Washington, DC – Following House passage of a bipartisan two year budget deal that raises the debt ceiling, increases discretionary spending that benefits people with disabilities (I/DD), and avoids a cut to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, The Arc released the following statement:

“We commend the House for passage of the compromise Bipartisan Budget Act to keep the government open, prevent default, provide sequester relief for many programs that help people with disabilities and their families, and avoid the imminent, harmful cut to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. With so much at stake, our nation cannot afford more stalling on these critical issues.

“Remedying the uncertainty caused by inaction on federal funding and the impending debt limit crisis is good for all Americans, including people with disabilities. While recognizing that the bill is a result of numerous compromises to reach agreement, we are deeply disappointed that the solvency of the SSDI program, a lifeline for people with disabilities, is not extended to 2034. However, we encourage the Senate to move forward with this overall package,” said Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy, The Arc.