Legislative Updates

July 2021

     Legislative links, information and opportunities from federal to state . . .

117th US Congress

• Both the House and Senate are in session this week, 7/26-30.
• To connect to the House or Representatives, Leadership, Committees, Activities and more:  https://www.house.gov/.
• To connect to the Senate for Leadership, Committees, Legislation and more:  https://www.senate.gov/.
• Click to connect to the recently, U.S. Senate-introduced ACCESS to Careers Act bipartisan bill, which aligns with Workforce Development System Innovations.
• 3/10/21 American Rescue Plan Act (NCDA Lobbyit) Overview

To get the latest from the White House . . .

and learn more about our 46th president of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., our 49th vice president, Kamala Harris, and the growing number of Executive Orders, memorandums and proclamations: https://www.whitehouse.gov/

• The White House is expected to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border in the coming weeks, which risks logistical and political impact for the Biden administration. The Biden administration is expected to gradually lift the public health authority, Title 42, invoked by former President Trump at the beginning of the pandemic. This approach means that Biden could first end the practice of turning away families and then, later this summer, single adults.
  
• 1st 100 Days in the White House - ACA Government Affairs May Blog
• March Call for WorkforceInRecoverySignOnLetter.pdf  Collaboratively signed by the respective leadership of the National Skills Coalition, National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, NCDA, MCDA, MCA and  more . . .
• The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

Maryland General Assembly (442nd session)

To connect to the Senate President and House Speaker, further explore House & Senate Standing Committees, Joint Standing Committees and MD Manual On-Line, click on:  https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/07leg/html/ga.html.

The General Assembly closed its 2021 ‘90 day’ session on April 12^th. To find bills that passed both chambers at the time you are reading this, you can link to http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite, scroll down to the Legislation section and click on Bills Passed by Both Chambers.

• Consider checking in with your delegates and senator to see if any post-session Town Hall meetings are being planned for your district.
• One bill of note that passed both chambers and recently signed into law by the Governor is The Interstate Licensed Professional Counselors Compact (SB571/HB736). Click here for more on Maryland's NEW Law.

MCDA’s national and state legislative direction (or its particular cause or policy) has been and will continue to be linked to its affiliations. As a MCDA member, you also may enjoy membership in all three affiliate groups NCDA, ACA and MCA, in only one more or in just two of the three. However, your membership $dollars$ in MCDA links you to the advocacy efforts of all three groups.

Current NCDA Federal Legislation and Policy Issues

     https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/govtrelations

Three key federal issues that will impact career counselors:

1. Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
   Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization
2. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
   Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization
3. Appropriations for the Departments of Labor and Education
   Appropriations

Each issue includes policy provisions, program developments or spending cuts that will directly affect career counselors across the country.

Also see the following pdf handouts:

• 7/26/21 Weekly Washington Update
• 7/5/21 Weekly Washington Update
• 6/21/21 Weekly Washington Update
• 6/14/21 Weekly Washington Update
• 6/7/21 Weekly Washington Update
• 6/1/21 Weekly Washington Update (Week began with Memorial Day holiday.)
• NCDA May Advocacy Report
• NCDA Supports our Asian American and Pacific Islander Community
• NCDA Support for Counseling Compacts
• U.S. Congressional Apprenticeship Act Support
• U.S. Congressional Relaunching Workforce Act Support

Current ACA Federal Issues

     https://www.counseling.org/government-affairs/federal-issues

In the new fiscal year (July 2021-June 2022), ACA's Advocacy Power Hour (APH) will be scheduled on the 2^nd Thursday of the month at 3PM ET. The recent June 7th Hill Day replaced the June APH.

Please register in advance to attend the August APH. ACA typically provides a link a week before the 2^nd Thursday event. Check back here to find more about the APH discussion topics. Typically they include state policy and Counseling Compact updates.

Please click on the following to watch the recording of the July 21st ACA AAPI: Advocacy and Action discussion.

ACA’s 2021 virtual Hill Day is available to watch on-demand.

ACA’s May APH occurred on May 13 at 3PM ET. You can view it here: The Counseling Compact | ACA Advocacy Power Hour (May 2021) - YouTube.

In April’s ACA APH climate changes impact on mental health was discussed by three experts in the mental health and environmental policy and advocacy fields. You can view "Climate Change and Mental Health" on ACA’s YouTube channel, Counseling Views, or at: Climate Change & Mental Health | ACA Advocacy Power Hour (April 2021).

If you have any questions or would you like to follow up, please contact the Government Affairs and Public Policy Team at advocacy@counseling.org.

Please click on the following pdf handouts for further information on ACA's Federal Issues:

1. ACA'S RESPONSE TO THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT'S MOA WITH ICE
2. MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT
3. FUNDING FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING
4. OPIOID ADDICTION
5. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND COUNSELORS
6. FEDERAL GRANTS FOR COUNSELING

MCA Advocacy

1. In a recent, mid-May LinkedIn post,

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6800918116781068288/, President Carol ZA McGinnis, PhD, SIP, BC-TMH, NCC, LCPC, highlights one of the results of The Advocacy Committee's efforts.

3. In a Letter from the President (from Compass Points, Fall 2020 issue), President McGinnis shared , “[w]e are passionate about advocacy that will empower the voiceless and the oppressed in our world and want to be a part of positive change to the poor, the disenfranchised, and the mentally ill.”

See https://www.mdcounseling.org/Advocacy the committee's web page for more information.

To become legislatively active with either the national or state levels
or with both levels
or if you have any questions,
please contact
MCDA’s Legislative Chair at:
MCDA.Legislative@MDCareers.org.