will resist GOP attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, eliminate protections for preexisting conditions or slash Medicaid or Medicare funding. They may also look to make narrow changes to health care policy that could elicit bipartisan support from the GOP-controlled Senate, such as increasing health insurance tax credit amounts and eligibility and lowering prescription drug prices.

State agencies including the Delaware State Housing Authority are initiating a study of housing discrimination projected to be released October 2019. Findings from the last study, conducted in 2011, led the state to offer developers incentives to increase accessibility, among other changes.

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) have insisted that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos forgive student loans taken out by parents in cases where the student subsequently experiences a “total and permanent” disability. This follows the passage of the Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act, cosponsored by Coons, which eliminated taxes on student loans forgiven in the cases of the student’s disability or death.

The U.S. Labor Department is considering creating an Excellence in Disability Inclusion award for federal contractors. The award, which would go to companies with an affirmative action plan or an initiative to promote opportunities for people with opportunities, would be a two-year exemption from compliance evaluations.

Two of the 11 dead in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh are Cecil and David Rosenthal, brothers with intellectual disabilities who were beloved in their neighborhood. Cecil, 59 and David, 54, were described as inseparable and devoted to their synagogue.