Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Wenstrup for the time and thank both him and Dr. Davis for the work they have done to get this bipartisan bill to the floor.

I rise in strong support of this 5-year reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, which honors our late colleague and friend, Jackie Walorski.

Jackie spent every day working in this body to improve the lives of families in Indiana and across the country, and enacting this bill, which enhances the ability of States and communities to help at-risk new parents care for and support their children, I think is a fitting tribute.

I led the last MIECHV reauthorization 5 years ago when I chaired the Human Resources Subcommittee, and this bill actually enhances everything that MIECHV does right.

It is a preventative program which keeps kids out of the child welfare system and saves money.

It uses fact-based methods to ensure our support dollars are well spent.

It asks States to provide matching funds, so they have some skin in the game when utilizing this funding, and it is paid for within our committee's jurisdiction without raising taxes.

MIECHV is a model for how our safety net should work, and I strongly support this bill.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Moore), a fierce defender of poor and disadvantaged people.

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