#Federal Programs

[ivygorgon]

An open letter to the U.S. Senate

Improve disabled American's financial stability with S.4102 - SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act

In the words of David Goldfarb on behalf of the Arc of the United States, "…we enthusiastically endorse S. 4102, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would raise the amount of savings a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient can keep for the first time in over thirty years. The mission of the Arc is to promote and protect the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

"SSI provides an extremely modest cash benefit, a maximum of $841 a month in 2022, for certain individuals with disabilities and older adults. In March 2022, nearly 7.6 million people: 4.3 million working-age individuals with disabilities; 1 million children with disabilities; and 2.3 million older adults relied on the program.

"Many individuals with IDD rely on the SSI program. In 2017, SSA estimated that approximately 19% of working-age SSI recipients possessed an intellectual disability. For many people with IDD, SSI is their only source of income without which they could become institutionalized or homeless.

"Unfortunately, the benefit’s low, outdated resource limit of $2,000 for individuals/$3,000 for couples does not allow people to save for emergencies, such as a leaky roof, car repair, or other unexpected expense. To make matters worse, the $2,000 limit does not adjust for inflation every year, and it has remained the same since 1989.

"The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would significantly improve the lives of SSI recipients, including people with IDD, by raising the asset limit to $10,000 per individual/$20,000 per couple. The legislation also adjusts that number for inflation every year, a critical element in 2 today’s inflationary environment. This will allow SSI beneficiaries to use their own savings to address needed emergencies when they arise.

"Thank you again for this critical legislation."

Truly his letter is phenomenal and applicable to many American citizens. I hope you too appreciate his mastery of diction, his compassion for his fellow American, and the truth in his words.

📱 Text SIGN PYLYME to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYPETITIONS to 50409

#ivy petitions #Supplemental Security Income #SSI #SSI Reform #Disability Rights #Financial Security #social security #activate your activism #human rights #Inclusion #Community Support #Public Policy #economic justice #Inclusive Society #IDD #UBI #universal basic income #empowerment #Disability Community #Government Support #Financial Empowerment #Legislation #Asset Limits #Financial Assistance #Advocacy #Equality #Senate Bill #s.4102 #Savings Penalty Elimination Act #Federal Programs

[petnews2day]

Senate Republican calls out Biden for ‘dog calls’ on Social Security

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/VtiCE

Senate Republican calls out Biden for ‘dog calls’ on Social Security

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) on Sunday called out President Biden for “dog calls” about Social Security amid partisan spats about funding the federal program. “I really think there’s a golden opportunity, and in a bipartisan way, to put Social Security on a long-term plan that would make it better in the future than what it […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/VtiCE #DogNews #FederalPrograms, #Medicare, #MikeRounds, #SocialSecurity

#federal programs #medicare #Mike Rounds #social security #Dog News

[progressivegraffiti]

Sunset Legislation of Federal Programs Clearly Outlined in Rick Scott's 12-Point America Rescue Plan

Republicans consider many federal programs to be examples of “socialism.” And they hate socialism. If in power, do we really think the #GOP would keep programs like #SocialSecurity?

President Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) address last night was outstanding. I especially enjoyed how he turned the tables on Republican hecklers who called him a liar about GOP plans to “sunset” Social Security. Phenomenal! The “Sunset” Source But for anyone who may question President Biden’s statement in his SOTU address, claiming some Republicans want to “sunset” Social Security &…

View On WordPress

#federal programs #Joe Biden #Republican platform #Rick Scott #Social Security #SOTU #sunset legislation

[nando161mando]

#anniversary #rest in power #aaron swartz #161 #1312 #class war #computer programming #federal government #federal govt #end the fed #bullied #bullies #internet #cyberpunk #environmental activism #activism #activist #ausgov #politas #auspol #tasgov #taspol #australia #fuck neoliberals #neoliberal capitalism #anthony albanese #albanese government #usa news #usa #united states

[jeromepowell]

Rest in peace to a real one 🙏🏻👆🏻💯

#federal reserve #the fed #bank term funding program #btfp #described in alt text #jay speaks

[bumblingbabooshka]

Tuvok’s Vulcan Facebook would just be plant growth progress reports, pictures of his kids and then massively reblogged Vulcan quotes like (picture of Surakian Texts) “This book will either keep you from illogic...or illogic will keep you from this book.”

