Serving the Underserved: Counties Addressing Poverty
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“Counties Addressing Poverty: Serving the Underserved” describes the critical county role in breaking multigenerational cycles of poverty. The report examines varying poverty rates across our nation’s counties, county anti-poverty efforts and federal economic opportunity programs that are county-administered. Additionally, the report includes recommendations for Congress on how they can engage with local decision makers as they work to reauthorize and improve federal poverty programs.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces major restructuring
On March 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a sweeping reorganization that will consolidate agencies, shift key programs under a new framework and eliminate thousands of positions. This change brings HHS in line with President Trump's Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services moves to reduce public comment in rulemaking
On February 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a policy change limiting public comment opportunities to only those required by law. Published in the Federal Register on March 3, the decision rescinds the “Richardson Waiver,” a 1971 directive from then-HHS Secretary Elliot Richardson that encouraged broader public input on regulations related to public benefits, grants and healthcare policies.
U.S. Congress begins work on budget reconciliation process: What this means for counties
The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation.