From PublicEngagement@epa.gov Special Announcement The White House Council on Women and Girls On Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, from 10:30am to 11:30am EDT, The White House Council on Women and Girls will host a special White House event on girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This event is designed to inspire girls to study STEM subjects and pursue STEM careers and will feature a panel of distinguished... 

Friday, March 23 marks the two-year anniversary of the passage of the nation’s health care law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and next week the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether it is constitutional, with a ruling expected early this summer.  Social workers strongly support the law because it makes vital improvements to health care access, quality and services for millions of Americans with health and... 

On February 17, Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, H.R. 3630 which includes a provision to extend the TANF program through September 30, 2012. This was not a clean extension, meaning there were changes to the program included. The first change requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to set (by proposed and final rule) data exchange standards for information that... 

On Monday, February 13, President Obama released his fiscalyear 2013 budget proposal. It includes $3.67 trillion in new budget authority, a 3.7 percent reduction from 2012 levels. It includes $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending and $2.27 trillion in mandatory spending. You can find information about the budget on the White House web site.  Read More →

Health Action 2012, the conference for consumer health advocates, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC from January 19-21, 2012. Health Action 2012 is sponsored by Families USA and NASW has been a regular cosponsor and attendee at the conference. Health Action 2012 will provide advocates from across the country with the knowledge and tools they need to protect, implement, and... 

In late December, Congress passed the payroll tax extension which included a provision to extend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through February. Under the measure, TANF is extended at fiscal 2011 levels of $16.5 billion per year. NASW is supporting the RISE Out of Poverty Act (H.R. 3573) which aims to reduce child poverty by permanently authorizing the TANF program as a funding stream for subsidized employment,... 

The House passed legislation (H.R. 3659) that would extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through fiscal 2012. The bill, which passed by voice vote, would place restrictions on how benefits can be used and modifies certain requirements states have to meet when reporting data and administering benefits. The so-called strip club loophole allowed recipients to use benefits at liquor stores, casinos... 

Now you can apply online in Spanish for Social Security Retirement benefits, Medicare, and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. Not ready to retire? You can get an estimate of your future retirement benefits in Spanish, too. Check out the new services at Social Security Spanish website, www.segurosocial.gov. It’s so easy.  Read More →

Please join Mayra Alvarez, Director of Public Health Policy, Office of Health Reform and Mara Vanderslice Kelly, Acting Director of the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, for a conference call tour in Spanish of CuidadoDeSalud.gov, the first website in Spanish to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use... 

On November 9, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional. The ruling stated that the individual insurance mandate in the law is valid and within Congress’ Constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It is the fifth time the law was upheld. To read more, go to:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/health/policy/appeals-court-upholds-health-care-law.html While...