MIECHV Legislative Update
While the legislative landscape for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting ("MIECHV") Reauthorization remains very fluid, one thing is clear—there is an urgent need to reauthorize this program by September 30, 2017.
Several bills have been introduced to reauthorize the program. In the House of Representatives, Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced a bill along with several of his colleagues that would reauthorize MIECHV for five years at its current level of $400 million annually and would make several policy changes to the program. In addition, Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) recently introduced another bill that would also reauthorize the program for 5 years, while incrementally increasing the funding, ending the impact of sequestration on MIECHV and increasing the tribal set-aside. In the Senate, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) are working on a bill that will reauthorize the program for between 2-5 years. We are expecting that this legislation will be introduced once Congress returns from its Congressional recess. These efforts are important because they continue to show the strong bipartisan, bicameral support for a long-term reauthorization of MIECHV.
When Congress returns in September, it will decide how to move forward on MIECHV, which is likely to be considered in a larger package of health programs that are also facing expiration this fall.
MIECHV Needs Your Help! TAKE ACTION!
Let’s keep up our steady outreach to Members of Congress and make sure they hear from you about the importance of MIECHV! Time is running out and Congress needs to hear frequently and often from local constituents about the urgency to reauthorize MIECHV NOW. Be on the look out for regular NFP Advocacy Alerts as we make our final push to reauthorize MIECHV. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to TAKE ACTION or contact Katelyn Moga for ways you can get involved!
POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATE
MIECHV supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs that improve outcomes for at-risk families and communities.
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