Posted inJustice, Money, Politics

DeLauro bid to help immigrant children gets bipartisan support

WASHINGTON – With bipartisan support, a key House panel adopted two measures sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro aimed at pressing the Trump administration to improve its reunification of immigrant families separated at the U.S. border and boost funding for a mental health program that would help the children recover from the separations. 

Posted inJustice, Politics

CT senators say Trump administration blocked visit with immigrant kids

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy say they were prevented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from touring a facility in Groton on Friday that houses immigrant children. “This denial of access to a facility in our own state is outrageous, and we will keep doing everything we can to support Noank and to reunite these kids with their families,” the senators said.

Posted inPolitics

DeLauro: Republicans are ‘cowards’ for postponing bill to address immigrant family separations

WASHINGTON — Rep. Rosa DeLauro on Tuesday accused Republican members of an appropriations committee of “cowardice” because they postponed consideration of a bill Democrats planned to amend with provisions targeting the separation of immigrant families at the border. A GOP spokeswoman said there just hasn’t been enough time to consider the bill.

Posted inPolitics

As ACA faces new challenges, fixes not assured

WASHINGTON — The Affordable Care Act is facing more challenges than at any time since its initial enrollment period in 2013, when the program was bedeviled by technical glitches. Besides rising premiums and fewer choices in Connecticut and elsewhere, there’s uncertainty a new Congress and a new administration will make fixes to the ACA that will improve its health.

Posted inHealth

Feds finally move on mental health parity

Washington — Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday that the Obama administration has finalized regulations that would bar insurers from treating mental illnesses differently from other ailments. Parity has been a longtime issue for mental health advocates, especially since Congress approved a law in 2008 that barred insurance companies from discriminating when it came to the treatment of mental illnesses.