Blog
Child Welfare Legislative Updates: December 14-25
Please review the following child welfare legislative updates pertinent to children and families from December 14 – 25. These bills and other important legislation can be tracked at GovTrack.us.
Health
H.R. 8958 — Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) Energy and Commerce (12/14/20)
A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish guidance for states on strategies for maternal-care providers participating in the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such program.
H.R. 9008 — Rep. Jesús García (D-IL4) Agriculture; Energy and Commerce (12/17/20)
A bill to remove barriers to health care and nutrition assistance for children, pregnant persons, and lawfully present individuals, under the Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Children’s Health Insurance Program under Title XXI of such Act, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and for other purposes.
Child Protection
H.R. 9044 — Rep. David Joyce (R-OH14) Armed Services (12/21/20)
A bill to expand and enhance programs and activities of the Department of Defense for prevention of and response to domestic violence and child abuse and neglect among military families, and for other purposes.
Family Support
S. 5038 — Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Agriculture (12/16/20)
A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the definition of a household under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
H.R. 9004 — Rep. Jesús Garcia (D-IL) Agriculture (12/17/20)
A bill to repeal provisions relating to the denial of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
Floor Action Updates
Misc.
H.R. 133: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [Including Coronavirus Stimulus & Relief]
This bill became the vehicle for passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, a major government funding bill, which also included economic stimulus provisions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Included in the bill is the Supporting Foster Youth & Families Through the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7947):
Introduced by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN), the bill provides: emergency support and new flexibility for young people in foster care; home visiting for at-risk pregnant and parenting families; foster care prevention funds; and other critical child welfare services through the end of 2021.
Last Action: Passed in the House and Senate on December 21, 2020, and goes to the President next.
Health
S. 3152: Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act
A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps.
Last Action: This bill passed in the Senate on December 15, 2020, and goes to the House next for consideration.
Family Support
H.R. 8906: Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020
A bill to amend Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program under such title relating to lifespan respite care.
Last Action: This bill was passed by Congress on December 18, 2020, and goes to the President next.
Child Protection
S. 2683: Child Care Protection Improvement Act of 2020
A bill to establish a task force to assist States in implementing hiring requirements for child care staff members to improve child safety.
Last Action: This bill was passed by Congress on December 19, 2020, and goes to the President next.
S. 481: Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019
A bill to encourage States to require the installation of residential carbon monoxide detectors in homes, and for other purposes.
Last Action: This bill passed in the Senate on December 17, 2020, and goes to the House next for consideration.
Grandparent Support
H.R. 2610: Fraud and Scam Reduction Act
A bill to establish an office within the Federal Trade Commission and an outside advisory group to prevent fraud targeting seniors and to direct the Commission to study and submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors and Indian tribes, and for other purposes.
Last Action: This bill has been passed in the House and the Senate, but the Senate made changes and sent it back to the House on December 17, 2020.
Education
S. 1782: Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act
A bill to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
Last Action: This bill passed in the Senate on December 17, 2020, and goes to the House next for consideration.
