In an article by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the racial disparities in sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) were examined. While general infant mortality rates have continuously fallen in the US through 2020, SUID rates have remained stagnant. Moreover, in 2020 researchers discovered a rise in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates, as well as
On March 15th, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a new report about the harms of work requirements in safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. The report notes that most working-age adults receiving assistance from these programs are already working for pay or they are temporarily between
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, President Biden released his budget. It was a partial release with more details to be released this week. CWLA will have a more complete review later this week. Overall, the Administration proposes increases in the human services areas of the budget and medical services while proposing a projected reduction in
On March 10th, 2023, the House Ways and Means Committee hosted a hearing with Treasury Secretary Yellen about President Biden’s budget, released the day prior. The hearing, which lasted more than three hours, was an opportunity for the new majority party to press the Secretary on many of the fiscal policies of the Biden Administration
On March 8th, 2023, House Ways and Means Work & Welfare Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-chair Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) re-introduced the Foster Youth and Driving Act, legislation that would increase the economic and social independence of youth in care by helping them obtain their driver’s licenses.
On March 8, 2023, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee held a hearing to address the current homelessness crisis. Housing affordability has been a longstanding issue, and emergency efforts during the pandemic helped significantly reduce the number of homeless people. However, this funding has now expired, and the homelessness crisis is yet again
On March 8th, 2023 the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held its first full committee markup on H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, and H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. Ranking Member Bobby Scott [D-VA] opened the markup by explaining his opposition: “Neither of
In recent months, thousands of immigrant families have been relocated to communities across the country by the governors of Arizona, Florida, and Texas. These families lack safe and secure housing and can experience homelessness for months. At the very least, schools can be places of stability for youth in helping them mitigate the trauma and
On March 7, 2023, the Senate Finance Committee hosted a hearing titled “Tax Policy’s Role in Increasing Affordable Housing Supply for Working Families.” Witnesses included Denise Scott (President of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Steve Walker (Executive Director of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission), Sharon Wilson Geno (President of the National Multifamily Housing Council),
On March 8th, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on Kinship Navigator programs titled, “HHS Is Taking Steps to Help States Support Relative Caregivers with Evidence-Based Programs.” This report was requested in 2019 by then-Chairman of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Danny Davis (D-IL) and then-Ranking Member late-Representative Jackie Walorski