Key House Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Reauthorize MIECHV

In late September, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the voluntary, evidence-based Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program.

During the hearing, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle spoke about the importance of voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs – like those made possible by MIECHV funding – which provide essential services for parents seeking support to become their child’s first and best caregivers and teachers. 

The hearing featured bipartisan agreement from committee members on the need to swiftly reauthorize funding for MIECHV before it expires at the end of the year.

Here’s what lawmakers had to say about the importance of reauthorizing MIECHV:

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA): Home visiting is a powerful program that helps young children and new parents thrive by meeting them where they are. Positive outcomes are well documented from decreasing maternal mortality and morbidity to improving school readiness and promoting family well being.

Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX): MIECHV is a critical program that supports vulnerable families and aims to improve the health of moms and babies through pregnancy into the early years of a child’s life. 

Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL): Home visiting is a life changing experience. Research demonstrates that home visiting works, and I have seen these successes in my home city of Chicago, where parents and home visitors partner to tackle big challenges and making children healthier and safer.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH): As a physician, I’m very familiar with the evidence based efforts of in home support for both new parents and children, and I really value the program’s focus on preventative health.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL): MIECHV is already a successful, evidence based program that has proved itself with mothers and their babies. The critical MIECHV tie between funds and programs that demonstrate results means taxpayer dollars are put to work for the benefits of those who need it.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA): [MIECHV] is a vital source of support for young mothers and working families and has a bipartisan reputation of being the gold standard for evidence based policymaking. 

Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO): The Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program MIECHV, is an example of what can happen when the federal government does its job right. This is an evidence based program that protects the well being of our nation’s children and families.