This week is Congress’s last week in session before the beginning of the Memorial Day recess next week. Both chambers are working hard to make this a productive time – there are multiple hearings happening in both the House and Senate and several bills to be introduced this week. On May 16, 2024, the new
The Trevor Project released its 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, which amplifies the experiences of more than 18,000 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 across the United States. The survey finds: 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year — including 46%
On May 7, 2024, the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law published a review of state implementation of Federal guidance on the collection of child support from families involved in Title IV-E foster care. On July 29th, 2022, the Children’s Bureau released a Dear Colleague letter highlighting a new question and answer
On May 10th, 2024, the House Ways and Means Committee held a Field Hearing on “Empowering Native American and Rural Communities,” in Arizona, the first Ways and Means Committee hearing ever to be held on sovereign Tribal land. Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) opened the hearing and outlined the issues being discussed, particularly child support, child
On May 1, 2024, House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) unveiled an initial summary of the House Republican Farm bill, which encompasses important nutrition programs. A follow-up summary with additional detail was released on May 10th, providing more specific information about the various titles. Legislative text has not been released but is expected sometime this
On May 3, 2024, the Senate HELP Committee hosted a hearing entitled, “What can Congress do to address the severe shortage of minority health care professionals and the maternal health crisis?” Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stated that the US health-care system is inefficient and ineffective. The US spends twice as much per capita on healthcare
On May 7, 2024, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth and help ensure they can pursue a higher education and
On May 3rd, 2024, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), the Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/Global Women’s Strike hosted a webinar, “Compensating Care: How US Policy Can Support Unpaid Family Caregivers.” Elisa Minoff from CSSP stated that caregiving is essential work, but caregivers receive little support. Also, caregiving exists on
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing, “Challenges in Preserving the U.S. Housing Stock,” on April 16, 2024. Senator Smith (D-MN) indicated that in the USA, more than half of the homes are over forty years old. Also, in rural areas there are an estimated 400,000 government sponsored apartments that are
On April 9, 2024, the House Ways and Means Work and Welfare Subcommittee held a field hearing in Chicago, IL, on the Dignity of Work: Lifting Individuals Out of Poverty. Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL) indicated that current job vacancies are the result of a lack of qualified employees and that work is a pathway