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Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery applauds Representatives Paul Tonko and Brian Fitzpatrick for introducing the bipartisan Disability Community Act, legislation aimed at strengthening the workforce and community-based services that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on.

The legislation would provide a temporary increase in federal Medicaid matching funds to help states support providers facing increased costs associated with federal requirements. We support efforts to ensure that community-based providers have the resources and workforce necessary to offer high-quality services that help people with disabilities live independently and remain connected to their communities.

We thank Representatives Tonko and Fitzpatrick for their leadership and are particularly pleased to see continued bipartisan support for people with disabilities and the services that make community inclusion possible. At a time of significant challenges to the future of Medicaid and federal disability policy, protecting and strengthening community-based services must remain a priority across party lines.

These federal developments will also be part of the conversation at the Alliance for Rights and Recovery Annual Conference, September 23–25 in Albany. Attendees will hear updates on changing federal disability policy, Medicaid, and the services and supports available to people with disabilities, along with discussions about how advocates can continue working to protect rights and strengthen community-based supports.

We encourage our members and partners to join us in Albany to learn more about the federal changes ahead and how we can continue advocating together for strong, accessible community-based services.

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Tonko, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Disability Community Act
Office of Congressman Paul D. Tonko | July 23, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) today introduced the , legislation that would bolster workers who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The bipartisan legislation would propose a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase for states over three years to support providers who rely on Medicaid funding and strengthen care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

“Despite delivering compassionate, essential care to those with disabilities, our community-based providers have long been left without proper federal support, forced to shoulder continuously rising costs themselves,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our bipartisan legislation would right this wrong, bolstering these workers by covering costs and wages so that Medicaid-funded providers are able to deliver the best possible care. I urge my colleagues to join us in advancing this bill that will ensure our disability community and those who care for them receive the vital support they need.”

“Community-based care gives individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the freedom to live more independently, remain connected to their communities, and pursue greater opportunity — and protecting that care must be a governing priority, not an afterthought,” Congressman Fitzpatrick said. “I have consistently worked with families, providers, and direct-support professionals to strengthen the system they rely on. The bipartisan Disability Community Act brings balance and accountability to that effort — supporting workers, equipping providers to meet new federal requirements, and ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of the individuals and families they serve.”

“ANCOR is immensely thankful to Representatives Tonko and Fitzpatrick for their continued leadership in supporting people with disabilities and community-based providers by reintroducing the Disability Community Act,” said Barbara Merrill, CEO of the  (ANCOR). “Providers shouldn’t have to go it alone, and this bill will give states a way to ensure they don’t have to. We’re proud to support the Disability Community Act to make sure providers have the resources they need to deliver the quality services people deserve.”

The Disability Community Act amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily establish a higher federal matching rate with respect to Medicaid expenditures for certain services furnished to individuals with developmental disabilities if such expenditures are attributable to compliance with specified regulations.

Full bill text for the legislation can be found .