2015 Government Affairs Summit
March  22-24, 2014 | Alexandria, VA

CONFERENCE PROGRAM-AT-A-GLANCE 
As of 3/13/15
 

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015:  All events at the King Street Hilton Hotel

7:30 AM

Registration

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast

8:30 am – 10:00 am

Capitol Hill 101:  The People's House and Senate (for first-time registered attendees and others) conducted by the Government Affairs Committee and Patricia Leahy

10:00 am – 10:15 am

Welcoming Remarks by NRA President, Tarea Stout and NRA Executive Director, Dr. Fredric Schroeder

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break

10:30 am – 11:45 am

The Honorable Janet LaBreck, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) will discuss the forthcoming NPRM for promulgation of the regulations to accompany the recently-passed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Commissioner LaBreck and staff will also discuss current opportunities for training

12:00 noon – 1:00 pm

Lunch at Hotel

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Presentation of the 2015 Issue Statements by the Government Affairs Co-chairs, Dr. Ralph Pacinelli and Kathy West-Evans and the Government Affairs Committee

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Anna Frese, Sr. Independence Programs Specialist, with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Helaine Bilos, President, Neuro Community Care (NCC) will be presenting together on what many warriors call the longest and least supported part of recovery, which is the return home.  The discussion will highlight the challenges of discharge planning, transitioning of skills from rehab to home, and current home and community based supports provided to warriors and their family members via the WWP’s Independence Program.

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Break

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Former President Susan Sherman, MS, CPM, LPC, CRC, who is currently a Ph.D candidate, is a Research and Teaching Assistant at the Michigan State University, will present together with Sara Johnson, Ph.D., CRC, and an Assistant Professor at Texas University Health and Science Center, will present on Policy, Politics, and Ethics in Rehabilitation

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The President’s Reception hosted by NRA’s 2015 President, Tarea Stout, will follow immediately outside the conference room for all attendees and presenters at the 2015 Government Affairs Summit

 MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015:  All events at the King Street Hilton Hotel

7:30 AM

Registration

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast

8:30 am – 9:45 am

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA);  What Does It Mean to Vocational Rehabilitation? Learn from and dialogue with a panel of partners who worked on the WIOA legislation as part of the national coalition focused on the issues around re-authorization of the Rehabilitation Act and the partnership with the workforce systems.  The issues range from the focus on qualified VR staff, the location of RSA, the partnership with the Department of Labor at the national and State levels and VR's redefined role with business employers.  There will also be a broader discussion of successful strategies we can employ with our partners in both the public and private sectors. State Rehabilitation Councils (SRCs) and others in implementing the new law as well as the forthcoming regulations.  Coalition Members Kathy West-Evans, Rita Martin and Patricia Leahy, and others, will present on this Panel.

10:00 am – 11:00 am

RSA panel comprised of Dr. Tom Finch, Director, Training and Services Division in RSA; Roseann Ashby, Chief of the Rehabilitation Unit, RSA; and Kristin Rhinehart, Program Specialist, Rehabilitation Training Unit will discuss current and forthcoming training opportunities in RSA

11:00 am – 11:15 am

Break

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Dr. Connie Garner, formerly Senior Director of Legislative Disability Policy for then-Chairman of Senate HELP Committee, Senator Edward Kennedy, has agreed to present on how the changes in the recently-passed Workforce Opportunity and Investment Act (WIOA) will affect the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as well as The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Dr. Garner will also present on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how this legislation affects individuals with Disabilities

12:15 pm

A light lunch will be served

As we have done in the past, we will adjourn at 12 Noon, to afford you additional time to meet with your respective Members of Congress

                                           Tuesday, March 24, 2015  All Events on Capitol Hill

9:30 am – 10:30 am

The Congressional Panel, comprised of William Knudsen, Jacque Chavelier, Brad Thomas, Robin Juliano, House of Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, HHS. Ed. and others will discuss the changes to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the forthcoming re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, also known as No Child Left Behind), and other issues of importance to the disability community.  This presentation will be held on the HOUSE side in the Banquet Rooms (B-339 and B-340) of the Rayburn House Office Building.

10:30 am – 12:00 noon

Resumption of Hill visits.  We recommend that you plan your schedule accordingly to visit your respective House Members of Congress to afford you maximum time to return to the Banquet Rooms for the Congressional Luncheon and LEAD-On Awards.

12:00 noon – 2:30 pm

NRA's Congressional Luncheon which will be hosted in the Banquet Rooms of the Rayburn House Office Building (B- 339 and B-340) for the presentation of LEAD-ON Awards.

2:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Resumption of Hill Visits

5:00 pm – 6:00 PM

Wrap-Up Session to be held in Room 121, Cannon House Office Building, which will be made available to you from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Early Bird
Postmarked by March 1, 2015

Regular
Postmarked after March 1, 2015

Member

$285

$305

Non-Member

$365

$385

Student Member

$170

$190

Student Non-Member

One Day Registration

$210

$150

$230

$170