JohnS

About John Sciamanna

John Sciamanna is CWLA's Vice President of Public Policy.

Deadlines on Health Care

This week the Trump Administration will have to make decision on what to do with the House v. Burwell.  House v Burwell is the House of Representative’s efforts to cut off funding to insurers that help reduce the cost of health insurance premiums for some people purchasing health insurance through the ACA.   House Republicans had

Resources To Improve Education and Foster Care Status

The Legal Center for Foster Care & Education  has created a guide and factsheet, Roadmap for Foster Care and K–12 Data Linkages, that promotes the cooperation between state and local education and child welfare agencies in the sharing of data.  The Center points out that by sharing data, child welfare and education agencies can work

President’s Harsh Immigration Actions Leaves Window Dreamers—for Now

The Homeland Security Memorandum implementing the President’s Executive Order of January 25, has been interpreted as widening the immigrant targets for removal but, at least for now, this has not extended to DACA students and young people who were brought here at a young age by parents or guardians.  DACA is short for Deferred Action

House Leadership Discusses Repeal and Replace Plan

Last Thursday, February 16, Speaker Paul Ryan went before his Republican caucus to unveil the leaderships repeal and replace plan for the Affordable Care Act. That plan outlined in a white paper still left questions in the minds of some members fearing it didn't go far enough in its repeal or maybe went too far

Tax Plan Could Contribute to Entitlement Block Grants

Last week Congress was also talking tax cuts and tax reform.  How it ends up could have a big impact on entitlements.  It is expected that the second reconciliation—which hasn't been written yet until the next year’s budget resolution is adopted for FY 2018—will be used for a tax cut package.  There will likely be

Cabinet Update: Mulvaney Approved for OMB, Verma on Track for CMS

On Thursday, February 16, Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) became the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.  That likely means a stripped down first year budget for the new Administration will be released in March.  That budget will give the first significant and detailed insight into what the new Administration will do on spending

Human Resources Subcommittee Holds First Hearing

On Wednesday, February 15 the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held its first subcommittee hearing under their new leadership of Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE). The hearing titled, The Changing Geography of US Poverty focused on rural poverty. Several members are new to the subcommittee and much of their focus was on their

Health Statistic and Trump Administration Actions on Health Care  

Last week resulted in the release of a range of health care statistics as well as some Administration actions that could greatly impact the ACA.  First the numbers. National Health Interview Survey, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the decline in the percentage of uninsured in the

ACA Repeal Timetables and Discussions

Congress is moving ahead with an ACA repeal but the timetables are all over the board as far as when and what will be included.  It is clear however that the House will be much more aggressive.  Reports are that House leaders would like to start to move legislation out of key committees as early

How Will Raids on Undocumented Aliens Impact Children?

With reports spreading of arrests and raids by Homeland Security’s Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agency concerns are being raised about the impact on children. According to the PEW Research Center, in 2012 there were 4.5 million children younger than 18 years living with at least one undocumented parents.  If both parents or a single

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