00:00:00:08 - 00:00:02:12 The REAADI for Disasters Act logo. 00:00:03:22 - 00:00:06:21 Congressional Briefing on the REAADI for Disasters Act 00:00:06:21 - 00:00:10:12 (Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion) 00:00:11:00 - 00:00:14:19 and DRMA, The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act. 00:00:15:02 - 00:00:17:08 March 30th, 2022. 00:00:18:00 - 00:00:21:07 A Production of The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster 00:00:21:07 - 00:00:22:24 Strategies. 00:00:26:20 - 00:00:27:03 Thank you very much. 00:00:27:03 - 00:00:27:24 Good afternoon. 00:00:27:24 - 00:00:31:23 My apologies that votes and other meetings kept me 00:00:32:04 - 00:00:35:14 from getting onto the Zoom earlier, 00:00:35:20 - 00:00:38:00 but I just want to say 00:00:39:09 - 00:00:41:07 what a beautiful speech 00:00:41:07 - 00:00:43:13 the person who just spoke before me 00:00:43:13 - 00:00:47:07 just gave, what a moving, powerful speech and 00:00:48:16 - 00:00:50:14 congratulations on great remarks. 00:00:50:14 - 00:00:52:20 You spoke for many people. 00:00:52:23 - 00:00:54:05 I wanted to say, just say good afternoon. 00:00:54:05 - 00:00:58:02 I want to recognize Shaylin and Germán for that, 00:00:58:18 - 00:01:01:05 which is nice introduction and for how we get today. 00:01:01:17 - 00:01:06:00 It's great to see so many people here to learn more about this important issue 00:01:06:21 - 00:01:09:17 and expanding and strengthening the rights of people with disabilities 00:01:09:17 - 00:01:12:07 to create a more open and inclusive society. 00:01:13:08 - 00:01:16:10 I mentioned I'm Congressman Langevin 00:01:16:10 - 00:01:20:07 and I proudly represent the Second Congressional District in Rhode Island. 00:01:20:07 - 00:01:23:21 A seat that I've held now going on 22 years. 00:01:24:17 - 00:01:28:02 Before we get started, I just want to begin by thanking 00:01:28:02 - 00:01:31:12 The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies for organizing 00:01:31:12 - 00:01:34:14 this briefing and bringing together so many just great minds 00:01:34:14 - 00:01:38:09 to help us better understand the need for inclusive disaster relief. 00:01:39:11 - 00:01:41:16 I have to say I've worked closely with The Partnership 00:01:41:16 - 00:01:44:23 for several years, and I really do commend them for their work to make people 00:01:44:23 - 00:01:48:10 with disabilities and older adults a forethought 00:01:49:01 - 00:01:54:00 rather than and an afterthought in disaster management. 00:01:54:00 - 00:01:57:06 Just so, so important that we think about the needs of people 00:01:57:06 - 00:02:00:20 with disabilities ahead of time in the planning stages 00:02:00:20 - 00:02:05:01 and before the disasters happen, rather than during the disaster, 00:02:05:01 - 00:02:08:13 trying to figure this out on the fly or after the fact. Yet 00:02:09:19 - 00:02:13:04 the organization really does even more than that. 00:02:13:22 - 00:02:14:20 Disaster strikes. 00:02:14:20 - 00:02:16:24 The Partnership burns the candle at both ends 00:02:17:14 - 00:02:21:11 to offer support to impacted communities to make sure that 00:02:22:02 - 00:02:26:18 that needs are met for as many people as possible. 00:02:27:08 - 00:02:29:20 And let me just say, I greatly admire their work, 00:02:29:20 - 00:02:32:18 and I think it's very, very is very impressive. 00:02:33:08 - 00:02:35:08 But, you know, I'd like to make something very clear, 00:02:36:00 - 00:02:40:00 and that's supporting people with disabilities and older adults before, 00:02:40:00 - 00:02:44:14 during and after disasters should not fall onto organizations like The Partnership. 00:02:44:23 - 00:02:49:15 This is the government's responsibility primarily. And 00:02:50:17 - 00:02:53:13 we need to we need to retool, refocus and make sure that 00:02:54:02 - 00:02:58:08 we're pressuring government and putting policies that make sure that 00:02:59:04 - 00:03:01:19 that is the needs of people with disabilities. 00:03:01:19 - 00:03:05:00 That government is meeting those needs, you know, time and time again. 