Legislative Affairs
Legislative links, information and advocacy from federal to state and now including the District of Columbia.
August 2022 Updates
Note: There will be no update the week of August 8 while congress is out of session.
Headlines to Know:
● Inflation Reduction Act - On Sunday, August 7, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation to fight inflation, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. It also allows Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug prices and extend the expanded Affordable Care Act program until 2025.
● Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 – On Wednesday, August 10, President Biden is expected to sign the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which will expand VA benefits eligibility to more than 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service.
- U.S. Congress
- Executive Branch
- Maryland General Assembly
- Advocacy Affiliate Relationship - NCDA, ACA, MCA
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- Assault Weapons Ban: The House passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 to prohibit the sale, manufacture, or transfer of semi-automatic assault weapons. The vote marks the first time in almost three decades that lawmakers have attempted to reinstate the ban on semi-automatic firearms.
- Budget - Democratic leadership continues to negotiate the budget reconciliation package including language covering prescription drug pricing under Medicare and Medicaid. Tax increases and climate change provisions will likely be cut given that Senator Manchin (D-WV), a key vote on a final package, does not support those inclusions.
- Contact & More Information: House & Senate
- Semiconductors: President Biden will sign the slimmed down CHIPS bill to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The legislation is aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness with China. The Act includes more than $52 billion for U.S. companies producing computer chips and tax credits to encourage investment in chip manufacturing. The Act also allocates funding towards scientific research and the innovation and development of other U.S. technologies.
- Paid White House Internships - The fall 2022 White House Internship Program was launched with paid positions for the first time in recent history. Interns will earn $750 per week in an effort to recruit applicants who cannot take on unpaid work.
Maryland General Assembly (444th session)
The executive cabinet of the Women's Legislative Caucus of Maryland renounced the U.S. Supreme Court's majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, clearing the way for states to mandate forced pregnancies. The Caucus members reiterated their support for women's rights to bodily autonomy.
- For a general overview and information on the 2022 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.
Top Issues - policy provisions, program developments or spending cuts impacting career practitioners nationwide:
For additional information:
- 08/04/22 Weekly Washington Update
- 07/27/22 Weekly Washington Update
- 07/18/22 Weekly Washington Update
- 07/11/22 Weekly Washington Update
- July 2022 - NCDA Monthly Advocacy Report
- NCDA Stands in Solidarity
- 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
- NCDA Legislative page
ACA Federal Advocacy
- The recent mid-June, 2022 ACA Virtual Hill Day symposium focused on the ACA federal legislative agenda, and goals.
- 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
- On June 20 & 21, the MCA Advocacy Committee hosted virtual Federal Hill Day sessions.
- Click here for further information on MCA's federal advocacy work.
- MCA Advocacy Committee page.
For any questions or to get involved in legislative advocacy at the city, state, or national level,
please contact MCDA’s Legislative Co-Chairs MCDA.Legislative@MDCareers.org.