Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX), Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Acting Ranking Member Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) applauded the House of Representatives passing the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022:
“For years, MIECHV has been a beacon of what’s possible with a little bit of help, and with this legislation, we are not only honoring the service and legacy of our late colleague Congresswoman Jackie Walorski but also putting even more families on a path to success,” Chairman Richard E. Neal said. “The Jackie Walorski Maternal Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act doubles the federal funding in this proven home visiting program over the next 5 years and will change the lives of countless mothers and children. There’s no reason for the Senate to delay in passing this critical legislation, and I look forward to President Biden signing it into law.”
“I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Jackie than bipartisan support for something that helps our families in need,” said Republican Leader Rep. Kevin Brady. “We are supporting vulnerable families and targeting dollars to the neediest communities with increased transparency, and ensuring that, where states see value, the federal government also invests. This bill renews our longstanding commitment to help mothers and babies thrive through pregnancy into the early years of a child’s life and to reduce the maternal mortality rate nationwide.”
“Home visiting is a proven program that empowers families and changes the course of countless lives,” Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis said. “This bipartisan bill is aptly named after our late colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who loved this program and was deeply involved in crafting this bill before her tragic passing. We shared a deep commitment to expanding and strengthening home visiting for all who need it. I hope my Senate colleagues take this overwhelming passage as the impetus to act as soon as possible. To honor Jackie’s tremendous public service and to improve the well-being of mothers and children across the nation, it’s time to make the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 law.”
"I have seen first-hand how these evidence-based programs improve the lives of vulnerable mothers and children," said Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Acting Ranking Member Brad Wenstrup. "It is important that we promote these vital programs that benefit our future generations, while adding worthwhile reforms to ensure every dollar is effectively helping families in need. I want to thank Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny Davis and the late Ranking Member Rep. Jackie Walorski for their leadership on this issue. I am honored to continue my dear friend's work."
The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022:
- Reauthorizes the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program (MIECHV) and increases federal investment over 5 years. MIECHV supports evidence-based home visiting for expectant mothers and parents of young children to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The bill includes:
- Requires a new, annually updated “outcomes dashboard” to help Congress and the public track MIECHV’s success in improving family outcomes in every state or territory.
- Requires a new annual report to Congress to allow Members to better oversee the program and make improvements in the future.
- Requires HHS to work with states, beneficiary advocates, and home visiting models to reduce administrative burden by focusing data collection and monitoring on improving family outcomes, instead of details of local site financial accounting.
- Adds a transparent, predictable funding formula, which targets new funding to states with more eligible families using their share of children (and poor children) under age 5.
- Clear, predictable “maintenance of effort” requirement for states and territories.
- Clarifies limited uses of virtual home visiting as a model enhancement to an approved model, and requires that all MIECHV models provide at least one in-person visit per year.
- Limits state administrative spending to 10 percent of grants and requires grantees to focus their program dollars on targeted, intensive services for at-risk families.
- Maintains the current strong focus on evidence-based home visiting models and practices.
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