00:03:05:00 - 00:03:08:06 Preventable tragedies happen because of failures and disaster 00:03:08:06 - 00:03:12:24 management at the federal, state and the local and local levels. 00:03:13:21 - 00:03:16:04 The status quo is unacceptable. 00:03:16:04 - 00:03:19:13 And without intervention more people with disabilities and older 00:03:19:18 - 00:03:23:05 adults will suffer unnecessarily when disasters strike. 00:03:23:16 - 00:03:26:04 That's why we urgently need to pass legislation 00:03:26:11 - 00:03:30:20 like the REAADI for Disasters Act and the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act. 00:03:31:10 - 00:03:34:12 So the REAADI for Disasters Act would give people with disabilities 00:03:34:17 - 00:03:38:09 and older adults a seat at the table 00:03:38:20 - 00:03:40:20 when planning is taking place. 00:03:41:02 - 00:03:44:04 It would promote the development of inclusive disaster preparedness, 00:03:44:19 - 00:03:47:20 response, recovery and mitigation plans. 00:03:48:06 - 00:03:53:19 The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act 00:03:53:24 - 00:03:58:14 would ensure that relocated disaster survivors who rely on Medicaid waivers 00:03:58:14 - 00:04:02:22 for critical life sustaining services, maintain access to that coverage 00:04:03:06 - 00:04:05:19 even when they're relocating to states 00:04:06:01 - 00:04:08:24 with more restrictive Medicaid programs. 00:04:09:07 - 00:04:11:03 Is really an important distinction. 00:04:11:03 - 00:04:13:19 If someone is evacuated to one state to another 00:04:14:19 - 00:04:16:07 and they have the support 00:04:16:07 - 00:04:20:07 to place in one state, but it's not nearly guaranteed, this is so state centric 00:04:20:13 - 00:04:24:02 that those those same programs that support will be 00:04:24:13 - 00:04:28:03 in existence, in existence and accessible at another state. 00:04:28:03 - 00:04:31:01 We need to we need to make that seamless 00:04:31:07 - 00:04:34:15 so that when someone with disability receive Medicaid services 00:04:35:03 - 00:04:38:14 relocated to another area, that they still maintain the current level of support. 00:04:39:01 - 00:04:42:15 So I'm so proud to lead the REAADI for Disasters Act 00:04:42:15 - 00:04:44:10 with Representative Jimmy Panetta. 00:04:44:10 - 00:04:48:00 And Chris Smith and to co-lead 00:04:48:00 - 00:04:51:02 the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act with Representative Panetta, 00:04:52:00 - 00:04:55:05 great colleagues, bipartisan and really important effort. 00:04:55:15 - 00:04:57:23 I'm also very grateful that Senator Bob 00:04:58:16 - 00:05:01:17 Casey's leadership on both of these bills in the Senate. 00:05:01:17 - 00:05:04:21 Bob's a good friend and we applaud his leadership in the Senate. 00:05:05:16 - 00:05:06:16 We really need to get 00:05:08:14 - 00:05:10:03 these bills over the finish line. 00:05:10:03 - 00:05:12:08 And I appreciate all of your support. 00:05:12:09 - 00:05:15:14 It's how we can make this difference and make this happen together. 00:05:16:14 - 00:05:19:15 I'll leave it to today's presenters to fill you in 00:05:20:23 - 00:05:24:05 on the specific details of these bills in more detail. 00:05:24:05 - 00:05:28:12 But after today's event, if you have any questions or would like to 00:05:28:12 - 00:05:33:17 sign on as a as a co-sponsor of the House version of the REAADI for Disasters Act, 00:05:33:24 - 00:05:36:00 please don't hesitate to contact my office. 00:05:36:24 - 00:05:38:07 We're in this together. 00:05:38:07 - 00:05:43:05 And the more we can collaborate and push members and educate members of staff 00:05:43:05 - 00:05:47:04 about the importance of these bills, we can get more and more co-sponsors. 00:05:47:10 - 00:05:50:10 And when we get to the House and Senate floor respectively, 00:05:50:10 - 00:05:53:05 that we want to get to the president's desk ASAP. 00:05:53:15 - 00:05:55:19 So with that, I just want to thank everyone for again, 00:05:55:19 - 00:05:59:17 for attending the briefing and Shaylin and Germán. 00:06:00:02 - 00:06:01:16 I'll turn it back over to you. 00:06:01:16 - 00:06:03:22 Thank you. 00:06:03:22 - 00:06:05:06 Muchas gracias, Congressman Langevin.