August 12, 2021
Special Announcements
Senate Passes Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a $550 billion bill that addresses a wide range of infrastructure investments, including transportation, broadband, and climate change mitigation. The bill has several components more directly impacting human services agencies and their partners, including:
  • An additional $100 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) each year for FY 2022 through September 2026, for a total of $500 million (see Page 2618-2619)
  • $3.5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), a ten-fold increase in the program that received $310 million in FFY 2021 (see Page 1731-1732)
  • $4 billion to establish a Low-Income Drinking Water Assistance Program
  • The bill next goes to the House where it is expected to see a favorable vote
Senate Passes Budget Reconciliation Framework

Early on Wednesday morning, the Senate passed a framework for a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package along party lines. The plan features many priorities highlighted earlier this year by the Administration as part of the American Families Plan. The resolution passed gives instructions from the Senate Budget Committee to other Committees on creating detailed legislation to advance the priorities outlined within appropriated limits. The final package will go through the budget reconciliation process, which allows for passage with only 50 votes. Human services and related priorities outlined in the framework include:
  • Establish universal Pre-k Programs for 3- and 4-year-olds
  • Expansion of Medicare
  • Extension of the expanded Child Tax Credit
  • Extension of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) & Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC)
  • Paid parental and medical leave
  • Expansion of child care for working families
  • Investment in the child care workforce
  • Nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
  • Workforce development and job training
  • Community College tuition free for 2 years
  • Increase to the Pell Grant

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