Happy New Year! Both houses of Congress are back in session this week after a Holiday break. Build Back Better is… no one is sure what it is or where it stands. Is it alive? Is it dead? It appears that Build Back Better (BBB) is on “pause” now as committees turn to other work, notably voting rights and children’s mental health. Reports indicate that Senator Manchin continues to negotiate with the White House and is open to re-engaging on Build Back Better if certain provisions are removed.
So what does a pause on BBB mean for CYSHCN and families? There is still time to raise your voice and share your story about why you need affordable child care, HCBS, Medicaid expansion, paid medical leave, permanent Medicaid funding for territories, expanded maternal health care, permanent CHIP, and so much more. The pause is on formal policymaking, but there are still lots of discussions and negotiations occurring. Sharing a story and educating members of congress about how access to these issues affects your life is critical.
Encourage confidence to act