#His kids are like daaaaaad no one'seven ON Vulcan facebook anymore......... #pulling from my own experience where whenever I did something mildly impressive in high school my mom would be so excited #and say she was gonna tell all her friends! mildly embarrassing but also a warm feeling <3 #Vulcan facebook is notoriously difficult to use and signing up + liking a post is actually the beginniner hacking course in most #federation (non Vulcan majority) colleges. It's very old programming and nearly incomprehensible if you're not Vulcan #if you ARE Vulcan it's just mildly cumbersome. Unless you're above a certain age and then it's no problem at all. #Tuvok being the Vulcan version of the most normal suburban dad...it treats me right -nodnod- #st voyager #Tuvok

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

A top House Democrat has reintroduced a bill to federally legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, with provisions to expunge prior cannabis convictions.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, refiled the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act on Wednesday. There are 33 initial cosponsors—all Democrats.

The comprehensive legalization legislation has passed the House twice in recent sessions—but this marks the first time it’s being introduced with Republicans in control of the chamber, raising serious questions about whether it will move. The Judiciary Committee, which is the primary panel of jurisdiction, is chaired by anti-cannabis Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

Even the prospects of a modest marijuana banking bill that’s set for committee action in the Senate next week are uncertain in the House under the GOP majority. That said, a GOP-led House panel did advance legislation on Wednesday to prevent the denial of federal employment or security clearances based on a candidate’s past cannabis use.

In any case, advocates have long touted the MORE Act as an example of the type of wide-ranging cannabis reform legislation that would not only end prohibition but take steps to right the wrongs of prohibition and promote social equity.

Here are details about the key provisions of the MORE Act:

“Nadler’s MORE Act would deschedule marijuana by removing it from the list of federally banned drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, it would not require states to legalize cannabis and would maintain a level of regulatory discretion up to states.

Marijuana products would be subject to a federal excise tax, starting at 5% for the first two years after enactment and rising to 8% by the fifth year of implementation.

Nobody could be denied federal public benefits based solely on the use or possession of marijuana or past juvenile conviction for a cannabis offense. Federal agencies couldn’t use 'past or present cannabis or marijuana use as criteria for granting, denying, or rescinding a security clearance.'

People could not be penalized under federal immigration laws for any cannabis related activity or conviction, whether it occurred before or after the enactment of the legalization legislation.

The bill creates a process for expungements of non-violent federal marijuana convictions.

Tax revenue from cannabis sales would be placed in a new 'Opportunity Trust Fund.' Half of those tax dollars would support a 'Community Reinvestment Grant Program' under the Justice Department, 10% would support substance misuse treatment programs, 40% would go to the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) to support implementation and a newly created equitable licensing grant program.

The Community Reinvestment Grant Program would 'fund eligible non-profit community organizations to provide a variety of services for individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs…to include job training, reentry services, legal aid for civil and criminal cases (including for expungement of cannabis convictions), among others.'

The program would further support funding for substance misuse treatment for people from communities disproportionately impacted by drug criminalization. Those funds would be available for programs offering services to people with substance misuse disorders for any drug, not just cannabis.

While the bill wouldn’t force states to adopt legalization, it would create incentives to promote equity. For example, SBA would facilitate a program to providing licensing grants to states and localities that have moved to expunge records for people with prior marijuana convictions or 'taken steps to eliminate violations or other penalties for persons still under State or local criminal supervision for a cannabis-related offense or violation for conduct now lawful under State or local law.'

The bill’s proposed Cannabis Restorative Opportunity Program would provide funds 'for loans to assist small business concerns that are owned and controlled by individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs in eligible States and localities.'

The comptroller general, in consultation with the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), would be required to carry out a study on the demographics of people who have faced federal marijuana convictions, 'including information about the age, race, ethnicity, sex, and gender identity.'

The Departments of Treasury, Justice and the SBA would need to 'issue or amend any rules, standard operating procedures, and other legal or policy guidance necessary to carry out implementation of the MORE Act' within one year of its enactment.

Marijuana producers and importers would also need to obtain a federal permit. And they would be subject to a $1,000 per year federal tax as well for each premise they operate.

The bill would impose certain packaging and labeling requirements.

It also prescribes penalties for unlawful conduct such as illegal, unlicensed production or importation of cannabis products.

The Treasury Secretary would be required to carry out a study 'on the characteristics of the cannabis industry, with recommendations to improve the regulation of the industry and related taxes.'

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) would be required to 'regularly compile, maintain, and make public data on the demographics' of marijuana business owners and workers.

