Publications

WHO'S WHO IN CONGRESS
The 104th Session

November's historic national elections resulted in a significant change in government representation. After nearly four decades of dominance, Democrats are no longer the majority party in Congress. The new Republican majority promises to transform the way Congress operates. Policy shifts and new practices are already evident. Key by-products of the transformation of Congress are changes in the organizational structure and integrity of some committees. Congressional committees engage in the formulation of laws and determination of policy.

The Senate Committee on Disability Policy Issues remains intact but the membership has been dramatically altered. On the other side, the House Committee on Disability has been eliminated. Instead, disability policy issues have been dispersed throughout various subcommittees.

Listed below are various Congressional committees with potential to impact disability policies and their membership:

KEY SENATE COMMITTEES

Labor and Human Resources Committee

The Labor and Human Resources Committee provides oversight of education and health programs. Nancy L. Kassebaum (R-KS), Chair. Members: Jim Jeffords (R-VT), Dan Coats (R-IN), Judd Greg (R-NH), William Frist (R-TN), Mike DeWine (R-OH), John Ashcroft (R-MO), Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Slade Gorton (R-WA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Claiborne Pell (D-RI), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Paul Simon (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Paul Wellstone (D-MN).

Subcommittee on Disability Policy

William H. Frist (R-TN), Chair. Members: James Jeffords, Slade Gorton, Mike DeWine, Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, Paul Simon.
Majority Staff Director: Patricia Morrissey.

Other Subcommittees (affecting education):

Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism
Dan Coats, (IN), Chair.

Education, Arts, and Humanities
Jim Jeffords, (VT), Chair.

Aging
Judd Gregg, (NH), Chair.

Committee on Appropriations

Mark O. Hatfield, (R-OR), Chair. Members: Ted Stevens (R-AK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Arlen Spector (R-PA), Pete Domenici (R-NM),Phil Gramm (R-TX), Christopher Bond (R-MS), Slade Gorton (R-WA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Connie Mack (R-FL), Conrad Burns (R-MT), Richard Shelby (R-AL), James Jeffords (R-VT), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Robert F. Bennett (R-UT), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ernest Hollings (D-SC), J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dale Bumpers (D-AR), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Harry Reid (D-NV), Robert Kerry (D-NE), Herb Kohl (D-WS), Patty Murray (D-WA).

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education

Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chair. Members: Mark Hatfield, Thad Cochran, Slade Gorton, Connie Mack, Christopher Bond, James Jeffords, Judd Gregg, Tom Harkin, Robert Byrd, Ernest Hollings, Daniel Inouye, Dale Bumpers, Harry Reid, Herb Kohl.

Committee on Small Business
Christopher S. Bond (R-MO), Chair.

Finance Committee
Bob Packwood (R-OR), Chair.

Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (affecting telecommunications):
Larry Pressler (R-SD), Chair.

Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), Chair.

Budget Committee
Pete V. Domenici (R-MN), Chair.

Environment and Public Works Committee
John H. Chafee (R-RI), Chair.

Committee on Veterans Affairs
Alan K. Simpson (R-WY), Chair.

Committee on Aging
William S. Cohen (R-ME), Chair.

KEY HOUSE COMMITTEES

Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee

William F. Goodling (R-PA), Chair. Members: Tom Petri (R-WI), Marge Roukema (R-NJ), Steve Gunderson (R-WI), Harris Fawell (R-VA), Cass Ballenger (R-NC), Bill Barrett (R-NE), Duke Cunningham (R-CA), Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-CA), Mike Castle (R-DE), Jim Talent (R-MO), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Dave Weldon (R-FL), David Funderburk (R-NC), Mark Souder (R-IN), David McIntosh (R-IN), Jan Meyers (R-KS), Sam Johnson (R-TX), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Jim Greenwood (R-PA), Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), Frank Riggs (R-CA), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), Bill Clay (D-MO), George Miller (D-CA), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Pat Williams (D-MT), Matthew Martinez (D-CA), Major Owens (D-NY), Thomas Sawyer (D-OH), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Roerner (D-IN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Robert Scott (D-VA) Gene Green (D-TX), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR), Mel Reynolds (D-IL).

