The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was recently signed by the President at a White House signing Ceremony! The House and Senate have passed the bipartisan and bicameral Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Senate passed WIOA by a vote of 95-3 and the House Passed it by a vote of 415-6. Now, with the President’s signature WIOA becomes the law of the land! It is time to celebrate, and to come together as advocates from across the nation to learn exactly what these changes will mean for IL at the Federal level. The Rehabilitation Act is contained in WIOA. Specifically, improvements to Independent Living in this bill include: • The establishment of the Independent Living Administration in the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) • Transition will be added as a fifth core service • SILC activities will be improved and include resource development • SPIL sign-off will now include CIL Directors • States will choose their ‘designated state entity’ (formerly known as the DSU). The DSUs will remain the same for the “723 states” of Massachusetts and Minnesota. Excerpt taken from a NCIL