Legislative Affairs

         

Legislative links, information and advocacy from federal to state

April 2024 Update  

Partnering for Success with

Governor Moore's Service Year Option

Maryland's Department of Service & Civic Innovation (DSCI) invites you to connect with them to find out more about Governor Wes Moore's new initiative regarding an invaluable opportunity to help your clients and/or students determine the best next steps in their work or educational journey through a year of paid, full-time service.

According to State Delegate, Michele Guyton, "our service option is working well and being expanded."

Please utilize the following Service Year Option/Maryland Corps Info Session link to schedule your virtual 1:1 connection with DSCI and find out more. If you have an existing event that you would like for us to attend or have a group of potential participants you would like us to speak to in person, please let us know.

Should you have any questions or feedback in advance, please visit https://dsci.maryland.gov or email applytoserve@maryland.gov.

What’s Happening in Washington

Week of April 8th

Headlines to Know

Mayorkas Impeachment Trial to begin this week

• Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's impeachment trial is set to begin this week in the Senate. The House Impeachment Members will deliver the articles to the Senate this Wednesday.  
• GOP House members approved two articles of impeachment against the Secretary, initiating the first impeachment trial against a Cabinet Member in 150 years.  
• The 2 Articles are “one that accuses Mayorkas of violating laws related to immigration and border security and a second that accuses him of making false statements while under oath to Congress.”  
• Congressional Democrats dispute the characterization of Mayorkas’s actions in the impeachment – as they control the Senate, Mayorkas is expected to be acquitted. 

Cole Unopposed for Appropriations Committee Leadership

• Rep. Robert B. Aderholt will not challenge Rep. Tom Cole for the House Appropriations Committee chair, making Cole the uncontested candidate. 
• Aderholt had considered running but chose to advocate for reforms in the appropriations process instead. His decision follows Chairwoman Kay Granger's step-down announcement, with Cole quickly securing support. 
• The GOP Steering Committee is expected to support Cole, with formal approval by the entire House GOP conference seen as a formality. Aderholt's proposals for reform were highlighted amid his decision not to run.

Other News to Know 

Train Derailment Settlement  

• On Tuesday, Norfolk Southern agreed to settle the class-action lawsuit arising from the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment for $600 million.  
• Norfolk covers all personal injury claims within 10 miles and all class-action claims within 20 miles of the 38-car derailment (which released hazardous chemicals into the air, forcing about half of the town’s residents to evacuate).  
• Norfolk has spent over $800 million on environmental cleanup from derailment.  
• The agreement, which does not force Norfolk to take responsibility for the derailment, must still be approved by a Northern District of Ohio Federal Judge before it becomes effective. 

Senator Bernie Sanders introduces a $10 billion, 10-year proposal to bolster Federal long COVID response

• Funding Goals: Directs $10 billion to the NIH for long-term COVID research, including a new grant process, a coordinating entity, an advisory board, and a research database.
• Research Focus: Prioritizes grants for potential pharmaceutical treatments for long-term COVID-19, supporting existing NIH efforts like the RECOVER initiative.
• Public Engagement: Sanders seeks public feedback until April 23, aiming to initiate discussions on long-term COVID-19, which affects up to 6% of U.S. adults.
• Challenges: It faces congressional resistance due to polarization over federal spending, yet it aims to address the public health emergency of long COVID.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Sanders calls for improved diagnosis, treatment, and awareness, highlighting the debilitating symptoms and impact of long-term COVID-19 on millions.

Arizona Supreme Court returns century old abortion law 

• On April 9^th, the Arizona Supreme Court came to a 4-2 decision to return a law from 1864. The law prevents abortions in all cases unless the pregnancy is potentially life-threatening. The decision makes Arizona one of 14 other states to ban all forms of abortion.  
• The Arizona Supreme Court’s majority opinion, written by Justice John Lopez, uses the Dobbs decision to justify the reawakening of the law. The Attorney General of Arizona, Kris Mayes, attempted to stop the law from reawakening, but pressure from the previous administration resulted in the Court taking the case. 
• The 1864 law was created before Arizona had official Statehood, resulting in mass criticism among different groups. Some women's rights groups have used this decision to push voter support in the upcoming election.  

Legislative Developments

• Congress is back with a full agenda, including a crucial focus on renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through H.R. 7320 before April 19. On the state level, California is in the spotlight for its efforts to regulate AI, specifically with Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan's bill requiring AI impact assessments to prevent discriminatory outcomes. A deeper dive into California's AI legislation is expected on May 30.
• The U.S. faces an agricultural trade deficit driven by consistent demand for products like beef and fresh fruits, which has reached almost $17 billion in 2023. On defense, President Biden proposes a slight increase in the 2025 budget to focus on matching China militarily, despite plans to retire older military assets for newer technologies.
• Upcoming Bills:
• • H.R. 7320: Focused on reforming intelligence and securing America.
  • H.R. 6951: Addresses college cost reduction.
  • H.R. 7683: Pertains to First Amendment rights on campus.
  • H.R. 7845: Proposes renaming Washington Dulles International Airport after Donald J. Trump.
  • CA SB 299: Seeks to expand automatic voter registration.

