House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement after the House passed the Increasing Opportunity and Success for Children and Parents through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act (H.R. 2824) -- legislation to extend funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which is currently set to expire at the end of September 2017:
"For years the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program has promoted state and local solutions that improve the lives of low-income children and families. Today, the House took action to extend this important program so it can continue to help those living in at-risk communities across the country. I appreciate our Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman, Congressman Adrian Smith, for his leadership on this bill. I look forward to the Senate taking action so we can provide certainty to the thousands of families who rely on this program for help in the home."
BACKGROUND:
The Increasing Opportunity and Success for Children and Parents through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act specifically:
Reauthorizes the MIECHV program at current spending levels through fiscal year 2022
Requires states to demonstrate how MIECHV continues to improve the lives of families each year
Prioritizes home visiting resources for families and communities identified as most in need, while taking into account community resources to increase the likelihood of success
Strengthens and expands evidence-based home visiting through state, local, and private partnerships