[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14454]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENT ACT

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the 
Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5610) to provide a technical 
adjustment with respect to funding for independent living centers under 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in order to ensure stability for such 
centers.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       In section 2(a)(2)(A), strike ``July 30'' and insert August 
     5.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 
5610 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CHU. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, a month ago we passed H.R. 5610, the Independent Living 
Centers Technical Adjustment Act, to provide a necessary fix to protect 
services for the many people with disabilities who benefit from the 
work of the independent living centers. This fix will allow States to 
request that ARRA funds not be included in determining their centers' 
previous year allocations so that the temporary funds provided under 
ARRA do not permanently change centers' base allocations.
  The Senate amendment before us today changes the deadline for States 
to make that request from July 30 to August 5 so that eligible States 
can make use of this fix after this bill is passed.
  I urge you to support this technical change to ensure independent 
living centers can continue the important work for people with 
disabilities in our communities.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5610, the Independent 
Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act.
  Independent living centers provide a valuable service, including 
employment, skilled training, peer counseling, and information for 
people with disabilities.
  H.R. 5610, the Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act, 
as passed in the House and Senate, allows States to apply to the 
Department of Education for a waiver to disregard funds received under 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in the fiscal year 2010 
allotments.
  Because of a discrepancy in how current law factors in prior year 
funds, some independent living centers will see dramatic decreases in 
the funding that they will receive this year. This technical fix will 
enable funds granted through the Rehabilitation Act to be distributed 
to independent living centers in a more fair and appropriate manner for 
this year.
  The House-passed version of this legislation allows States to apply 
for these important waivers until July 30. Because the deadline 
included in the original version of H.R. 5610 does not provide 
sufficient time for States to take advantage of these waivers, the 
Senate extended the timeline until August 5.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of this bill, which will assist 
independent living centers that help disabled persons live full and 
productive lives, and I ask for my colleagues' support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 5610.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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