Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Dems Adopt Amendment Blocking Trump's Transgender Troops Ban But It's Unlikely To Survive Senate
The Associated Press: House Votes To Block Military Transgender Ban
The Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday night to block President Donald Trump's move to restrict transgender men and women from military service. The House passed, by a 243-183 vote, an amendment to block Trump's transgender ban from remaining in effect. The move still faces an uphill battle and a Trump veto threat against the underlying $1 trillion spending bill, which includes the military budget. (Taylor, 6/18)
Politico: House Votes To Block Trump's Transgender Troop Ban
During debate on a $1 trillion spending package, lawmakers voted 243-183 to adopt an amendment from Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) to block funding to implement the new policy, which Democrats slammed as discriminatory and arbitrary. "The president and his administration wrongfully argue that it's about military readiness and unit cohesion, but these arguments are the same ones that were made to keep the military racially segregated," said Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.). (O'Brien, 6/19)
The Hill: Democrats To Pass Spending Bill With Hyde Despite 2020 Race Uproar
The House is poised to pass spending legislation on Wednesday that includes the Hyde Amendment, the decades-old ban on federal abortion funding that recently created an uproar in the Democratic race for the White House. Weeks after former Vice President Joe Biden flip-flopped from supporter to opponent of the amendment under heavy pressure from his party’s liberal base, the Democratic House will vote in favor of a package that retains Hyde — which progressives say disproportionately hurts poor and minority women. (Hellmann, 6/19)
CQ: House Passes Bill To Renew Medicaid Programs
The House passed a health care bill late Tuesday that would authorize funding for multiple expiring Medicaid programs. Finding a long-term solution to pay for some of these programs has proven difficult, despite general bipartisan support for the programs themselves. The bill (HR 3253) next goes to the Senate. By a vote of 371-46, House members passed the bipartisan bill package, which would update community mental health pilot programs and renew authority for programs that would help patients move out of assisted living, defray costs for individuals whose spouses are in long-term care, and prevent Medicaid fraud. (Raman and Siddons, 6/18)
The Hill: Warren Introduces Universal Child Care Legislation
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) introduced legislation Tuesday that would use federal funds to establish universal child care. The Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act seeks to combat the rise of rising child care costs in the face of stagnated wages with a focus on low-income families. The bicameral bill is cosponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — like Warren, a 2020 White House hopeful — and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.), Mark Pocan (Wis.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), John Larson (Conn.), Grace Meng (N.Y.) and Stephen Horsford (Nev.), as well as Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). (Axelrod, 6/18)
The Washington Post: Jon Stewart Responds To Mitch McConnell's Criticism Over 9/11 Activism
Comedian Jon Stewart delivered a searing response Monday night to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who said earlier in the day that he didn’t know why the former host of “The Daily Show” was “all bent out of shape” over the future of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. “I’m bent out of shape for them,” Stewart said during an appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” referencing the victims and first responders who were injured or became ill because of the 9/11 attacks. “These are the first heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions of dollars war on terror, and they’re currently still suffering and dying and in terrible need.” (Chiu, 6/18)
