OUR MINISTRIES
Public Policy
March, 2026
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NYS Legislation to watch:
Bills A9205 and S1918 - These companion bills propose establishing a specialized “health home” program under Medicaid for adults with physical disabilities. To improve care coordination for Medicaid-eligible adults (18+) who have a diagnosis of a neurological, muscular, or neuromuscular condition, and a mobility impairment. A9205 is in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee; S1918 has been reported and committed to the Senate Finance Committee.
Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (E-EAP) extends direct payments on utility bills to middle-income New Yorkers and households. If eligible, the discount comes off your utility bills. Visit nyeeap.com
Federal Legislation to watch:
Healthy Start Program (Bipartisan) To reauthorize this critical federal initiative that supports community-based efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes before during, and after pregnancy. This program provides vital services in communities that experience disproportionately high rates of infant mortality and maternal health complications.
Living Donor Protection Act - This legislation would encourage organ donation by making sure people who are willing to donate can do so without jeopardizing their job security and without facing barriers to insurance coverage. (Passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
Healthy Families Act - (Introduced) This legislation would:
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Guarantee every worker in America up to seven paid sick days each year, to be used to recover from their own illnesses, access preventative care, provide care to a sick family member or attend school meetings related to a child’s health condition or disability;
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Simplify how employers calculate paid sick leave. Workers would earn a minimum of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a minimum of 56 hours per year;
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Allow employers to use their existing policies if they exceed minimum standards;
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Allow victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault to use their paid sick days to recover or seek assistance.
​From Catholic Charities USA:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a proposed rule allowing public housing authorities and certain landlords that rent to federally subsidized tenants, to implement work requirements and time limits for nonelderly, non-disabled families. HUD’s existing Moving to Work programs have allowed a select group of local public housing authorities to experiment with employment incentives and requirements for tenants. The proposed rule will expand that permission to most public and federally supported housing managers.
Update on Housing for the 21st Century Act - Passed the House with bipartisan support but failed to address homelessness. Catholic Charities encourages Congress to consider expanded investments in Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based rental assistance, permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention tools as ways to strengthen this legislation.
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Update on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act - This legislation addresses supply, affordability, and homelessness. It includes a bill that would ban large institutional investors from buying up single-family homes.
From USCCB/Justice for Immigrants (JFI):
Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act (HR 4307) - The bill would require training and continuing education for employees of the U. S. Department of Labor to help them better detect instances of human trafficking in the course of their work. (Passed by the House on 3/3/26; now goes to the Senate).
The Bishops continue to support the passage of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 1144).
USCCB Letter on Immigration Enforcement and Religious Liberty - The Bishops urged Congress to demonstrate its support for religious liberty on a bipartisan basis by ensuring respect for sensitive locations, especially houses of worship, and mandating consistent access to religious and pastoral services for all immigration detainees.
The partial government shutdown is continuing as the bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security passed the House but failed in the Senate.
Thank you for your advocacy.
Marie Copeland, Chair