On Thursday, March 7, 2024, President Biden delivered his third State of the Union Address before members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and invited guests. He used the opportunity to highlight policy advancements that have happened during his administration, declared that “the State of the Union is strong and getting stronger.” The President started with
Congress passed the first six Appropriations bills for 2024 last week. On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, the House voted 339-85 to advance the package to the Senate; because the bills did not go through the Rules Committee, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had to rely on significant support from House Democrats to get the 2/3 majority
On Thursday, March 7th, 2024, ahead of the President’s State of the Union Address, the House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Speaker Johnson announced a budget resolution for FY 2025. According to Chairman Arrington’s executive summary, the goal of this budget resolution is to reduce the deficit and curtail federal spending. The House
On March 6th, House Ways and Means Committee Republicans introduced seven bills that would amend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, addressing specific provisions. The bills would form the basis of a TANF reauthorization, which is long overdue, though they are unlikely to be supported by Democrats in either the House or the
On March 5, 2024, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), joined by Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL), called for the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) to launch an investigation into how the influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) crossing the southwest border may be
On February 28, 2024, House Speaker Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Jeffries (D-NY) along with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member DeLauro (D-CT) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Collins (R-ME) released a statement unveiling a new
On February 28, 2024, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care (OCC) announced the final rule that will lower costs for families that receive child care subsidies, improve payment practices to child care providers, and increase families’ child care options. The new rule makes updates to the Child Care and Development
On February 27th, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), hosted a panel-led webinar entitled “Promoting Health Equity Through Economic Opportunity.” The webinar highlighted discussion around the impact economic stability or mobility can have on a family’s overall health and well-being. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a plethora of families
The House and Senate will return from their Presidents’ Day recess this week without an agreement on the four funding bills that expire on March 1st, 2024, the end of this week. As previously reported, the House and Senate leadership were able to agree on topline numbers for the total FY 2024 budget that closely
The Housing and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee held a field hearing on Thursday, February 22, 2024, “Restoring Prosperity in American Communities: Examining the Failures of Status Quo Housing Policy.” Chairman Davidson (OH-R) stated that the American people have been adversely impacted by bad government decisions and failed federal housing policies. Further,
