Respect Life Conference
The Diocese of Orlando will host the 23rd Annual Statewide Respect Life Conference, October 16-18, 2009, sponsored by the Florida Bishops and the Florida Catholic Conference. The event will be held at the Orlando Marriot Lake Mary and will feature national speakers as well as have a youth component.
The Website
Click here to visit the website.
The Flyer
Click here to download the pdf flyer of this event.
Registration Form
Click here to download the registration form.
OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND JUSTICE UPDATES
Advocacy Efforts
Health Care Reform Proposals
On June 19, the U.S. House of Representatives Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor released a detailed draft of their joint health care reform bill. The three Committees will hold hearings this week and they are expected to mark up the bill after the Fourth of July recess. The proposal would:
- Allow people to keep their current insurance;
- Reorganize private insurance markets;
- Subsidize premiums for some low and middle- income families;
- Create a government run insurance plan option;
- Expand Medicaid;
- Require that individuals obtain health care coverage;
- Require employers to help pay for coverage; and
- Prohibit insurers from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions.
The Senate Finance Committee released an outline of its health care reform bill on June 19. Unlike the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and House versions, the draft does not include a proposal for a public plan option. Instead it proposes health care cooperatives owned by policy holders and independent from the government. Another significant difference in the Senate Finance version is that it does not include an employer mandate. However, it would require employers to make significant contributions to health care costs for any employees enrolled in Medicaid or receiving health care subsidies. The Committee is expected to hold its markup after the Fourth of July recess.
The Senate HELP Committee started marking up its bill, the "Affordable Health Choices Act," last week. Hundreds of amendments have been filed, and the markup will continue this week. Catholic Charities USA will continue to keep you updated on the health care reform debate. For more information, see: www.catholichealthcare.us/OurVision/
Watch CHA's Health Care Reform Video
The Catholic Health Association (CHA) recently debuted a video to promote the urgent need for health care reform. The video, entitled "I Can't Wait," features a diverse group of caregivers, men and women religious (including Sr. Elizabeth Worley, SSJ, Diocese of Orlando), families, children and others expressing their hopes for a health care system that serves everyone.
With the momentum building in Washington for health reform legislation in the coming months, CHA hopes to use the video as part of a "viral" campaign to encourage grassroots support for action on Capitol Hill and in the White House. You can help out by watching the video and sending the link around to your friends, family members, colleagues and community leaders to keep the momentum going and collectively raise your voices for health reform.
CHA is also featuring photographs on their web site: www.cha.org and will continue to add new ones. You can add to the growing collection. View the "I Can't Wait" video and see the photo collection and learn how to submit photos at www.OurHealthCareValues.org.
Climate Change Legislation
The House of Representatives will soon vote on significant climate change legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, that could help or hurt the poor.
Please contact your members of Congress now and urge them to significantly increase the funding resources allocated for international adaptation programs so that people living in poverty around the world can be protected from the effects of climate change. For more information, see: www.crs.org.
House Committee Holds Hearing on Home Visitation
On June 9, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held a hearing on proposals to provide federal funding for early childhood home visitation programs. The focus of the hearing was to identify ways to develop the most cost effective approach to provide home visitation services to families in crisis. During the hearing, Subcommittee Chair Jim McDermott, (D-WA) discussed his legislation, "The Early Support for Families Act" (H.R. 2667), as one approach to provide home services. The bill would help families by utilizing nurses, social workers, and other professionals to visit families who volunteer for in home services. Special attention would be paid to families in low- income communities.
Earlier in the year, President Obama included a legislative proposal in his fiscal year 2010 budget request to create a new home visitation program. The proposal would provide mandatory federal funds to states to support model programs that have been evaluated and demonstrate effectiveness. Efforts would be coordinated across the Department of Health and Human Services to promote effectiveness. The budget estimates that the new program would save Medicaid $664 million over 10 years. At this point, it is unclear if the Congress will move a home visitation program as a stand alone measure or include it in the health care reform package that Congress is currently debating.
Are your Volunteer Jobs Registered?
The web site www.serve.gov was launched as part of the new volunteer initiative of the First Lady and the Corporation for Community and National Service. Registering events and volunteer opportunities is a way to get more people engaged in the work of Catholic Charities. |
