Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, this week, we honor the legacy of Representative Jackie Walorski by renewing our commitment to help moms and babies thrive. I thank Chairman Davis and our Republican leader, Dr. Wenstrup, for their leadership on this issue.

Throughout her life, Jackie served vulnerable families, from the mission field in Romania to the halls of Congress, where she proudly represented the men and women of Indiana's Second Congressional District.

She reached across the aisle and worked closely with Chairman Davis to move this important bipartisan bill forward. My last conversation with Jackie was by Zoom on this bill itself.

We miss her very much. We are proud to dedicate the product of her collaboration today to her because she has been such an inspiration in these efforts.

Jackie knew that this was a critical program that supports vulnerable families and improves the health of moms and babies through pregnancy into the early years of a child's life.

This program builds upon decades of research that proves home visits by a nurse, social worker, or other trained professional during pregnancy, and in the very first years of a child's life, help to prevent child abuse and neglect, support positive parenting, improve maternal and child health, and promote the development of kids and school readiness.

This is a bipartisan bill that reflects many of our Republican priorities, including increasing transparency about outcomes and results for families and targeting dollars to the neediest communities.

Most Federal programs, unfortunately, operate in a black box. Less than $1 out of every $100 the government spends is backed by even the most basic evidence and research to make sure the money is spent wisely and succeeds.

Unlike many of those programs, MIECHV is evidence-based, so we know the real impact on families and children. We are able to direct funding toward what works for them.

The Walorski home visiting program will gradually increase funding from $400 million a year to $800 million a year over a 5-year period and introduces a State match so we can stretch those dollars even further back home.

The principle is simple. Where the States see value in investing, the Federal Government will also invest. It also ensures the new matching funds are allocated to States based on the number of kids under 5 living below poverty, so funding goes where the needs and the kids are.

The bill increases transparency by creating what I love, which is a State-by-State outcomes dashboard so all of us can see how these interventions are helping families, and it maintains the current focus on high standards.

I take this moment to thank my friend, Dr. and Representative Wenstrup, who serves today as acting Republican leader of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support. He stepped up to the plate to carry on Jackie's legacy with grace and determination, and I thank him for his hard work.

I think all of us can think of no more fitting tribute to Jackie than the bipartisan support coming together for something that helps our most needy families.

I, like many of us today, am grateful we are getting this bill across the finish line together in her honor.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source