[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               H.R. 1811--FAMILY OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of and as 
a cosponsor of H.R. 1811, the Family Opportunity Act. By passing this 
legislation we are giving the States the opportunity of allowing 
families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for them as 
well as providing treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services 
for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment of part 
or all of the cost of home or community-based services.
  This is a great first step of fixing the bias of institutional care 
in Medicaid compared to home or community-based services. Parents will 
no longer have to drive hours to visit their child but instead opt to 
have them remain at home or live close by in a community setting and 
still receive their Medicaid dollars. Another great aspect in this 
legislation is establishing family-to-family health information 
centers. Sometimes just talking or listening to another person, another 
family that actually understands what one family is experiencing can 
settle nerves and make one feel more comfortable with the future 
challenges they may face. I commend my colleague from Texas, Mr. 
Sessions for sponsoring this legislation.
  I hope we can continue to work together to enforce the Olmstead 
decision and develop more opportunities for individuals with 
disabilities over the age of 21 through more accessible systems of 
cost-effective community-based services. I am proud to have introduced 
H.R. 2032, the Medicaid Attendant Services and Supports Act also known 
as MiCASSA with my friend from Illinois, Mr. Shimkus. MiCASSA as the 
Family Opportunity Act would change the system of long-term care as we 
know it today. Nationally, approximately 70 percent of the Federal and 
State spending still goes to institutions instead of home or community 
settings. Our colleagues in the Senate held a hearing on MiCASSA, S. 
1394, Money Follows the Person, and the President's New Freedom 
initiative earlier in the year. I urge my colleagues in the House to 
hold a similar hearing.
  Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, I support H.R. 1811 and believe it is 
a great step towards Olmstead. But it is wrong to provide such great 
services to individuals with disabilities that only end once they 
become adults. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and support 
continuing services for individuals with disabilities beyond the age of 
21.

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