Legislative Update Week of November 13, 2009
Date Posted: 11/12/2009
Week of November 13, 2009
Dear Friends:
Please read this email and share it with others in your network. It contains information about the Parent Conference, a Legislative Update, Administration News, an NHSA Update, some resources you might need, and a call to action.
Mark Your Calendar for the 26th Annual Parent Training Conference!
Save the date and register today: the 26th Annual Parent Training Conference is 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
Last week proved to be a critical time in the health reform efforts on Capitol Hill. Late Saturday evening, after a visit from the President and debate for most of the day, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962 in a mostly partisan 220-215 vote. For a summary and text of the bill, please go to http://rules.house.gov/bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4465 or http://thomas.loc.gov/ and click on "HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act" at the top of the page. According to a summary from House leadership, the Congressional Budget Office "estimates that the bill will provide coverage to 96% of Americans, that is does so under the $900 billion threshold outlined by President Obama, and that it reduces the deficit."
Among many other provisions (the bill was about 2,000 pages long), it includes a Health Insurance Exchange, essentially a marketplace for individuals and small employers to comparison shop amongst insurers. The Exchange also includes a public health insurance option financed only by its premiums and administered by the Secretary for Health and Human Services. The bill would end the practice of discrimination in health insurance for pre-existing conditions. It also includes a sliding scale of "affordability credits" for moderate to low income individuals and families. It also expands Medicaid eligibility to 150% of the federal poverty line.
Importantly, the health reform debate is far from over. The ball is now in the Senate's court. Senate Majority Leader Reid recently reconciled the Senate Finance Committee bill and the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee bill. His version of the Senate bill has been sent to the CBO for "scoring," that is, determining how much it will cost. Once the CBO information is finalized, the Senate will need to vote on the bill. President Obama wants to sign a bill into law this year. According to Congress Daily (11/9/09), Senator Reid recently indicated that passage of a Senate bill may slip into next year.
If both the House and Senate are able to pass bills, then there will a Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two, and a final bill will be sent back to both houses for passage before being sent to the President to sign.
A final note: this process is currently farther along than the last time major health reform was considered 15 years ago under then-President Clinton. His Administration's health reform efforts did not pass either house of Congress.
Stay tuned!
ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Recovery Act Reporting Reminder
Earlier this year Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA") to help stimulate the economy. In doing so, it imposed ongoing, quarterly reporting requirements for all recipients of ARRA funds, including Head Start programs. With the next round of reports due to Congress by January 10, 2010, we wanted to remind you to refer to the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") Memorandum, M-09-21, detailing how recipients have to report. The memo is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/asset.aspx?AssetId=1412 . There are a few particular sections that are especially helpful to review; including section 3.2 (page 16) which describes the key activities and timeframes for quarterly reporting and section 5.3 (page 35) which details how recipients are to calculate the number of jobs created or retained in their program.
NHSA UPDATE
FY 2011 Appropriations Meeting
NHSA's Ben Allen participated in a Child Care and Early Learning Coalition meeting with Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") staff to ask for a $3.7 billion increase in Head Start and Early Head Start funding in FY 2011 and coincidentally a $3.7 billion increase for Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in FY 2011. Robert Gordon of the OMB attended the meeting and explained that no FY 2011 budget decisions have been made yet. Gordon said that this budget year will be difficult to due to public concerns about reducing the budget deficit.
NHSA Sends Support Letters on Child Care Facilities
NHSA has sent letters of support to Capitol Hill for S. 1002, Senator Casey's bill, and its companion, H.R. 1685, Representative McCarthy's bill, both of which would provide competitive grants for the acquisition, construction, renovation, and improvement of child care facilities in low income communities across the country. For more information on either bill, please go to: http://thomas.loc.gov and search by bill number by inserting "S 1002" or "HR 1685." We are hoping for a swift passage of both bills in the House and Senate and will continue to keep you posted on their status.
RESOURCES FOR YOU
Legal Advisory Service Webinar: Head Start Governance
For those of you who missed our recent webinar on Construction and Renovation with Recovery Act Funds, it's not too late! Ted Waters of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP, who leads the Head Start Legal Advisory Service, a collaboration between NHSA and Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP, will be reviewing the important topic of Governance in Head Start. With the 2007 reauthorization of the Head Start Act, governing bodies have more requirements and additional information they need to know. Invite your Board and Policy Council members, as well as your senior staff, to join us on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 3pm eastern time to learn:
- The unique roles and responsibilities of the Governing Board and Policy Council;
- How to handle Conflicts of Interest;
- Composition requirements; and
- What you need to do for your program to be in compliance.
To learn about NHSA-member discount pricing for both this webinar and the one below and to sign up today, please go to http://www2.eventsvc.com/FTLF/fths/.
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 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.
Don't miss out! Please click on the link above to register.
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.