Even If Speaker Leaves Entitlement Cuts/ Welfare Reform Still Next
The publication, Politico made news this week with a profile piece that reported that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WS) will retire after this Congress. There have been some denials although the profile painted a portrait of
New Interdepartmental Committee on Mental Health Issues Rec’s
As a result of last year’s 21st Century Cures Act, a new Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) has issued its set of recommendations.
The full report: The Way Forward: Federal Action for a
Foster Parent Recruitment on Capitol Hill
Shaquita Ogletree
On December 13, 2017, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth held a congressional briefing to discuss recruiting and retaining quality foster parents. The briefing focused on CHAMPS – children need amazing parents.
The campaign promotes
Calls to Fully Fund Child Care Reforms
A new letter in support of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) call for a doubling child care funding is now circulating. CWLA has signed onto the appropriations request in an effort to highlight the dramatic unmet
Congress Extends Funding Until December 22
Congress made quick action of a two-week continuing resolution (CR) on Thursday, December 7, extending FY 2018 funding to December 22, 2017. Kicking the proverbial can down the road, congressional leaders now have two more
Speaker Says Entitlement Cuts and “Welfare Reform” Next
Building on earlier comments by the President, on Wednesday, December 6, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WS) said,
“We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and
Tax Bill Negotiations Continue
The House and Senate set up a Conference Committee to resolve differences formally, but the actual meeting of this Committee is unlikely to be where real decisions are made. A Conference Committee includes membership from
Which States Didn’t Increase Foster Care Caseloads Over Five Years?
With the latest data on child welfare showing that there are 437,465 children in foster care as of September 30, 2016 and a trendline of five straight years of increases going from 396,966 in
Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign Begins
On Monday, December 4, the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign was launched to promote best interests of all children in foster and adoption systems. The campaign is headed up by the Family Equality
DACA Fate Tied with Year End Deals
As leaders met at the White House it became no clearer whether young people effected by the President’s repeal of DACA will get relief by the end of 2017. On Tuesday, December 5 a letter
Labor-HHS Subcommittee Reviews Opioids
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Update on CHIP and Home Visiting
With negotiations on the CR extended reauthorizations like CHIP and the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program could be either thrown into a larger separate package or part of the end of
Tax Bill Triggers Cuts That Virtually Eliminates SSBG and Promoting Safe and Stable Families Funding
On Saturday, December 3, the Senate gave final approval to their tax package by a vote of 51 to 49. It now will be negotiated with the House. The tax legislation being considered by Congress
Its Official Foster Care Placements Continue to Jump
On Thursday, November 30, HHS released the latest data on child welfare and it now shows that there are 437,465 children in foster care as of September 30, 2016. This is the fifth straight
Congressional Leaders Looking for December 22 CR
Congressional Republicans are hoping to adopt a two-week CR that would extend funding for two weeks to December 22, 2017 so they could then extend funding for two to four more weeks to January 2018.
Last
HELP Committee Keeps Focus on Opioids
Shaquita Ogletree
On Thursday, November 30, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to discuss the opioid crisis and how states, communities, and providers were responding to the epidemic.
Chairman Lamar Alexander
This Weeks’ Assaults & Advancements for ACA: Senate Tax Bill, Possible Action on Alexander-Murray ,Continued Enrollment For 2018
The major development regarding the Affordable Care Act occurred within the Senate and passage of their tax reconciliation legislation. The legislation does away with the individual mandate. Based on an analysis by the CBO and
HHS Designee Finishes First Hearing
On Wednesday, November 29, the HELP Committee held the first of two Committee hearings on his nomination. HELP holds a hearing over the HHS Secretary position, but the actual approval vote comes through the Senate
Congressional Bills Extend Court Improvement Program (CIP)
Last week’s Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released similar bills to extend the Court Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is part of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program. It provides
Update on CHIP Reauthorization
There has been no progress on CHIP reauthorization but there was a lot of talk.
There was a debate on the Senate floor when Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said that CHIP would get done because “I
Tax Bills Pass House and Senate Finance Committee
Thursday, November 16 was a big day for tax cut advocates. The House of Representatives passed their tax bill (HR 1) by of 227 to 205 with all but 13 Republicans and no Democrats
Bill to Protect Athletes from Sexual Abuse Passes Senate Waits for House
On Tuesday, November 14, the Senate passed S 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. The legislation, which has had the active support of CWLA, was
VFA Portrait Project Major Success As Families Tell Their Stories to Congress
On Wednesday, November 15, CWLA partner organization Voice for Adoption, hosted their
13th annual Adoptive Family Portrait Project. November is national adoption month and the project is a way to highlight adoptions from foster
New Data Highlights Youth Homelessness Problem
Last week a new report, Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America, the study covers youth homelessness in a range of settings. Young people may survive by sleeping on the streets, in shelters, running away,
This Weeks’ Assaults & Advancements for ACA: Senate Tax Bill, Continued Enrollment Surge For 2018
The major development regarding the Affordable Care Act occurred on Wednesday when the Senate Finance Committee under the leadership of Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), inserted a repeal of the individual mandate as part of the