This Week on the Hill
The House and Senate are in recess until September 6.
CDC Issues New Guidance for Zika Virus, Including for Schools
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance and information on the Zika virus. First, the CDC issued updated guidance and information aimed at preventing Zika virus transmission and health effects, including guidance for healthcare providers caring for pregnant women with possible exposure to Zika virus. Second, the CDC issued interim guidance for district and school administrators in the continental United States and Hawaii, intended to address concerns about the risk for Zika virus infection in K-12 schools, provide school districts with information for planning school-related activities, and recommend actions that can be taken, in consultation with local public health officials and government officials, to reduce the potential risk for Zika virus transmission on school premises and among students. The guidance provides an overview of the potential roles and responsibilities of public health authorities and school officials, describes prevention measures that schools can take, and provides information on responding to a case of the Zika virus. Last week health officials in Florida identified the first cases of local mosquito-borne transmission within the continental United States.
DOT Announces $500 Million in TIGER Grants
On Friday the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that nearly $500 million will be awarded across 40 projects in 32 states and two territories for transportation projects in the eighth round of the competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. The program supports innovative projects, including multi-jurisdictional projects, which may be difficult to fund through traditional federal programs. This year’s award focuses on capital projects that generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation for urban and rural communities. Since 2009 the TIGER grant program has provided a combined $5.1 billion to 421 projects across the states, territories and tribal communities. Information on the 2016 awards can be found here.
Education Department Releases Guidance on Homeless Students
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released guidance to states and school districts last week on the new provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for supporting homeless children and youth. ESSA reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths program, which protects and serves homeless students; the amended version provides new protections, and equips local partners with a tool for implementing the provisions, which take effect October 1, 2016. The guidance released last week is intended to help states, districts, and local partners understand those new provisions. In addition to the guidance, ED also released a fact sheet on the unique needs of homeless students, a summary of protections under the McKinney-Vento Act, and recommendations for how educators can help. During the 2013-14 school year, more than 1.3 million homeless children and youth were enrolled in public schools. The new guidance can be found here, the fact sheet can be found here, and the homeless student notice of rights and protections can be found here.
CDC Releases Funds to States to Fight Antibiotic Resistance
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the August 1 release of $67 million to help health departments tackle antibiotic resistance and other patient safety threats. The new funding will be distributed through CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement, and will be distributed to all 50 state health departments, six local health departments, and Puerto Rico. The funds will also support seven new regional laboratories with specialized capabilities allowing rapid detection and identification of emerging antibiotic resistant threats. Additional information on the cooperative agreement and funding priorities can be found here.
CFPB Considering New Rules for Debt Collectors
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently outlined proposals under consideration to overhaul the debt collection market, specifically focused on third-party debt collectors. According to the CFPB, debt collection is a $13.7 billion industry with more than 130,000 workers and it contacts one out of every three American consumers every year. The proposals under consideration are aimed at ensuring that debt collectors collect the correct debt, limit excessive or disruptive communications, make debt details clear and disputes easy, document debt on demand for disputes, stop collecting or suing for debt without proper documentation, and stop burying information on disputes when debt is transferred. As part of the rulemaking process, the CFPB will gather feedback from small industry representatives, the public, consumer groups, and other stakeholders. The outline of proposals under consideration can be found here.
DOT Issues Final Rule on Public Transit Standards
On Tuesday the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a final rule to define the term “state of good repair” and to establish minimum federal requirements for transit asset management that will apply to all state and local transit agencies that receive federal grant money. The final rule requires public transportation providers to develop and implement transit asset management plans, while also establishing state of good repair standards and four state of good repair performance measures. The National Transit Asset Management System, as established by this rule, was required by the 2012 surface transportation bill, MAP-21. The rule notes that “insufficient funding combined with inadequate transit management practices have contributed to an estimated $85.9 billion transit state of good repair backlog.” Under the rule, each transit provider that receives federal grant funds as a recipient or sub recipient and either owns, operates, or manages public transit capital assets is required to develop and implement a Transit Asset Management plan. The new rule takes effect in October 2016. Agencies must complete asset management plans within two years and establish preliminary state of good repair performance targets by January 2017. Information to help states develop plans can be found here.
Recently Released Reports
Improving Services for Families through Increased TANF Coordination with SNAP Employment and Training Programs, Administration for Children and Families
State Trends in the Delivery of Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports, Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.
Medicaid and CHIP: May 2016 Monthly Applications, Eligibility Determinations and Enrollment Report, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Hospital Uncompensated Care: Federal Action Needed to Better Align Payments with Costs, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Economic News
GDP Increased 1.5 Percent in the Second Quarter of 2016
Last week the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis released data on the gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2016 (advance estimate), showing an increase at an annual rate of 1.2 percent. Many economists had expected growth of 2.6 percent and noted the slow growth over the last three quarters. Real gross domestic product is the value of goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes. The increase in real GDP in the second quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (up 4.2 percent) and exports (up 1.4). Negative contributions were due to nonresidential fixed investment (down 2.2 percent), state and local government spending (down 1.3), and residential fixed investment (down 6.1 percent). The “second” estimate for the second quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on August 26.
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady
At its July meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-1 to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at .25 to .50 percent. The committee noted information received since the June meeting indicates that the labor market strengthened and that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate rate. Payrolls and other labor market indicators point to some increase in labor utilization in recent months. Household spending has been growing strongly but business fixed investment has been soft. The committee noted that it “currently expects that, with gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary policy, economic activity will expand at a moderate pace and labor market indicators will continue to strengthen.” Looking at future possible adjustments, the statement says that “in determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation.”