Senate Legislation

Senate Likely to Take Up Reconciliation Package This Week

Senate Democrats are hopeful they can complete action on the COVID-19 relief/reconciliation legislation sometime late this week. The goal is to have a package on the President’s desk before extended unemployment runs out on March 14, 2021.   There was a major setback for advancing a minimum wage increase as part of the package on

ACF Allocations Released for Chafee and Kinship Navigator Funds

On Monday, February 22, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded the $344 million in additional Chafee program awards to states and participating territories and tribes.  Attached is an allotment table showing the amount of the awards.  The additional ETV awards and other supplemental grants have not yet been released but will be

Administration Give Priority to Small Businesses for PPP

Last Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the Biden Administration opened a window of February 24 through March 9, 2021, for businesses (including non-profits) of 20 or less employees to apply for a second-round application for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).   The program was extended again this year after last year’s December COVID-19 package was signed

Analysis of State Economies Show Government Job Loss

The COVID-19 reconciliation bill moving through Congress would provide state and local governments with $350 billion in relief, and a new analysis by the Washington Post seems to demonstrate states will need it.   On February 15, 2021, the Post published a story that shows states losing 1.3 million jobs since the start of the pandemic. State

National Day of Action: Monday, February 22—Urge Congress to Pass the #AmericanRescuePlan

CWLA will be joining FRAC, the Coalition on Human Needs, MomsRising, NETWORK Lobby, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, First Focus, many other leading anti-poverty organizations, and advocates across the country on Monday, February 22 for a Digital/Call-in Day of Action urging Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan.   Follow CWLA’s Action Center

Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Extension of Foster Care Services

On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Foster Club and the Juvenile Law Center co-hosted another Older Youth Pandemic Relief. This session discussed the extension of foster care services provisions from the Supporting Foster Youth and Families Through the Pandemic Act included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act legislation passed in December 2020.   Presenters included Jennifer Pokempner from

Democrats Formally Introduce Sweeping Immigration Bill

On Thursday, February 18, 2021, Congressional Democrats introduced a sweeping immigration bill. Unveiled by Representative Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), this legislation is based on the proposal announced by President Biden on his first day in office, which would be called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.   The bill introduces

Emergency Broadband Benefit

Congress appropriated $3.2 billion for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to develop a program to help U.S. households that are struggling with internet service during the pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for those

House Assembles Reconciliation, Many Priority Areas Funded

Last week, nine House Committees acted on their parts of a reconciliation bill that will make up President Biden’s COVID-19 relief measure. Within the package are key CWLA priorities, including more than $39 billion in child care funding, year one of a Children’s Allowance, $350 billion in state and local government relief, $350 million more in

11 Senators Re-Introduce the Emergency Family Stabilization Act

Last week, the following Senators re-introduced the bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act (EFSA) S.220: Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Manchin (D-WV), Collins (R-ME), Sinema (D-AZ), Shaheen (D-NH), Schatz (D-HI), Hassan (D-NH), Casey (D-PA), Hirono (D-HI), Kelly (D-AZ), and Sullivan (R-AK). The Emergency Family Stabilization Act was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and

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