Legislative Update Week of December 5, 2009
Date Posted: 12/07/2009
Week of December 5, 2009
Dear Friends:
We hope you had a relaxing and joyful Thanksgiving holiday. At NHSA, we gave thanks to our extended membership family and Head Start program community. May this season be good for all of you, and the children and families you serve!
Please read this email and share it with others in your network. It contains information about the Parent Conference, a Legislative Update, Administration News, some resources you might need, and a call to action.
Mark Your Calendar for the 26th Annual Parent Training Conference!
Join us: the 26th Annual Parent Training Conference is this week! It’s on December 4-8 in San Jose, California. Our Parent Training Conference is designed to help parents and those who work with or on behalf of parents and their children to advance their knowledge, skills, and abilities. This conference provides a valuable opportunity to gain a better understanding of developmentally appropriate practices, learn critical new skills, broaden awareness, and acquire resources that will enable participants to help Head Start children and their families reach new heights! We understand from the Office of Head Start that the expectations on programs for returning to best practices on parent engagement is high and will seek to have the OHS presence to elaborate on implementation. Click here to register now.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Health Care Reform
As we mentioned in our last Update, the much anticipated Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, was passed by the House of Representatives. Before a plan can be sent to the President to be signed into law, however, the Senate must pass a similar bill (after which a Conference Committee would reconcile both pieces of legislation to create a final bill). The stage has now been set! On November 18th, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled a $849 billion health reform bill, H.R.3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act.
Reid’s 2,074 page plan, which would expand coverage to 31 million currently uninsured Americans, includes considerable differences from the House legislation:
- Among other provisions, the Senate bill contains changes to Medicaid, including 133% of poverty for income eligibility levels (versus 150% as in the House bill).
- Furthermore, Reid’s plan provides an option for a government run insurance plan or “public option” to compete with private insurers. Unlike the House bill, individual states could opt out of the public option by passing legislation.
- The bill would expand coverage to 94% of legal Americans yet it prohibits illegal immigrants from buying public insurance, regardless of their ability to pay the full cost. This provision differs greatly from the House bill which allows illegal immigrants to buy coverage from a national insurance exchange, however no federal subsidies will be used to pay for it.
- In addition, the Medicare payroll tax would be increased to 1.95% for high wealth individuals. The tax, in conjunction with other provisions, is expected to reduce costs by $130 billion over the next 10 years.
- Reid’s plan does include a maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting program, akin to the House bill. Once the Senate’s final bill language has been decided upon, NHSA will provide additional details on this element.
President Obama has signaled that he wants to sign a bill into law this year. As such, the Senate has its work cut out for it. Late on Saturday, November 21st, Majority Leader Reid garnered 60 Senators’ support, allowing the Senate to begin debate on the bill. Over the next couple of weeks, Reid will be working to secure more support as the Senate health reform bill is debated post-Thanksgiving. While it may flicker, there is now light at the end of the health care reform tunnel. Stay tuned!
To read H.R. 3590,The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, go to http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc-sen_health_care_bill.cfm where both the full text and a summary of the legislation are available.
ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Administration for Children and Families: New Critical Guidance on Recovery Act Reporting Issued
Recently, the Administration for Children and Families (“ACF”) issued new guidance on Recovery Act Reporting, changing how Recovery Act funds for cost of living increases (“COLA”) and retention bonuses are to be reported and counted. The new guidance explains that all Head Start and Early Head Start grantees who receive COLA should now note that the use of these funds is to be excluded from the total number of jobs created and retained calculation in ARRA reporting. To read the new guidance go to http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/What%27s%20New/2009_whatsnew.html#November and see the information entitiled “Supplemental Jobs Guidance for Federal Agencies” dated November 18, 2009.
With the next round of Recovery Act reports due to recovery.gov by January 10, 2010, the Head Start Legal Advisory Service will present an emergency webinar on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 3 pm eastern time to ensure that you are up to date on all Recovery Act reporting guidance to date, including this critical new guidance on job reporting and counting. For more information, see below in this update, and visit http://www2.eventsvc.com/FTLF/fths/ to sign up for this important webinar.