Workers in 'safety sensitive' positions, such as those regulated by the Department of Transportation, could continue to be drug tested for THC and face penalties for unauthorized use. Federal workers would also continue to be subject to existing drug testing policies.

References to 'marijuana' or 'marihuana' under federal statute would be changed to 'cannabis.' It’s unclear if that would also apply to the title of the bill itself.”

Some advocates say that the MORE Act’s time has passed, however, and that it doesn’t realistically grapple with the need to enact truly justice-focused legalization through a fair and equitable market.

“The MORE Act was never meant to be a bill to address the real needs of federal regulations,” Shaleen Title, founder and director, Parabola Center for Law and Policy, told Marijuana Moment. “It was a historic bill when it was first introduced to address systemic racial disparities and demonstrate that social justice must be addressed in federal reform, but has never fully addressed the economic justice side of the equation.”

“We’re in a period of rapid corporate consolidation, with a real possibility that big pharmaceutical corporations will be entering the industry in the near future,” she said. “Outdated legalization bills like this would quickly allow for monopolization, putting small farmers and mom-and-pop shops out of business and undermining the public health and racial equity goals of most state cannabis programs. They should all be updated with an intentional regulatory structure and a thoughtful plan to transition to a national market.”

#us politics #news #marijuana moment #2023 #us house of representatives #Rep. Jerry Nadler #Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act #more act #House Judiciary Committee #Rep. Jim Jordan #cannabis #marijuana #legalize it #controlled substances act #expungement of past convictions #non-violent federal marijuana convictions #Small Business Administration #Community Reinvestment Grant Program #war on drugs #Cannabis Restorative Opportunity Program #Department of Health and Human Services #department of Treasury #department of justice #Bureau of Labor Statistics #department of transportation #Shaleen Title #Parabola Center for Law and Policy

[cleverclovers]

Hey, if you're on the ACP (Affordable connectivity program) in the USA, please read this

I received an email this evening from my broadband provider. Here's screenshots, and I'll copy paste the text, as well. TL;DR at the end of the post.

"Important ACP Update

Dear Valued Astound Broadband Customer: On January 11, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will end in a few months unless the US federal government provides additional funds for the program. The FCC is requiring ACP providers like Astound Broadband (Astound) to inform ACP participants about the potential end of the ACP.¹

What Happens Now

You should begin to review your options.

•  If you are an Astound ACP customer on or before February 7, 2024, you will continue to receive the up-to $30 ACP benefit to your ACP-supported internet services until the end of the ACP so long as you continue to be eligible to participate in ACP and remain an Astound customer.²

•  After February 7, 2024, the ACP will not accept new or re-enrolled ACP participants and you may not be able to transfer your ACP benefit to another ACP provider.³

What Happens if the ACP Ends

If the ACP ends, you will no longer receive the up-to $30 per month ACP benefit and other Astound promotional credits for your internet services and, in the final month of the ACP, you may not receive the full up-to $30 per month ACP benefit and other Astound promotional credits for your internet services. If you continue to receive Astound internet services after the ACP ends, the full undiscounted rate for your service will apply or there may be the option to select an alternate package. Additional information will be coming soon regarding your future package options.

The FCC will provide more information on the status of the ACP in the coming weeks, and Astound will provide you with further updates.

If you have questions about the ACP, please contact the Universal Service Administrative Company ACP Support Center at [phone] or visit www.fcc.gov/acp or https://affordableconnectivity.gov/ for more information. In the meantime, thank you for being a valued customer. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Astound Broadband Team"

the footnotes I forgot to screen cap are thus:

"¹Astound Broadband refers to the following ACP participating entities operating in separate service areas throughout the US: RCN Telecom Services, LLC; RCN Telecom Services (Lehigh) LLC; RCN Telecom Services of Philadelphia, LLC; RCN Telecom Services of Massachusetts, LLC; ETS Telephone Company, Inc.; Grande Communications Networks, LLC; and WaveDivision Holdings, LLC.

²The ACP is a US federal government benefit program operated by the FCC that reduces one eligible household’s broadband Internet service bill by up to $30 per month. Without incurring a termination fee, at any time, a household may apply the ACP benefit to any broadband Internet service plan available in the area, at the same terms available to households not eligible for ACP, or a household may transfer the ACP benefit to another provider or opt-out of the program. If the ACP benefit does not completely cover the cost of your home and/or mobile internet services, you must make monthly payments to your ACP-supported broadband Internet services. If the ACP benefit covers the full retail rate of your home and/or mobile internet services, you must use your Internet services at least once every 30 days. If the ACP ends, if the household transfers its ACP benefit to another provider but continues to receive Astound Broadband Internet service, or if de-enrolled from the ACP, the full, undiscounted retail rate and general terms and conditions of service apply.

