January 2016
President Obama signs final 2016 spending measure
On Dec. 18, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a $1.15 trillion spending measure to fund the federal government through Sept. 30, 2016. The measure increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $278 million and the Health Resources and Services Administration by $34.8 million. Funding was also restored for most programs in the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health that were cut in previous House and Senate versions of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Labor-HHS-Education spending bills. While the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was cut by roughly 8% below its FY 2015 level, most of its funding was restored after having complete elimination proposed in the original House FY 2016 health spending bill.
The vast majority of the most controversial issues of funding in Congress, including those to block U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rules targeting climate change, clean air and clean water and a provision to defund Planned Parenthood were NOT included in the final bill. One notable exception from H.R. 2029 is the continued inclusion of language that has effectively blocked the CDC from conducting research into gun violence.
On Dec. 18, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a $1.15 trillion spending measure to fund the federal government through Sept. 30, 2016. The measure increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $278 million and the Health Resources and Services Administration by $34.8 million. Funding was also restored for most programs in the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health that were cut in previous House and Senate versions of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Labor-HHS-Education spending bills. While the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was cut by roughly 8% below its FY 2015 level, most of its funding was restored after having complete elimination proposed in the original House FY 2016 health spending bill.
The vast majority of the most controversial issues of funding in Congress, including those to block U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rules targeting climate change, clean air and clean water and a provision to defund Planned Parenthood were NOT included in the final bill. One notable exception from H.R. 2029 is the continued inclusion of language that has effectively blocked the CDC from conducting research into gun violence.
Reducing Gun Violence in America
On Jan. 5, 2016, President Obama discussed his new strategy to reduce gun violence in America. His plan proposes a $500 million investment to increase funding and access to mental health care treatment and services. It will also implement background check requirements that will enhance the effectiveness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the background check system has prevented more than 2 million guns from getting into the wrong hands.
Also on Jan 5th, House Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) proposed two bills. H.R.4315 - Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2016 will authorize funding for fiscal year 2017 to carry out programs and activities to increase access to mental health care treatment and services. H.R.4316 - Gun Violence Reduction Resources Act of 2016 authorizes the Department of Justice to hire 200 additional agents and investigators for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to enforce gun laws.
Click here if you want to know more facts about the new executive actions to reduce gun violence.
Contact your members of Congress and tell them to act now!
On Jan. 5, 2016, President Obama discussed his new strategy to reduce gun violence in America. His plan proposes a $500 million investment to increase funding and access to mental health care treatment and services. It will also implement background check requirements that will enhance the effectiveness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the background check system has prevented more than 2 million guns from getting into the wrong hands.
Also on Jan 5th, House Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) proposed two bills. H.R.4315 - Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2016 will authorize funding for fiscal year 2017 to carry out programs and activities to increase access to mental health care treatment and services. H.R.4316 - Gun Violence Reduction Resources Act of 2016 authorizes the Department of Justice to hire 200 additional agents and investigators for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to enforce gun laws.
Click here if you want to know more facts about the new executive actions to reduce gun violence.
Contact your members of Congress and tell them to act now!
Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015
The House of Representatives recently revised and passed a budget reconciliation bill on January 6th, 2016. The H.R. 3762: Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 could repeal major provisions in the Affordable Care Act.
This bill would:
The House of Representatives recently revised and passed a budget reconciliation bill on January 6th, 2016. The H.R. 3762: Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 could repeal major provisions in the Affordable Care Act.
This bill would:
- Restrict the federal government from operating health care exchanges
- Eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund
- Phase out funding for subsidies to help lower and middle-income individuals afford insurance through the health care exchanges
- Eliminate tax penalties for individuals who do not purchase health insurance and employers with 50 or more employees who do not provide insurance plans
- Eliminate taxes on medical devices and the so-called “Cadillac tax” on the most expensive health care plans
- Phase out an expansion of Medicaid over a two-year period
- End federal funding to Planned Parenthood for one year by prohibiting Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood services. Instead, the bill would increase funding for a community health program.