On July 18, 2023, Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI) held a press conference to introduce the launch of an initiative called the Child Labor Prevention Task Force. The primary focus of this task force is to address the alarming rise in illegal child labor across the nation. During opening remarks, Congressman
In response to the growing mental health crisis in the United States, Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Mary Peltola (D-AK), and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced HR 3073 the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023 (CMWRA), on May 2, 2023. The bill aims to address the urgent need for
On July 19, 2023, the Center for American Progress hosted an event titled “Health Equity in Early Childhood Policy” that facilitated a discussion about how policymakers can address inequality in health policy to create legislation that effectively serves all children. The panelists agreed that the most urgent need is to include community members in conversations
An article published on July 18, 2023, highlighted a recent study that illustrated how restrictive eligibility for public insurance affects maternal health care in low-income people. Regardless of documentation status, the study showed that low-income immigrants in the United States had limited access to maternal and postpartum care. The already large disparity in insurance coverage
Congress returned from the July 4th recess last week and moved quickly on a number of initiatives, as there are only three weeks until the August recess begins. The Appropriations process is a top priority for both House and Senate Leadership, because the deadline for passing the spending bills to fund the government is fast
The House Committee on Ways and Means hosted a Subcommittee hearing on July 13, 2023 titled “‘Where is All the Welfare Money Going?’ Reclaiming TANF-Non-Assistance Dollars to Lift Americans Out of Poverty.” The hearing examined Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in light of recent reports of misuse by states. Prominent speakers included Chairman
On July 13th, 2023, the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight held a hearing to assess the last 25 years of the Child Tax Credit and discuss future implementation of the credit. The hearing began with an opening statement from the Chairman and Senator Bennet(D-CA) that called for the expansion of the Child
On July 13th, 2023, The Child and Student Nutrition Alliance Held a webinar to discuss the Farm Bill and its impact on children's health. Claire Borzner, Senior Professional Staff, and Khadija Jahfiya, Professional Staff, from the Senate Agriculture Committee explained the current state of the Farm Bill and ways to bolster children's voices in negotiations.
On July 13, 2023, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a markup of seventeen bills, including H.R. 4056, the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act. This legislation would exempt Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) from the institutions for mental disease (IMD) exclusion in Medicaid. If this bill were
On June 28th, 2023, the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin- Madison held a webinar, "Thirty Years of the FMLA: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, and Recommendations for More Equitable Policies," to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ways to improve equity and