Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Wenstrup and Mr. Davis for shepherding through this legislation.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 8876, the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022.

The MIECHV program has over 2,700 participants and has conducted over 17,000 home visits in my home State of Illinois, including in Peoria and McLean Counties and throughout my district.

I understand how important it is to support families, women, and children with evidence-based services to mitigate maternal and infant mortality risk factors and improve overall health outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Evidence-based programs, including home visits by nurses, social workers, or early childhood professionals, have improved maternal and newborn health services that mothers and infants can count on to help set them up for success in the future.

I also acknowledge and take a moment to recognize Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, the former ranking member of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support. She was a wonderful colleague and friend who is deeply missed every day in this body. Passing this legislation today is a recognition of Jackie's tireless advocacy for the renewal of MIECHV and a testament to her remarkable legacy.

We honor her today by passing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill and everybody in this body to honor Jackie.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Sewell), an outstanding gentlewoman that many of us call the pride of the South.

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