Hearings

All Times EST.

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118th U.S. CONGRESS

Executive Branch

• President Biden Signs Executive Order: Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums
  
• Statement from President Joe Biden on Nearly $5 Billion in Additional Student Debt Cancellation for 74,000 Borrowers
• Contact & More

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Maryland General Assembly (446th session)

• The Maryland Legislative session ended at midnight on Monday, April 15th.
• For a general overview and information on the 2024 session, visit the General Assembly's Tutorial page
• Contact & More Information

Advocacy Affiliates

MCDA is an affiliate of NCDA, ACA, and MCA and its advocacy work is linked to these organizations. Your MCDA membership automatically links you to the advocacy efforts of all four groups. However, all MCDA members are eligible to join these groups.

NCDA Federal Advocacy 2023-2024

NOTE: Policy Areas are not in order of priority. Priority of these areas will be ever-evolving to mirror prominent issues within the legislature.

Policy Areas

1. Employment Opportunities and Job Market Adaptability
   • Focus 1: Advocating for federal policies that foster a dynamic and inclusive job market, ensuring opportunities for all skill levels and backgrounds.
   • Focus 2: Pushing for legislation that supports job transition programs, particularly for workers in declining industries or those impacted by automation and digital transformation.
   • Focus 3: Collaboration with federal agencies to develop and promote initiatives that match job seekers with opportunities based on current and forecasted labor market trends.
2. Student Career Services
   • Focus 1: Educate policymakers and advocate for the continuum of career services from early education through the end of life, with particular emphasis on meaning and purpose derived from work.
   • Focus 2: Advocating for and supporting funding for high-quality career services in K-12 settings.
   • Focus 3: Advocating for and supporting funding for high-quality career services in higher education institutions at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional (e.g. law and medical school) levels.
   • Focus 4: Advocating for and supporting funding for high-quality career services in vocational programs, community programs, and additional services for minors and adults.
3. Professional Accreditation and Certification Standards
   • Focus: Lobbying for federal standards and support for the accreditation and certification of career development professionals to ensure quality and uniformity across the field, with particular emphasis on NCDA’s professional and ethical standards, including credentials approved by the NCDA Credentialing Commission.
4. Access to Professional Development
   • Focus: Advocacy for federal grants or subsidies aimed at promoting ongoing professional development among practitioners and educators in the career development field.
5. Workforce Development and Education
   • Focus: Collaboration with federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Labor, to integrate career development into national education policies and workforce development programs.
6. Equal Opportunity and Inclusion
   • Focus: Promoting legislation that ensures all individuals, especially those from underrepresented and marginalized groups, have equitable access to career development resources and opportunities.
   • Focus: Advocating for legislation to protect workers from discrimination, especially those from underrepresented and marginalized groups.
7. Special Populations
   • Focus: Advocating for legislation and programs that support special populations, including military veterans, individuals with disabilities, reentering formerly incarcerated individuals, immigrants, and other groups with barriers to workforce participation.
8. Mental Health and Career Development
   • Focus: Pushing for policies that integrate career development as part of broader mental health and well-being initiatives at the federal level.
9. Funding for Research and Innovation
   • Focus: Advocating for federal funding to facilitate research in career development trends, technologies, and best practices.
10. Small Business Development
    • Focus: Support funding and programs supporting small businesses, including tax structures to support small businesses and their owners.
11. Data Privacy and Ethical Compliance
    • Focus: Advocacy for ethical standards and data protection laws relevant to the gathering and storage of client information in the career development sector.

ACA Federal Advocacy

Agenda for Advocacy Power Hours (APH):

1. Introduction of attendees and ACA staff
2. State updates – ACA staff
3. Federal updates – ACA staff
4. State & regional updates – ACA members
5. Final call(s) to action – ACA staff
6. Q&A, wrap up, and important ACA administrative updates – ACA staff

Meetings and an updated schedule for the 2024 FY will resume in September 2023.

• More ways to take advocacy action.
• ACA's Statement on the Conflict in Ukraine.
• Contact the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy Team.
• Click here for further information on ACA's federal advocacy work.

MCA Advocacy

• Our Counseling Compact WELCOMEs New Hampshire! There are now 15 states  signed to the Counseling Compact including:  Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia!
• Click here to access the MCA Advocacy Committee web page.

For any questions or to get involved in legislative advocacy at the local, state, or national level, 
please contact MCDA’s Legislative Co-Chairs MCDA.Legislative@MDCareers.org.