Efforts were not successful to save the Subcommittee on Select Education, which focused on disability issues. Instead, subcommittees are assigned responsibilities as follows:

• Worker Protections, Cass Ballenger (R-NC), Chair, will focus on OSHA and FSLA.
• Employer-Employee Relations, Harris Fawell (R-VA), Chair, will focus on ERISA and civil rights.
• Oversight and Investigations, Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Chair, will focus on regulatory issues at Labor.
• Post Secondary Education, Training and Lifelong Learning, Howard (Buck) McKeon, (R-CA), Chair, will focus on vocational rehabilitation issues.
• Early Childhood, Youth and Family, Randy (Duke) Cunningham, (R-CA), Chair, will focus on ADA and special education.

Appropriations Committee
Bob Livingston (R-LA), Chair.

Budget Committee
John R. Kastch (R-OH), Chair.

Committee on Small Business
Jan Meyers (R-KS), Chair.

Committee on Technology and Competitiveness
Robert S. Walker (R-PA), Chair.

Committee on International Relations
Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY), Chair.

Judiciary Committee
Henry J. Hyde (R-IL), Chair.

Committee on National Security
Floyd Spence (R-SC), Chair.

Committee on Public Lands and Resources
Don Young (R-AK), Chair.

Rules Committee
Gerald B. H. Solomon (R-NY), Chair.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Bud Shuster (R-PA), Chair.

Committee on Veterans Affairs
Bob Stump (R-AZ), Chair.

Ways and Means Committee
Bill Archer (R-TX), Chair.

Committee on Agriculture
Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chair.

Committee on Banking and Financial Services
Jim Leach (R-IA), Chair.

Commerce Committee
Thomas J. Biley, Jr. (R-VA), Chair.

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight
William F. Clinger, Jr. (R-PA), Chair.

House Oversight Committee
Bill Thomas (R-CA), Chair.

Intelligence Committee
Larry Combest (R-TX), Chair.

RESNA's Technical Assistance Project will keep you informed with legislative updates through RESNA's Society on Governmental Affairs.

What's New At The NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY

The National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency working with the President and Congress to increase the inclusion, independence and empowerment of all Americans with disabilities, has a new leader. Marka Bristo, President and CEO of Access Living in Chicago, was appointed Chair by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate on May 12, 1994.

One of Ms. Bristo's goals is to create a stronger link between the Council, the community of people with disabilities, parents and advocates.

As part of its public policy activities, the National Council on Disabilities monitors implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The NCOD will hold town meetings to hear personal stories on the legislation's impact. They are particularly interested in success stories relating to personal experiences or changes within communities. Town meetings are open to the public, and the upcoming schedule is:

Birmingham, AL: Feb 14. 205/251-2223
Topeka, KS: Feb 15. 913/296-6527
New Orleans, LA: Feb 16. 504/286-6939
Albuquerque, NM: Feb 17. 505/827-6465
Dallas, TX: Feb 22. 512/463-5739
Trenton, NJ: Mar 15. 609/292-3745
Portland, ME: Mar 16. 207/624-5307
Concord, NH: Mar 17. 603/228-9680
Nashville, TN: Apr 6. 615/428-6266
Des Moines, IA: Apr 11. 515/281-5969
Jefferson City, MO: Apr 12. 314/751-2600
Boise, ID: Apr 27. 208/336-3335

For more information, contact:

National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW
Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20004-1107
202/ 272-2004
202/ 272-2074 TT
202/ 272-2022 Fax

What's New at the RESNA Technical Assistance Project

The RESNA Technical Assistance Project is engaged in many exciting activities under our new project extension with NIDRR to provide Tech Act grantees with technical assistance designed to address the mandates of The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-218) and implementation of consumer-responsive, comprehensive, statewide programs of technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities.

The staff of the Technical Assistance Project (Nell Bailey, Project Director; Barbara Crowl, Project Associate; Karen Moore, Information Coordinator; Karen Franklin, Consultant on Policy & Funding; Rob Sheehan, Project Evaluator Consultant) welcome the addition of several new staff members to help accomplish this task:

Audrey Skinner, Project Assistant
Audrey has an extensive background in administration and a knowledge of disability issues from her prior work at UCPA.

Nancy Meidenbauer, Project Associate
Nancy most recently worked on two national clearinghouse projects on special education technology subjects and professions at the Council for Exceptional Children.

Marka Hayes, Project Associate
Marka comes to us from the National Easter Seal Society where she provided technical assistance to the national AgrAbility Project.

The RESNA Technical Assistance Project (#HN92031001) is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education (ED) under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994. The information contained herein does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of NIDRR/ED or RESNA and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.

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