Policy Updates

Thanks to sponsors Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Barbara Lee and cosponsor Senator Kyrsten Sinema the Social Work Month Resolution introductions have been made to both the US Senate and House. The Resolutions recognize with gratitude “the contributions of the millions of social workers who have advanced individual, family, community, and the Nation’s health and well-being since the founding of the social work profession over a century ago and continue to do so today.” Read the full Resolutions at S.Res. 125 and H.Res. 257.

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The FY2023 omnibus appropriations package was signed by President Biden on December 29, 2022. This $1.7 trillion-dollar spending bill will keep the government running through September 2023, the end of the current fiscal year, and also served as a year-end legislative vehicle for legislative priorities.

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In response to advocacy from NASW and our coalition partners, the Department of Education announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections that was set to expire on December 31, 2022.

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Student Loan Debt Cancellation Website Now Live

Apply by December 31, 2023

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NASW continues to work to make student loan debt relief a reality. One step in this is the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal student loan cancellation program.

President Biden announced on October 17, 2022, that millions of working- and middle-class borrowers can apply for federal student debt relief right NOW at studentaid.gov/debtrelief/apply.

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On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mental Health Matters Act (H.R. 7780) with bipartisan support by a vote of 220-205. The bill seeks to address the mental health needs of students, families, and educators that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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NASW continues to work in coalition to promote student loan debt relief for social workers. There have been several developments over the past couple of weeks that we want to highlight.

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The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) released its mental health workforce discussion draft component of its mental health legislative package (a summary may be found here). We are pleased to report that 2 of the 3 provisions of the Improving Access to Mental Health Act are included in section 12 of the discussion draft. These provisions include allowing clinical social workers to provide Part B services to residents of skilled nursing facilities and allowing clinical social workers to bill for HBAI services.

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Washington, D.C. – Today President Biden announced a three-part plan to provide student loan debt relief for borrowers who need it most. This plan includes cancellation of student loan debt for individuals earning up to $125,000 annually, an extension of the federal student loan payment pause and moratorium on interest through December 31, 2022, as well as proposal of a new income-based repayment plan that will reduce future monthly payments for lower- and middle-income borrowers. Individuals who had PELL grants can have up to $20,000 canceled and other student loan borrowers can have up to $10,000 canceled. This historic student loan debt cancellation will assist thousands of social workers and their families, also alleviating the economic strain associated with the burden of student loans, for many more borrowers.

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The interstate compact for social work licensure draft legislation is now available for stakeholder review and public comment. Please refer to our June 10 update for background on the compact development process thus far. Also visit the Council on State Governments (CSG) website to download a copy of the draft legislation, review the fact sheet, read FAQs, and access the survey link to provide your comments.

NASW will host two stakeholder review sessions - July 26 and August 31 from 5:30-7 pm ET on NASW's Facebook page to review the draft legislation with CSG representatives and hear analysis and reflections from NASW leaders. NASW Chapters and other stakeholder groups may also host review sessions. For all NASW activities and information about the licensure compact, please visit NASW's Interstate Licensure Compact page.

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