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Editor’s Note: Please forward this particularly information-packed edition to your colleagues, including local affiliates, so that they, too, can be current and aware of the latest resources!
Bill to Prevent Increase in Medicare Premiums Passes House
On September 24, the House passed the "Medicare Premium Fairness Act" (H.R. 3631) that would prevent an increase in Medicare premiums for about 11 million Medicare Part B recipients. Proponents of the legislation argue that this fix is necessary to protect Social Security recipients who will not be receiving a cost-of-living increase in 2010. However, opponents suggest that lower income seniors would have been protected from these increases and this bill will only reduce the premiums for beneficiaries with high incomes. (Open Congress). Read bill»
House Approves Unemployment Insurance Extension
On September 22 the House passed the "Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009” to extend unemployment insurance benefits for 13 weeks in states still suffering from high unemployment. The extension will be available to states with unemployment rates above 8.5%.(CBPP). Read more»
Bill Would Update Housing Voucher Program
The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act, which the House Financial Services Committee approved in July and the full House will likely consider this fall, contains a series of important measures to strengthen the housing voucher program. Most significantly, it would help state and local housing agencies to assist more needy families within the available funds. In addition, the bill would reduce administrative burdens for housing agencies and private owners, strengthen work supports, and provide more flexible and effective assistance to low-income families. (CBPP). Read more»
No Child Left Behind Reauthorization to Boost Student Outcomes
On September 24, Secretary Duncan called for the prompt rewriting of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The ESEA was reauthorized in 2002, as the No Child Left Behind Act. The Secretary wants the new version of the ESEA to advance assessments that better measure student learning and an accountability system that incorporates the academic growth of students. He also wants the new version to foster the development of existing teachers and other school leaders; recruit new, effective educators; and ensure the best educators are serving the children that are the furthest behind. (Ed.gov). Read more»
Children's Budget Act to be Reintroduced
At First Focus’ congressional briefing last week entitled "Children in the Federal Budget", Congressman Danny K Davis said that he was set to reintroduce the Children's Budget Act. The bill would require Congress to include a detailed, separate analysis for the federal funding directed to children and children's programs. Learn more about Children’s Budget 2009.
Unemployment Among Seniors Rising
Unemployment rates for older workers reached record levels in 2009, partly because fewer workers eligible for early retirement benefits are dropping out of the labor force. Growing concerns about the adequacy of retirement savings and whether retirees will have enough money to live comfortably in later life appear to have discouraged early retirement. (Urban). Read more»
Summer Learning Programs Benefit Low-Income Youth
Effective summer programs can reduce summer learning loss among low-income youth, a leading cause of the achievement gap between low-income and more affluent students. A new Child Trends brief suggests that these programs are likely to have positive impacts when they engage students in activities that are hands-on, enjoyable, and have real-world applications. Read brief»
States Make Cuts in Child Care Assistance
A study by the National Women’s Law Center of child care policies in 50 states and the District of Columbia reveals that between February of 2008 and February of 2009 more states made cuts than made improvements in desperately needed child care assistance, worsening an already bleak landscape for parents trying to afford reliable child care. Learn more»
Unaffordable Housing Puts Children's Health At Risk
Children's HealthWatch finds that unaffordable housing endangers the health and development of young children. Due to a federal funding shortfall, state and local housing agencies will be forced to reduce or eliminate rental assistance to thousands of families starting this month. Voucher cuts will push more families into the ranks of the "hidden homeless". Children in these families are at increased risk for poor health, nutrition, as well as developmental delays. Read more»
Employment Rates Decline After Medicaid Buy-In Disenrollment
This brief explores the paths of people with disabilities who leave the Medicaid Buy-In program, finding that their earnings and employment rates decline after disenrollment. The program helps adults with disabilities work while still retaining Medicaid coverage. (Mathematica). Read more»
Low-income Older Workers Suffer in Current Economic Climate
With 1.97 million workers age 55 and older out of a job, a new study from Experience Works examines the challenges that they confront in the current economic climate. The study shows that 45% of the older workers surveyed had expected to be retired by this time in their lives, while 38% had retired but returned to the workforce. Read more»
Firearm Deaths Among Children and Teens Increase
CDF recently released a new report showing that 3,184 children and teens died from gunfire in the United States in 2006, a 6% increase from 2005. The report highlights State gun deaths as well as how to protect children from gun violence. Read more»
Employee Health Impacted by Workplace
The State of Health in the American Workforce, finds that only 28% of employees today report that their overall health is “excellent,” down from 34% just six years ago. The report sheds light on the relationship between an effective workplace and employee health, underlining the significant role that employers play beyond providing health insurance and wellness programs.(Families and Work). Read full report»
Initiative Promotes Income Supports
Throughout 2009-2010, the National Assembly is working to ensure that frontline workers know about, and have ready access to, earned benefits and other income supports beyond their paycheck – whether they’re tax credits, health insurance for children, or assistance with energy bills and groceries. NHSA’s Bridging the Gap Initiative is offering HR and other key affiliate-level staff the training and materials necessary to help frontline employees learn about and pursue benefits and other available income supports. In addition, we will be developing and distributing electronic and digital earned benefits toolkits through our networks. For more information on the Bridging the Gap Initiative contact: Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator hlazar@nassembly.org
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