Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of People with Disabilities

Introduction

The fact that the shutdown occurred over bitter partisan bickering without concern for these populations is cause for great concern. People with Disabilities represent a large population in America, as do Seniors. The Veterans who have served this nation honorably are supposed to have a social contract with America.

Main Item

Standard and Poor's estimates this self-inflicted, "crisis," took $24 billion dollars out of our economy. While the politicians of America may have felt the need for such continued squabbling over the budget and their personal ideologies, the sad truth is that millions of People with Disabilities, Seniors, and Veterans watched these politicians and wondered if they would be able to pay rent, utility bills, pay for medications or medical care, or even eat. Many of us wondered if we would end up homeless because of the outrageously uncaring actions of the politicians of this nation.

The shutdown was horrible for not only the populations mentioned, but the nation has a whole. The shutdown disrupted, delayed and suspended critical services and benefits due to men and women who have served America in the Armed Forces. If the bickering and ideological nonsense among the politicians in office had continued for another week or so, it would have had a devastating effect on millions upon millions of People with Disabilities, Seniors, and Veterans. Benefit checks for disability, pension and DIC would have been cut off due to a lack of appropriations - something that must never happen. A nation that is unable to provide for People with Disabilities, Seniors, and Veterans is nothing more than an anarchistic rabble.

People with Disabilities and Seniors and Needed Action

The experience of America's leadership breaking down to the point of near default was something no one in this nation wanted. No one wanted to find themselves asking why the politicians of this nation were concentrating on their own ideological agendas instead of serving the People of America. It happened nonetheless.

Those who are least prepared to deal with such events include People with Disabilities and Seniors. The politicians of the United States of America have clearly demonstrated their inability to function responsibly on a financial basis. It is time to demand they do so in relation to the populations who are least prepared to deal with the irresponsibility of the politicians who are supposed to be leading this nation.

Bills must be presented to both the House and the Senate requiring the government to set aside a year's worth of funding for the SSDI and SSI programs, to be paid to recipients of these programs despite any government shutdown. The populations on these programs are not prepared to deal with more ideological bickering among politicians who choose to shut down the government to make political points, endangering the lives of People with Disabilities and Seniors.

The SSDI and SSI programs, as well as Medicare, must be funded a year in advance and paid to recipients despite a government shutdown or other, 'crisis,' the politicians of America may create or find themselves dealing with. It is vital to America that People with Disabilities, Seniors, and Veterans are cared for despite the nonsense and irresponsibility of the politicians of this nation. Again - a nation that cannot provide for these populations is nothing more than an anarchistic rabble, something the People of America must not tolerate.

Veterans and Needed Action

Four years ago Congress passed, and the President signed, legislation to provide advance appropriations for most Veterans Administration (VA) health care programs, legislation that provides the VA with funding a year in advance. Thanks to this law, even while portions of the government shut down VA hospitals and outpatient clinics retained the ability to provide health care to injured and ill veterans because they already had their budgets approved in advance. Sadly, the law did not protect additional veterans services and benefits, to include:

• Insurance
• Home loan guaranty
• Hospital construction
• GI education support
• Disability compensation
• Medical and prosthetic research
• Information technology programs

The recent government shutdown demonstrates how damaging budget stalemates and government shutdowns are for not only veterans themselves, but their family members and survivors. It is time for decisive action to be taken to prevent this from ever happening again. It is time for Congress to pass, and the President to sign, new legislation to extend advance appropriations to all VA programs, services and benefits.

The good news is there is already legislation pending in both the House (H.R. 813), and the Senate (S. 932), that could easily be amended, passed, and enacted into law if the politicians in office will do so. Called the, 'Putting Veterans Funding First Act,' it is commonsense legislation and would require Congress to pass a full year's appropriations bill for all VA discretionary programs in advance. The VA's mandatory disability compensation and other benefits were put in jeopardy by the irresponsibility of politicians in America and Congress should amend the legislation mentioned to include mandatory funding in the advance appropriation.

Author Credentials:
Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a Nursing Assistant Thomas has assisted people from a variety of racial, religious, gender, class, and age groups by providing care for people with all forms of disabilities from Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson's; para and quadriplegia to Spina Bifida. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.