RESOURCES FOR YOU
Stay Up To Date on all the Latest Flu Information this Flu and Cold Season
FLU.gov is a one-stop resource with the latest updates on the H1N1 flu. On this site, you can find information on How to Prevent and Treat the Flu, Flu Essentials and Why the H1N1 Vaccine is Safe and Recommended by Health Experts. To look up where to get vaccinated in your state, visit the site’s Vaccine Locator. This information updated regularly as more doses are shipped each week. Heard a rumor? Visit Flu.gov's Myths & Facts to run a fact check.
An additional resource is the CDC hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), which offers services in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Head Start Legal Advisory Service Webinar: HR in Head Start ? A Special Program with Special Requirements
There are many unique aspects to consider when examining the employment relationship in a Head Start program. In this webinar, Ted Waters who runs the Head Start Legal Advisory Service, a collaboration between NHSA and Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP will explore the nuts and bolts of the Hatch Act, share important considerations for key personnel, and explain how to decipher when and if the Policy Council and Board's approvals are needed in various HR scenarios. Invite your Executive Directors, HS Governing Boards, Policy Council and Committee members, and HR Personnel to learn the in's and out's of this important topic on Thursday, December 1, 2009 (please take special note of the change in date) at 3 pm eastern time. In this online training, we'll discuss:
- Whether hiring and firing approvals by Policy Council and Board are needed and if so, when;
- Special considerations for key personnel; and
- Examine the Hatch Act.
To learn about NHSA member discount pricing for both this webinar and the ones below and to sign up today, please go to http://www2.eventsvc.com/FTLF/fths/.
Blended Funding and Cost Allocation: Legal Advisory Service Webinar
With the influx of Recovery Act funding, Federal rules regarding cost allocation have never been more important. Whether your organization has two or more separate programs that use the same staff, facilities, etc., or are simply unsure how navigate the cost allocation fundamentals to avoid having illegal funding between funding streams, Ted Waters of the Legal Advisory Service will show you easy to understand tips to protect your program and stay in compliance. Join us on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 3 pm eastern time to learn:
- What are common challenges with blended funding;
- What are the cost allocation basics; and
- Why should it matter to you.
Don't miss out! Please click on the link above to register.
Late Breaking Webinar: Emergency Update on Recovery Act Reporting
In recent weeks, jobs reporting methodology from the use of Recovery Act funds has come under intense public scrutiny. In response, ACF just issued critical new supplemental guidance. This guidance changes how Recovery Act funds for cost-of-living increases and retention bonuses are to be reported and counted. Join Ted Waters on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 3 pm eastern time to ensure that you're aware of all of the Recovery Act reporting guidance to date, including the important new guidance that may change your job counts. During this webinar, we'll walk you though the process from notice of funding through quarterly reporting to help your Head Start agency report correctly.
Make sure you’re ready for the next round of Recovery Act reporting due to Congress by January 10, 2010! Please click on http://www2.eventsvc.com/FTLF/fths/ to register now.
CALL TO ACTION
Give to Dollar Per Child
Thanks to all of you who donated to the Dollar per Child Campaign ("DPC") this year. All the work that NHSA did on the ARRA and is doing on other current legislative efforts is paid for by Dollar Per Child funds. With a difficult budget situation in the coming year, the struggle to maintain the gains of ARRA will arguably be even more arduous. That is why we need you to continue to support the Dollar Per Child Campaign and to get everyone in your program and your community to support DPC. Without a robust source of funds, NHSA can't lead the way in our advocacy efforts that benefit all Head Start programs. It is through these dollars that we can advocate for you and with you on your behalf. Don't wait!!! Please send your contributions, whatever amount you can afford, whether it is $1 per child, $5 per child, or $10 per child. You can even easily donate online on our new, improved website at: https://www.nhsa.org/get_involved/donate.
Dollar Per Child funds will ensure that NHSA can continue to lead the way in all of the future advocacy efforts coming up - from regulatory issues with the Office of Head Start, to additional fiscal year appropriations, to the next Head Start Act reauthorization, which is not far off. Remember, raise your hand! Use your words! Together we can make a difference.
Please know that NHSA continues to work for you and with you on your behalf on matters of importance to the Head Start community.
© National Head Start Association, 2009. All rights reserved.
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This Legislative E-Update has been sent to Head Start Directors, the NHSA Board, Head Start State and Regional Association Presidents, Executive Directors, and Parents.