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
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 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
On June 27, 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect. This legislation has the potential to benefit nearly 2.8 million people per year, including almost 75% of pregnant Black women, almost two-thirds of pregnant Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women, 60% of pregnant Latina women, nearly 60% of pregnant American
On June 21, 2023, the House Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee held a legislative hearing entitled “Responding to America’s Overdose Crisis: An Examination of Legislation to Build Upon the SUPPORT Act” to evaluate how the Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act has worked
On June 22, 2022, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Bill Pascrell, Jr., (D-NJ), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Dwight Evans (D-PA) recognized June as Gun Violence Prevention Month by introducing The Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act - legislation to create guaranteed annual funding for gun violence prevention. The
On June 20th, The Coalition for Health Funding and Trust for Americas Health released “Shortchanged: The Impact of Chronic Underinvestment in Public Health,” which discussed the public health gaps that result from persistent underfunding. The Congressional Briefing and National Webinar were given by a panel including Erin Will Morton, Executive Director of Coalition for Health
On June 14, 2023, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released Out of Reach 2023: The High Cost of Housing. Published annually, the report highlights the gulf between the wages people earn and the price of modest rental housing in every state, county, metropolitan area, and combined non-metropolitan area in the U.S. This year’s report