ASHA Advocate: March 9, 2023
March 9, 2023
The Top Line
President Biden released his fiscal year 2024 budget [PDF] today. ASHA will analyze the proposal and advocate through the annual appropriations process for funding our top priorities like the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, supporting diverse and underrepresented audiology and speech-language pathology students, communication sciences and disorders Research, and a Technical Assistance Center focused on Communication/Speech Disorders for school-based members.
Bill to Support Care Delivered Across State Lines Introduced
Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced H.R. 1310, the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act, which would expedite sharing of criminal background check information between the FBI and interstate compact licensing authorities to facilitate operation of interstate licensure agreements like the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). ASHA President Bob Augustine was quoted in a joint press release about the bill. Take Action now to support the SHARE Act.
ASHA Leads Introduction of World Hearing Day Resolution
Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a champion of many ASHA public policy initiatives, introduced H. Res. 193, an ASHA-initiated resolution supporting the goals and ideals of World Hearing Day, to bring attention to the importance of ear and hearing care. ASHA President Bob Augustine was quoted in the press release about the resolution, noting support for continued work to increase access to hearing health care and technology.
Working for You
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission heeded ASHA’s call to ensure a consumer safety law doesn’t inadvertently limit access to hearing aid batteries. Read more about ASHA’s role on this issue.
- In a meeting with top officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, ASHA staff discussed the role of audiologists in hearing health care, President Biden’s comments during the State of the Union address, and implementation of over-the-counter hearing aid regulations. Learn more about those meetings and other work on behalf of audiologists.
- The U.S. Supreme Court held hearings on two cases challenging the Biden Administration’s plan to provide debt relief of up to $20,000 to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to borrowers of other eligible federal student loans. While the Supreme Court is considering these cases, the U.S. Department of Education has paused student loan repayment, interest, and collections for most federal loans. Read ASHA’s article about what this litigation and payment pause means for student debt, and when student loan repayments may resume.
- The Federal Trade Commission has proposed to ban the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. Learn more about this issue and share your experiences with non-competes to help ASHA develop resources for audiologists and SLPs.
- Legislation has been introduced in 15 states to adopt the ASLP-IC. Stay up to date on compact legislation status across the U.S.
Spotlight!
"As educational SLP advocates, our voices both individually and collectively, effect positive change for our students and our profession, infusing hope into the system by working with and educating decision-makers at all levels about the value of speech-language pathologists in supporting communication for all."
—Julie Malone, MS, CCC-SLP, Chair, School Finance Committee