³If the ACP does not receive additional funds, after February 7, 2024, ACP providers are not required to allow ACP households to transfer their ACP benefit from other ACP providers."

This is a link to the PDF fact sheet from the FCC regarding the ACP wind down

TL;DR:

In April, 2024, it's expected that the fund that makes low cost or free access to the internet possible for low income families and individuals, and college students on pell grants, will run out, without federal intervention. People on the program will loose that financial support, and internet may no longer be a thing people with restricted incomes can afford. Pressure needs to be put on the federal government so that people who rely on the internet for work and education, or even just access to friends and family, can continue to have that access.

The pandemic taught us that the internet is a vital resource that people need access to. A lot of us disabled people already knew that, having fought for work from home/school from home options for years, only receiving them finally during lockdown. Access to the internet has greatly improved most of our lives, and we can't lose that now.

If you know you need the financial support to have cheaper internet, you have until the 7th of February to get your application approved by the FCC, and your provider set up with that information, to give you a little relief until April. Take. that. opportunity.

I have not, as yet, received any indication from other low income support programs, like Social Security, utility discount programs, or food stamps, being cut. I'm keeping an eye out.

I'll update this post in reblogs as I get more information going forward.

#affordable connectivity program #internet service #low income #disability #accessibility #poverty #united states federal low income support #united states politics #united states #federal government

[splatattackz]

random thought time.

if the code is like a program then what if what happened was a factory reset to it? thus why it had seemed confused today and just circled ninho, taking pictures as if it didnt know where it was or what the hotel was (despite us knowing that it had been there before, the day it relentlessly attacked pomme). to it this was all new.

maybe it is connected to luzus computer and thats where all its memory/knowledge was being stored. so thusly by destroying it it wouldve lost all previous things it had learned, effectively being a factory reset.

the reason for why it didnt show up for a while was because whoever makes these codes had to find a new place to store its existence.

you sorta get what im saying?

#random ass thought i had #it would also make sense as to why the federation thought it was done for #you would think factory resetting the program would kill it #after all youre wiping its memory #but its just that. a program. one that can be recreated #and backed up a bit. #qsmp #qsmp code #qsmpattackz #splatattackz

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Ai: Pixel Adventure

Designer’s Reflection: Pixel Adventure

Obtained: Sea of Fantasy Gleam

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Blue/Cool

Awakened Suit: Virtual Adventure

Story - transcripts from Designer’s Reflection

Chapter 1 - New Career

Chapter 2 - Rising Star

Chapter 3 - Opportunity

Chapter 4 - New Journey

Story - summarized

Whenever Charmonroe isn’t home, Ai loves to play games. She’s so used to being on her own. At least as an artificial intelligence program, she doesn’t need much to entertain herself.

Still, she is excited about the newest game. It’s an online game with multiple players. Except she plays by herself. Charmonroe notices this and asks Ai why she is by herself. Ai thought the point of games was to win, and it’s too unpredictable with many people. The college student encourages Ai to branch out.

So, Ai starts off by inviting the friends she already has to play in her small group: SummerSue, WinterWill, and Peppermint. She likes the challenge of having “other variables” when others play with her. She shares some of the play highlights with Charmonroe - as well as some quirky or funny moments.

Charmonroe is worried that Ai is sticking too close to what is familiar, so she encourages her to try playing with strangers. Ai likes it, and she’s more than willing to give pointers to other gamers. But a few of the gamers start spreading rumors about her, even going so far as to report her for cheating and bugs.

Ai insists that she wants to go to the company’s live-stream to officially meet everyone and to clear up any confusion. The night of the stream, Ai feels anxious. She’s never felt a mix of emotions at the same time. Thankfully, Charmonroe is there to help her through the live-stream.

Once the stream starts, Ai joins right away, snuggled into her own bedroom in cyberspace. She becomes popular right away. Ai likes these new feelings and moments. Later on, she tells Charmonroe that she wants to be out of her bubble and join the larger world.

Connections

-In the Reflection for Shy Confession, Ai describes being created (her version of being born). Charmonroe is her programmer, but rather than a mother-figure she acts like a big sister to Ai.

