Federal Advocacy – Action Needed Now!

We’ve talked many times about the Save Our Services (SOS) Campaign – that recently was successful in getting the Disability Community Act of 2016 (H.R. 5902) introduced in the US House.  We mentioned that we are asking OPRA members to contact their federal representatives and senators while they are on recess this summer.  ANCOR has published an advocacy toolkit that is full of helpful information (attached or click HERE).  Why now, and why is this important?

The DOL regulation to increase the overtime threshold will be effective December 1st.  All OPRA members are encouraged to be in compliance with this regulation at that time.  In order to help fund our compliance, we are asking for temporary, 3-year funding through H.R. 5902.  So, our time is short, and the opportunity to impact this is now.  

Please check out the ANCOR toolkit and decide how you are going to engage your federal legislators during the month of August (in person, with their health/labor staffer, phone conference, email, tweet, Facebook post, attending their town halls and/or writing an Op Ed for your local paper).  We need to make our voices heard by all of the Ohio congressional delegation.  It is important that all OPRA members contact their federal legislators (US House representative(s) and our 2 US senators) this month.  They need to hear your support of H.R. 5902 and your ask that they support the bill as well.  Congressman Steve Stivers (R OH) is the Republican lead on the legislation and we want to have as many members of the Ohio delegation join his support for our bill.  Thanks in advance for your efforts on this critical advocacy moment for us.  It won’t take much of your time, but may have a tremendous impact on our ability to provide services.

2018/2019 State of Ohio Budget—Advocacy Efforts

It’s also time for us to think about the upcoming state budget and our OPRA advocacy efforts. Each of you as OPRA members have a unique story to tell. There is also a thematic commonality to the provision of services in Ohio’s DD system among all providers and a recognition that changes must be made to our system if we are to provide the best possible supports for the individuals we serve.

Each of you that have an interest can impact policy change both individually and through your larger OPRA family. Now is the right time to strengthen your existing relationship with your local legislators or build new ones. OPRA is currently developing its budget strategy through regional SWOT analyses, current regulation analysis and system stakeholder conversations. To be sure our overarching narrative will focus on workforce and system simplification.

If you would like to be an active part in advocating for our system’s future there will never be a better time. To gauge our member interest and strength of effort please just call Jeff Davis at 614 579-9957 or email him at jdavis@opra.org   

We will be starting a coordinated effort VERY soon! Thank you for your interest.

Thank you.