In Case You Missed It... - The Biden Administration announced the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) is May 11th. With the impact of the Medicaid redetermination process looming, check out a recent blog from our friends at the Georgetown Center for Children and Families and what this could mean for kids.
- A recent blog post from the Annie E. Casey Foundation featuring PPC Policy Director Rachael Miller highlights our advocacy efforts to enact Act 118 of 2022, which increases permanency and successful adult transition for older foster youth.
- While uncertainty prevails in the state House, the Republican Caucus recently named committee chairs. Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) was named Republican Chair of the Education Committee and Rep. Lynda Culver (R-Northumberland) is Republican chair of the Children and Youth Committee. However, Culver is running for a vacant Senate seat in a special election being held today, so her time as chair will likely be cut short. Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford) are again chairing the Health Committiee and the Insurance Committee, respectfully. House Democrats have yet to list committee chairs.
- Following a drawn-out process to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House, majority chairs for congressional committees have been named. Committee chairs set the policy agenda for their respective committees and wield legislative power by determining which bills can be debated and brought up for a vote. Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson was chosen to lead the House Agriculture Committee, which will take the spotlight this year as they craft the massive 5-year farm bill that includes important provisions related to nutrition such as the WIC program.
- The Omnibus year-end spending package includes $6 billion in funding for the WIC program, as well as an extension of the enhanced fruit and vegetable benefits through the end of the fiscal year. In addition, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service is updating the current WIC food package with science-based recommendations to enhance access to healthier options, such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, and whole grains, and by boosting benefit levels and providing more choice. Stakeholders can comment on the the proposed changes until February 21st, through the National WIC Association’s comment platform.
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