Congressional Leaders Seek to Avoid Shut-Down and Maybe Wall Funding
Last week congressional leaders were sounding off about the need to finish the FY 2017 budget at the end of this month without a government shut-down. With Democrats signaling that they would oppose any FY
Meet Your Member of Congress
With Congress headed into a two-week break, it will be the biggest opportunity for voters to meet their member since last year’s election. Go visit your Member of Congress at the next town hall! Families
Next Steps on ACA Could Give Life or Not
With some Congressional Republicans suggesting that a repeal of the ACA is still front and center it will not likely happen when the Congress returns after the spring break. With the CR funding due for
Shout Out To CWLA Members Making A Difference
CWLA members were part of the masses that flooded Capitol Hill with calls and outreach in the past several weeks but especially last week. Earlier this month, CWLA sent a letter to Capitol Hill opposing
CWLA Members Head To Hill Post ACA Debate
On Wednesday, CWLA members will begin to gather in Washington DC for the annual CWLA National Conference. The Conference located within walking distance of the Capitol Hill dome will allow the approximately 500 registrants to
President and Speaker Pull Plug on American Health Care Act
On Friday afternoon President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WS) pulled the American Health Care Act from a floor to prevent a vote that would have ended in defeat. The loss came after a
Researchers Discuss Increased White Mortality Rates
On Thursday, March 23, two Princeton University researchers and economists expanded on their recent work on what appears to be a real trend of increased mortality rates among some lower income, less-than-college educated white populations.
Senate Aging Committee Focuses on Opioid Addiction
On Tuesday, March 21, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, held a re-scheduled hearing on, Grandparents to the Rescue: Raising Grandchildren in the Opioid Crisis and Beyond. Committee Chairperson Susan Collins (R-ME) opened the
Administration Budget Heavy On Cuts And Criticism
The President’s proposed budget for discretionary spending for 2018 landed with a crash as it includes dramatic cuts across agencies and departments as a way to pay for increases to the Pentagon. The proposal was
CWLA Sends Letter Opposing Health Care Proposal
On Tuesday, March 14, CWLA sent a letter to Capitol Hill opposing the American Health Care Act. Citing the new Congressional Budget Office analysis, in the letter, CWLA President and CEO Chris James-Brown points
CBO Tells Congress 52 Million Uninsured by 2026 and Much More
Late Monday, March 13, The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its required analysis of the American Health Care Act concluding that it would both reduce the number of people with health insurance while cutting
Home Visiting Hearing Positive About MIECHV
On Wednesday, March 15, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing and took the first step toward a reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program.
House Health Bills Move From Committees
The House Ways and Means Committee followed by the House Commerce and Energy Committee moved their parts of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WS) health plan on Thursday, March 9. The Ways and Means Committee gave final
Ending Medicaid As We Know It
The House health care plan confronts what are two overarching Medicaid issues but the second one may be the most significant. The first issue is how to deal with the Medicaid expansion enacted under the
House Members Denounce Suggestion of Foster Care in Enforcement
On Thursday, March 9, more than 80 members of Congress signed onto a letter to denounce a suggestion by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that the Department might look at foster care placements as an
Maybe No Big News on Budget This Week
The Trump Administration will release its “skinny budget” this week on either March 15 or March 16. It is referred to as a skinny budget because it will include only “top-line” figures meaning possibly only
Health Care, Foster Care: Its About the Treatment
Last fall when HHS released the new ACFARS Report Number 23, they pointed out that nearly three quarters of states reported an increase in the numbers of children entering foster care from 2014 to
Senate Repeals Set of Education Regulations
Efforts to better coordinate access to education for children and youth in foster care may have suffered a setback last week Thursday. The Senate approved a roll-back of Obama Administration regulations to implement the new
Groups From All 50 States Support SSBG
A coalition group including CWLA has sent Capitol Hill an updated letter of support of SSBG on Thursday. The letter includes more than 75 national organizations and organizations and agencies from all fifty states.
CWLA
Legislation Would Create Commission on Criminal Justice Reform
On Wednesday, March 8, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan bill to create a National Criminal Justice Commission. The commission would make recommendations on a range of criminal justice issues. In a time of
Defense Increase of 10 Percent Could Devastate
The President’s desire to provide a ten percent increase in the Defense Department budget could devastate a number of human services and domestic programs. Unless Congress agrees to fund the increase through deficits, the $54
House May Take Committee Action on ACA Repeal This Week
Under criticism that they are drafting an ACA repeal in secret, House Republicans are crafting legislation that they could begin to move out of the two key House committees later this week. The White House
SSBG Factsheets Now Available
CWLA has created a new resource on the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). The new resource are state-by-state fact sheets found on the advocacy site as a separate tab. Each state there is
Senate Judiciary Focuses on Juvenile Justice
On Tuesday, February 28, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on juvenile justice issues. The hearing began with remarks by the Chairman, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), who in his opening statement, discussed
President’s Speech Likely Start of Budget Debate
When the President addresses Congress and the nation on Tuesday, it will likely bring in a broader discussion of the federal budget which has had limited debate thus far into the new Administration. It is