What’s New!

November 16, 2009

After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed its version of health care reform on November 7th by a vote of 220-215. The House legislation (H.R. 3962) includes an individual and employer mandate to purchase or provide insurance and the creation of a public health insurance option by 2013. In addition, individuals and families with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level would receive subsidies to make coverage more affordable. The plan would also expand Medicaid eligibility to 150% of the federal poverty level by 2013 and require Medicaid to cover newborns for the first 60 days of life.  Finally, the House bill also authorizes funding for a new voluntary home visitation program. While the Senate is expected to continue consideration of its health care bill over the coming weeks, passage of a final conference bill by the end of the year is looking less likely. 

On November 5th, the House Education and Labor’s Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee held a hearing, “Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis,” where expert witnesses offered testimony in support of funding child maltreatment prevention services, as well as community approaches to prevention and other services. The prevention of child abuse and neglect is particularly important for very young children, as children under the age of three have the highest rates of abuse and neglect in the United States. Click here to read testimony submitted by ZERO TO THREE for the hearing.

ZERO TO THREE Participates in Congressional Baby Caucus Briefing
On November 18th, the Congressional Baby Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives DeLauro (CT) and Rehberg (MT), will hold a briefing to highlight how states are supporting the healthy development of very young children by providing comprehensive, coordinated systems of high-quality, prenatal-to-5 services. The briefing will feature a keynote address by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, remarks by expert panelists from several states and the House Committee on Education and Labor, and moderation by Barbara Gebhard, Project Director of State Policy Initiatives at ZERO TO THREE. 
 

Status of Federal Programs Addressing Infants & Toddlers:
There are a variety of federal programs which address the needs of infants, toddlers and their families. Click on the links below to track the status of funding and changes in these programs. 

Child Care and Early Childhood Education
         (CCDBG, Head Start/Early Head Start, Part B of IDEA, Part C of IDEA, Early Learning Challenge Fund Grants, Title I Early Childhood Grants, Promise Neighborhoods)

Child Welfare
         (Title IV-B, Title IV-E, CAPTA)

Health and Mental Health 
         (SCHIP, Medicaid, EPSDT, MCHBG, SAMHSA, CMHSBG,
          Comprehensive Community Mental Services for Children and their Families)

Poverty/Family Support
         (TANF, SSBG, CSBG, WIC, SNAP, Home Visitation)

Professional Development/Higher Education 
         (Higher Education)

For a complete description of these federal programs, how they are funded and operated, and the role of state and local governments in those programs,
click here.

Babies and the Budget
Budget decisions made in Washington, DC impact the programs and services for infants and toddlers in your state. When we get involved in the federal budget process, the decisions about funding services for infants and toddlers will be made with the benefit of our knowledge and experience. Check out our handy budget tool to learn more about the federal budget process: why it’s important, how it works and where to seize opportunities to be involved.

Status of Infant-Toddler Federal Legislation:
The Policy Center monitors federal legislation and how it will impact the lives of infants, toddlers and their families. To track the development of these bills,
click here.

Archive of federal legislative updates