Opportunity Village’s (OV) mission is to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities in Southern Nevada. This mission — and the R&R Foundation’s work on their behalf — extends all the way to Washington D.C. and the halls of Congress. R&R’s government affairs team is working to secure vacant federal land in order to build an additional campus in the southwest valley of Las Vegas near the new VA Medical Center. This work includes meeting with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials to identify appropriate parcels, drafting a bill for introduction in Congress, and working the bill through the legislative process. Transferring from the BLM would greatly decrease the cost of this project.
R&R’s Washington office also assists OV in securing government contracts for its clients to perform minimally skilled labor jobs and support services. In addition, R&R is working to obtain federal funds for Sean’s Park, a recreational area for people with severe disabilities, identify grant opportunities and lobby Clark County Commissioners and the County Manager. We also monitor legislation relating to people with disabilities/employers and appropriations bills that provide federal funds to providers such as OV. This work includes regular contact with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.