Update from NASW National on Legislative Priorities 2008

The Bridge - Winter 2008

2008 Legislative Outlook

Congress reconvened on January 15, 2008 for the second session of the 110th Congress. NASW is following a number of issues that we have outlined below. 2008 promises to be an exciting year, with our own piece of legislation being developed.

Social Work Reinvestment Initiative

Dorothy I. Height and Whitney Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment ActThe “Dorothy Height/Whitney Young Social Work Reinvestment Act” (H.R. 5447) is an effort to gather more information about the issues facing the profession of social work and to determine the best course of action to address them. It includes:

A findings section to exhibit the state of the profession

A Blue Ribbon Panel to provide independent advice and counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession.

A Demonstration Programs to make grants available to support activities related to research, workplace improvements, education and training, and community based programs of excellence

The permanent establishment of March as Social Work Awareness Month

The “Dorothy I. Height and Whitney Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act” will continue to make progress in 2008. Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY), a fellow social worker, introduced the bill on February 14 with original co-sponsors Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH). The bill number is H.R. 5447.

NASW is devising a grassroots mobilization plan to engage its membership to fully support the Act. NASW will be actively engaging the membership through Capwiz to get additional co-sponsors for the Act, move the Act out of committee, and bring it to a vote on the floor. Additionally, allied organizations are being identified to support the legislation.

Loan Forgiveness

This year, Congress will likely take up The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (H.R. 4137). This bill allows a person with a degree in social work or a related field, and who is employed by a public or private child welfare agency, to have part of his or her college loans forgiven. For each year of work, $2,000 would be forgiven, up to a maximum of $10,000 over five years. Mental health professionals would also be eligible.

The Association will continue to work with other national organizations—including the National Child Abuse Coalition, the National Bar Association, the National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO), and the Action Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER) Coalition—to promote passage of this bill and loan forgiveness for social workers in child welfare and education. We will also educate Congressional members about the importance of loan forgiveness programs to the social work profession and will activate our grassroots network to support our lobbying efforts in this regard.

Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act (CSWMEA)

Medicare payments for clinical social workers reached crisis proportions when already inadequate Medicare payments for clinical social work services were cut at the start of 2007. NASW is very active, trying to restore payment rates and working with key Senators and Representatives to gain support for the Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act and other legislation to repair the badly broken Medicare mental health benefit. NASW pushed this legislation much further than it has ever gone in 2007, and we are very pleased with our progress. Since the latest Medicare extender was very short term, NASW will give top priority to clinical social work payment issues in the fight for the next bill, which must be completed by June 30, 2008.

Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act, H.R. 2165

Given that the Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act has bipartisan support, NASW hopes the bill will move closer to consideration during the next session of Congress. In 2007, NASW staff worked with the congressional sponsor of the bill to draft the bill language, hosted congressional briefing on social work safety and sent letters to Congress urging more cosponsors for the bill. NASW will continue with the efforts in the House and is seeking a Senate sponsor for the social work safety companion bill.

National Center for Social Work Research Act, S. 106

The National Center for Social Work Research Act was introduced to raise the profile of social work research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where less than 1% of the NIH budget is dedicated to social work research. The bill has been introduced in the Senate. NASW is working with legislative staff and the SWRI consultant to determine the best course of action regarding S. 106.

Child Welfare

Staff will continue to monitor the Medicaid Foster Care Coverage Act (H.R. 1376) that will address ways to provide Medicaid coverage for youths who exit the foster care system without permanent family units. Currently, 25,000 youths age out of the foster care system every year. They tend to have a variety of unaddressed medical conditions and other challenges, because of inadequate health insurance. These challenges include mental and physical disabilities that may result in a lack of educational achievement, and financial instability. Some youths become homeless. The bill is currently in the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. NASW will continue to urge Congress to pass this legislation which could significantly improve the lives and outcomes for youth in foster care. We will meet with Hill staff on this issue and will mobilize our members to contact their members of Congress.

Civil Rights

Civil rights concerns that lend themselves to alter society and racial justice on behalf of marginalized communities will remain constant and pervasive throughout the second session of the 110th Congress. Because ideals and values are under attack by entrenched lawmakers, ancillary groups, and varied special interests, it is imperative to pursue legislation which clearly seeks to eradicate bigotry, inequality, prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance in America.
Therefore, initiatives such as the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (hate crimes); Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Immigration, the Fair Pay Act, and possibly a reemergence of the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act (political priority for a wide array of Congressional Members) will gain the attention of Congress. We will continue to work with allies such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, People for the American Way, the Human Rights Campaign, AFSME, American Civil Liberties Union, AARP, and APA on these issues. It is essential to note, that it is possible political calculations could appreciably change the agenda and impair Association objectives.

Health

Unfortunately, because of numerous competing priorities, Congress did not complete many health related bills before it adjourned in December. According to a recent report by Families USA, health care is the top domestic concern among voters in the upcoming elections. Congress will likely address more domestic issues in 2008 including consideration of health care legislation to demonstrate to voters that Congress is addressing their concerns. NASW staff will continue to work with Congress and other health care leaders to advocate for full consideration of health care legislation by Congress.

Mental Health-Health Information Technology (HIT) and Personal Privacy

Health IT legislation in theory is a popular bi-partisan issue, but it will remain difficult to pass in 2008. As 2007 ended, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee continued to push for its bill on the Senate floor, although it remained mired in disagreements over issues that have long stalled the bill, including provisions to protect the privacy of personal health information.

The House showed much greater support for health privacy requirements in their legislation; but on the overall bill, they will continue to demonstrate much less support for action. NASW anticipates the legislation will receive considerable congressional talk in 2008, but differences will prevent passage.

Mental Health Services Appropriations

Congress was unable to negotiate a compromise with the President on the regular Labor-HHS appropriations bill funding the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2007. Democrats will attempt again to boost domestic spending during 2008, but they are unlikely to be successful in raising overall spending levels, including those of SAMHSA.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity (S.558/HR1424)

The long-standing political opposition from business and House GOP leaders to mental health parity legislation largely ended in 2007, but some very difficult and technical differences remain between the House and Senate bills. These relatively minor objections may scuttle final passage again in 2008 unless the President intervenes to produce an agreement.

State Child Health Insurance Program

Congress, and particularly the Democratic leadership, sought a major expansion of the SCHIP program in 2007. This effort was very effectively opposed by the White House. Expansion of the program seems out of the question until after the current Administration leaves office.