CCAI Capitol Hill Interns Offer Child Welfare Recommendations
On Tuesday, July 28 Capitol Hill participants heard from a number of young people as they presented their ideas on how to reform child welfare. The event was a presentation by a dozen Capitol Hill
State Department Releases 2015 Trafficking in Person Report
Last week the State Department released the 2015 Trafficking in Person Report. The report, that grades all countries under four levels, is a result of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The report tracks
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Gaining Support
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is due for reauthorization this year and it will be on the agenda for the fall session of this Congress. The Senate has announced
Appropriations, Congressional Update
The House is attempting to wrap-up this week with the Senate in session into the first week of August. Appropriation action has stalled out and that means Congress will have less than 15 days to
CWLA Submits Comments on TANF Reauthorization
On Friday, July 24, CWLA submitted comments to the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Resources regarding the TANF reauthorization draft.
The Subcommittee released a draft reauthorization bill for comment before a hearing
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Passes Committee
On Thursday, July 23, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), S 1169. The bill was approved by voice vote with no objections to what has been
Addressing Youth Development and Preventing Violence
On Wednesday, July 22 Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA) cosponsored a briefing by National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives on Preventing Violence: Evidence-Based Programs and Policies to Promote Positive
Bass Introduces Foster Youth Independence Act
On Wednesday, July 22, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA) introduced the Foster Youth Independence Act, HR 3160. The legislation, which has 29 cosponsors, allows states that have opted to extend foster care to 21 year
Casey Introduces Bill To Fix Medicaid to 26 For Former Foster Youth
Last week Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation that will help extend Medicaid coverage to young people who aged out of foster care.
Under the Affordable Care Act if a young person leaves foster care they
Finance Moves 50 Tax Extenders
On Tuesday, July 21, the Senate Finance Committee extended a range of tax breaks. The so-called extenders are called that because they expire every few years. Some such as the Research and Development Tax Credit
Budget Picture Muddle: Appropriations, Reconciliation & Transportation
Last week appropriations stalled out, reconciliation remained suspended and the transportation reauthorization moved toward an uncertain possible short term extension. The House has passed all 12 appropriations out of the Appropriation Committee but they suspended
Bipartisan Drive on Prison Reform Could Benefit JJ and Children
The growing demand to make significant reforms and changes to federal criminal justice laws gathered a powerful head of steam last week after a major effort by President Obama and a number of bipartisan congressional
Education Bill Next Crucial Step
On Thursday, July 16, the Senate approved a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secretary Education Act, S 1177 (ESEA/No Child Left behind Act) by a vote of 81 to 17 sending it on
House Committee Taking Up TANF Reauthorization
On Wednesday, July 15 the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing on a reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. One of the most significant factors
Congress Returns for Sprint To August Break
Last week Congress returned for the remainder of their summer session with votes and debates on education and uncertainty on other key issues including the budget.
The Senate began what is expected to be a two
Senate-House Labor-HHS Selective Cuts and Targets
While much of children’s and child welfare programs were level in funding there were some key targets and cuts. This included the Senate elimination of the Abandoned Infants funding (zeroed out all $11 million) and
DOJ Challenging West Virginia Overuse of Residential Placements
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has found the state of West Virginia in violation of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it comes to providing services to children
Education Debate Moves Forward
The debate on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secretary Education Act, S 1177 (ESEA/No Child Left behind Act) began last Tuesday. At the same time the House leadership narrowly passed their education bill,
House Committee Taking Up TANF Reauthorization
On Wednesday the House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee will hold a hearing on reauthorization of TANF in what could be a serious effort to reauthorize the block grant. The Temporary Assistance for Needy
Child Support Directors Ask Congress to Work With Administration
Last month key Republican leaders, including leaders from the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation and tough language to restrict the Administration’s implementation of new regulations of state child support
Voices of Youth Count Campaign
Last week CWLA joined others in the launch and announcement of the Voices of Youth Count campaign. The Voices of Youth Count is led by Chapin Hall in collaboration with CWLA and other
Supreme Court Puts Aside Latest Challenge to Health Care Law
Last week was a historic week for the U.S. Supreme Court and on Thursday June 25, the Supreme Court issued one of its most anticipated decisions of the term with a 6 to 3 rejection
House and Senate Committees Pass Labor-HHS Bills
Last week both houses moved on an appropriations bill for the departments of HHS, Education and Labor. The House Appropriations Committee moved the bill that had been approved by the Subcommittee a week earlier while
CWLA Joins Partners in Statement on Unregulated Child Custody Transfers
In light of some recent Capitol Hill briefings and discussions highlighting the issue of unregulated child custody transfers or what has been framed in news reports as “rehoming” CWLA joined with several other child welfare
Adoption Tax Credit Gaining Congressional Support
A bill that would restore the refundability of the adoption tax credit is gaining bipartisan and bicameral support. The tax credit seeks to assist families that adopt. It was refundable for a brief period in