The House Democrats and Republicans announced appointments to various subcommittees last week. Friend and advocate for children’s issues, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL)—past recipient of a CWLA Congressional Advocate of the Year—has been named the chair of the re-named Worker and Family Support Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee. The Subcommittee (formerly the Human Resources Subcommittee) has oversight of the key child welfare programs, TANF, Home Visiting, SSBG, SSI and some other key income support programs under the Ways and Means Committee.
The rest of the members of the Subcommittee on the Democratic side include Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL), and new members, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WS), Congressman Dwight Evan (D-PA), Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-CA).
On the Republican side the Ranking member is Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS) and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL).
Congressman Davis’ past legislative accomplishments include being one of the first sponsors of Home Visiting legislation before the 2010 enactment, as well as one of the first sponsors of extending kinship care to Title IV-E before that provision became law in 2008. The Subcommittee will be examining upcoming child welfare issues including changes to Title IV-B and waiver extensions—if any are enacted. The subcommittee will also deal with any extensions on TANF. Congresswoman Gwen Moore has sponsored past legislation that would strengthen the TANF program through expanded mandates and funding.
The Subcommittee will also likely to be the focal point for discussions on poverty. There is an upcoming National Academy of Sciences report by the Committee on Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in 10 Years. The Committee (CWLA President & CEO Chris James-Brown serves as a member of the Committee) will release its report early this year.
