In prior years, she served as professional staff and deputy parliamentarian for Congressman and Chairman Tom Davis of Virginia as part of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Sarah looks forward to using her legislative and policy skills to further the mission of BIAA in this exciting time for healthcare policy!

In December, BIAA supported a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter urging such an inclusion of a significant increase in the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in anticipated economic stimulus legislation. Although the House economic stimulus package introduced this week was not popular among Republicans and some Democrats due to the wide range of proposed tax cuts, according to CQ, “Democratic leaders remain hopeful they can get the package through Congress by the middle of February.”

The Senate will soon move its own bill (S. 1), and Democrats in both chambers said they have been working together and with the Obama transition team to ensure quick negotiations over final legislation.

APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE

Although it was anticipated that a Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations package would be considered by the 111th Congress as soon as it convened earlier this month, the focus on the economic stimulus bill has instead dominated the agenda. BIAA is continuing to monitor this situation.

NIDRR RELEASES LONG-RANGE PLAN

Also this week, The Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) released its proposed Long-Range Plan (Plan) for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2010–2014.

BIAA is in the process of reviewing this document to evaluate the implications for traumatic brain injury research.