Legislation

House Committee Moves Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations

Last week the House Appropriations Committee passed through the subcommittee (Monday, July 12, 2021) and then through the full committee on Wednesday (July 14, 2021) the appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS).  The $253 billion appropriations for the three departments passed out of full committee by a vote

Some of the House Committee’s Appropriations Directives

As is custom, the House Appropriations Committee included important guidance and directives for some of the new and existing HHS funding. Some of these include: CWA data elements into AFCARS. Mental Health Screenings for Foster Youth. The Committee recognizes that States are required to develop a plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health

Child Tax Credit

The Child Tax Credit, part of the American Rescue Plan, is here to help families raising children make ends meet. Experts estimate the new Child Tax Credit has the potential to cut child poverty in half. We need your help to spread the word and raise awareness of this major tax relief for working families.

Latest Budget Update

Last week resulted in an initial agreement between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators on an infrastructure bill while Congressional Democrats focused on what should be included in a fall reconciliation bill. On Thursday, June 24, 2021, a group of Democratic and Republican senators gathered at the White House along with the President to

Interior Department Grants To Operate Indian Child And Family Service Programs

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the Department of Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), published a notice soliciting grants from Indian Organizations to establish and operate off-reservation Indian child and family service programs.    Indian child and family service programs are to provide services for stabilizing Indian families and Tribes, preventing the breakup of Indian

June 21st is #ChildTaxCredit Awareness Day

Help us spread the word about the largest child tax credit ever and learn more at ChildTaxCredit.gov. The Child Tax Credit, part of the American Rescue Plan, is here to help families raising children make ends meet. Experts estimate the new Child Tax Credit has the potential to cut child poverty in half. We need

New National Holiday—Juneteenth

On Thursday, June 18, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate approved a bill will make Juneteenth a public holiday, 41 years after Texas.  What is Juneteenth? On

7-2 Supreme Court Vote Rejects State Challenge to the Affordable Care Act

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge in California v. Texas, led by the state of Texas, to the constitutionality of the ACA. The strong 7 to 2 vote rejected the standing of the states to bring the case but also rejected several arguments made to strike down the entire ACA

Sequestration Budget Cuts Continue for Some Programs: SSBG, Home Visiting, PSSF

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF), and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs will all be reduced by 5.7 percent this coming year due to sequestration.   The ten-year Budget Control Act of 2011 that set up budget caps from 2011 to 2021 included a

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