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Government Affairs
The Government Affairs Committee has primary responsibility to develop and coordinate RESNA's position on public policy and related activities. The committee plans for, coordinates, and recommends implementation strategies for RESNA's positions on public policy, pertinent regulations, and related activities.
General information on governmental agencies can be found on our Government Agencies and on our Policy and Regulations pages. RESNA approved position papers can be found in our position papers repository.
RESNA is a professional organization made up of volunteers. If you have an interest in participating or working with the government affairs committee please contact the GAC Chair.
Chair: Paul M.A. Baker
RESNA participates in public policy activities through memberships, affiliations, and coalitions. RESNA’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) reviews position letters and decides whether RESNA should sign on in support. These support letters advocate for policies that affect or may affect people with disability, their families, and professionals in the field. Recent efforts are:
Comment Letter on Essential Health Benefits from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD): The Affordable Care Act (ACA; i.e., health care reform) requires the U.S. federal government to establish “Essential Health Benefits” under the law. This letter comments on concerns to allow states to develop and choose “benchmark” benefit plans rather than having the federal government develop regulations, provide oversight, and enforce requirements.
Comment Letter on Essential Health Benefits from the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): This comment letter advocates for the importance of including hearing aids as a benefit in the “Essential Health Benefits” as required under the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA). RESNA supports hearing health care as a part of the ACA, and that people with hearing loss have access to hearing health care services and hearing aids.
Comment letter on the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program's (OFCCP) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on compliance with Section 503 of the Rehab Act: RESNA signed on in support to this Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter supporting the U.S. Department of Labor announcement of historic proposed changes to the regulations under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which would improve employment of people with disabilities in the federal contractor sector.