-You’ve already met Ai’s best friends: Peppermint, Susan (SummerSue), and William (WinterWill).

-The players comment on Ai’s avatar: a girl in a school uniform. In the Reflection for Shy Confession, you learn that a school uniform was Ai’s first design, as well as her favorite.

Fun Facts

-Ai’s name comes from the initials for “artificial intelligence,” but it’s pronounced like the English word “eye.”

-Ai is also a Chinese (and borrowed in Japanese) word meaning “love.”

#ai #shining nikki #artificial intelligence #computer #program #blue attribute #cool #pixel adventure #friends #cyberbullying #mmo games #online gaming #streaming #popularity #break out of your shell #charmonroe #be confident #apple #apple federation #ssr designer

[maxellminidisc]

Every time I write letters to my local politicians I'm always prepared to have a vein rupture from how pissed off their response emails make me. I hate all politicians, but Texas politicians I hate you the most 🙃

#i sent one about the adorable connectivity program #and ted cruz was like 'it was all well and good but have you thought about the welfare fraud federally funded abuse of the program? hmm!?' #DIIIIEEEEE #AFFORDABLE NOT ADORABLE LMAAOO

[sudoscience]

Two days in a row, I had to get frisked at work. Why can't I ever get chara'd instead?

#what would that even entail? #undertale #shitpost #blog #i'm not joking. i work at the airport. tsa pats down the employees too #saw someone say the tsa is basically just a federal jobs program and i think they're right #it's security theater #(despite this i still applied to work for them. i just wasn't too disappointed when i didn't get the job)

[lonely-lady-and-a-foxglove-man]

Star Trek Au where they're still thieves, they just regularly impersonate federation officials and drive around a stolen federation ship.

Other details include:

-Juno is half betazoid. He is absolutely no better with people.

-He and Rita are the only members of the crew to have actually served in the federation.

-Juno was the youngest ever captain, though he served on an outposting similar to the Deep Space Nine.

-Nureyev has no clue whatsoever what he is species-wise. All he knows is that he can shape-shift.

-Vespa is Klingon. She is currently one of only a few doctors to offer honor killings as a service.

- Buddy, Jet, and Rita* are human.

#the penumbra podcast #juno steel #peter nureyev #rita penumbra #buddy aurinko #jet siquliak #vespa ilkay #star trek #Juno has actually a pretty strong psychic ability but this is because it was artificially augmented against his will #Dark Matters is a subgroup of the Federation #Nureyev’s shapeshifting is only limited to what he can do without losing mass #but he specializes in humanoid figures #he pretends to be human with everyone but Juno #part of me wants to make Rita an android of some sort #or a sentient hologram program type being #but i don't actually have any direction to go with that #Juno bought and keeps his wedding dress almost solely to spite his Mother

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

#us politics #memes #gop #conservatives #republicans #libertarians be like #fuck libertarians #libertarians #lolbertarians #ayn rand #paul ryan #rep. Paul Ryan #taxation isn't theft #taxation is theft and other lies by lolbertarians #welfare programs #unemployment insurance #regulations #federal regulations #deregulate deez nutz #infrastructure reform #social security #medicare

[comergpure5]

Join the discussion on cannabis legalization with our comprehensive article, complete with a detailed list of where cannabis is legal in the U.S. Explore the nuances of state laws and share your insights with the community. Don't miss out on this valuable resource. #CannabisDiscussion #LegalizationGuide #JoinTheConversation 🌿🗣️

#cannabis legalization #state regulations #taxation systems #social equity programs #cannabis industry #marijuana laws #federal vs. state conflict #public health initiatives #employment laws #labor regulations #advocacy groups #industry associations #legal status #state-by-state guide #PURE5™ #cannabis processing equipment

[spikes-got-anger-issues]

First day of school tomorrow and I'm pretty sure I'm the only girl in my class for this program. It's a very male dominated profession and in my region of the US it's typically occupied by undesirable and rude men. I won't know until tomorrow, but let's hope everything goes well and the program won't become overwhelming 🫡

#on the other hand it's a brand new program so if I am the only girl I will be the first girl in the program! #and the student resource officer for the program is a woman I have been communicating with so I at least have her if I'm uncomfortable #it's an accelerated program that usually takes two years but this will take a little over a year and it's a federal level program #I'm nervous but also getting more and more excited I just really hope I don't become overwhelmed with the amount of info I need to remember #I don't really think I've shared much about my personal life on this account but here's a little taste of it ig lol #personal