The Senate continues to work on a slimmed-down budget reconciliation package that would extend ACA subsidies for two years and allow Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug costs on certain drugs. Senate leadership expects to vote on the package before the August recess.
On June 21, 2022, the Nonprofit Organization Adoptees for Justice held a Story Circle to bring awareness to the experiences of adoptees living without citizenship. They elevated the voices of two adoptees who live in the United States and two who were deported. Joe, Jang, Daniel, and Emily were all able to share their stories
On Wednesday, June 15th, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released a discussion draft for youth mental health care policies. This discussion draft follows a Request for Information (RFI) in the fall of 2021 and four subsequent committee hearings. The
Every year, thousands of kids are incarcerated for “status offenses” including truancy, breaking curfew or running away from home—acts that would not be considered crimes if they were committed by an adult. The Prohibiting Detention of Youth Status Offenders Act of 2022, introduced by Senator Casey (D-PA) and Representative Cardenas (D-CA), would phase out and
During a Senate Finance hearing on Wednesday, June 8th, 2022, regarding the President’s FY23 budget request, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) used some of his time to applaud Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, and Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) on their work involving the implementation of the advanced Child Tax
Congress returned from the Memorial Day Recess last week, and discussions about a possible reconciliation package continued. Conversations are underway between Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to negotiate a budget reconciliation bill, which would require only a simple majority for passage, that would meet Manchin’s demands without losing support
On Thursday, June 2nd, the House Judiciary Committee approved the “Protecting our Kids Act,” a wide-ranging package of gun control legislation, as a response to the tragic shootings in recent weeks. After a long session in the middle of what was supposed to be a recess, the committee voted along party lines to approve the
In response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a small bipartisan group of nine Senators, led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) met on Thursday, May 26, to discuss reaching a deal on gun control reforms. Senator Murphy has been leading the call for gun reform for the Democratic Party. Other senators
This week, Axios reported that Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have revived their discussions about a reconciliation package. In December of last year, these discussions about the Build Back Better package ground to a halt when Senator Manchin announced that he could not support the legislation that was proposed.
On Monday, May 16th, 2022, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) officially announced their revamped child care and early learning reconciliation proposal. As we wrote last week, this proposal is roughly half the size of the original child care proposal in Build Back Better and largely focuses on expanding funding through the Child
