Testimony & Comments

• Feb 28, 2013  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony on TANF Work Requirements This is the testimony that Elizabeth Lower-Basch delivered before the Ways and Means Human Resource Subcommittee regarding TANF Work Requirements and Waivers. Download PDF
• Feb 24, 2013  |  Stephanie Schmit Comments on Developing Assessments for Kindergarten Entry CLASP comments on the appropriate development of Kindergarten Entry Assesments (KEA), which are the focus of recent Enhanced Assessment Grants. Download PDF
• Jan 15, 2013 Comments on Inclusion of Work Data in Electronic Health Records These comments were submitted to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Policy Committee at HHS by CLASP and several partner organizations. The comments advocate for the inclusion of industry and occupation data in electronic health records in order to provide useful data for improving job quality. Download PDF
• Nov 01, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews Comments on the Child Care and Development Fund Plan for States/Territories for FFY 2014-2015 CLASP comments on the revisions made to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Preprint in FFY 2012-2013 as well as makes suggestions on how to improve the FFY 2014-2015 Preprint. Download PDF
• Oct 18, 2012  |  Helly Lee Comments on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Access to Health Care CLASP comments on rule changes regarding health access provisions for young immigrants granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and reiterates the goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to ensure access to affordable health care. Download PDF
• Sep 07, 2012  |  Helly Lee Comments on Data Collection to Support Eligibility Determinations for Insurance Affordability Programs CLASP submitted comments to CMS on proposed data collection for the single, streamlined application mandated in the Affordable Care Act. Download PDF
• Aug 01, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews Testimony for the Record on CCDBG Reauthorization: Helping to Meet the Child Care Needs of American Families CLASP submitted testimony for the record after the July 26th hearing on CCDBG reauthorization held by the subcommittee on Children and Families of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Download PDF
• Jul 31, 2012  |  Linda Harris and Kisha Bird CLASP Comments to U.S. Department of Education Request for Information on Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth Our comments here draw upon CLASP's decade of policy work at the national, state, and local levels related to disconnected youth. We believe our comments in response to the U.S. Department of Education Request for Information on Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth will serve to inform the development of the Performance Partnership Pilots as well as federal cross-agency policy development and funding decisions that can address our current challenges, develop the human capital needed to fuel our economy, and unleash the untapped potential and talent of the millions of young people who have fallen through the cracks. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Jul 31, 2012  |  Campaign for Youth Comments to U.S. Department of Education Request for Information on Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth On behalf of the Campaign for Youth, a coalition of national youth policy and advocacy organizations focusing on low-income youth who are out of school and/or out of work, we applaud the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Education for its leadership in bringing attention to the unique challenges facing youth and for its thoughtfulness in gathering input from a broad range of stakeholders to inform its work around disconnected youth. Download PDF
• Jul 11, 2012  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony for the Record: Plateaus, Cliffs and Work Incentives CLASP submitted Testimony for the Record for the House Ways and Means Committee's hearing on work incentives in low-income support programs. Download PDF
• Jun 11, 2012  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Comments to HHS on TANF Assistance and Electronic Benefit Transactions A new law requires states to restrict access to TANF assistance from ATMs and POS devices in certain locations. This document responds to HHS' request for comments on how to implement this provision. Download PDF
• May 17, 2012  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony for the Record on State Spending and Work Participation CLASP submitted Testimony for the Record for the House Ways and Means Committee's hearing on State TANF Spending and its Impact on Work Requirements. Download PDF
• Jan 27, 2012  |  CLASP Comments on the Department of Education's Strategic Plan FY2011 - 2014 In January 2012, CLASP provided comments on the Department of Education's Strategic Plan for FY 2011 - 2014. CLASP applauded the Department for putting forth a strategic plan that raises expectations for our nation's education system at all levels and moves the country toward meeting the goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Download PDF
• Jan 03, 2012  |  Christine Johnson-Staub CLASP Encourages Reversal of Medicare Ruling on Developmental Screening These comments were submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services in response to a final rule that removes developmental screenings from the Medicare fee schedule. CLASP urges the ruling be reversed and that developmental screenings not be removed from the Medicare fee schedule. Many states align Medicare, Medicaid and private pay fee policies, and removal of developmental screening from the fee schedule may result in the same critical service not being covered under state Medicaid policies. Download PDF
• Oct 03, 2011  |  Vickie Choitz and Julie Strawn CLASP Testimony for the Record on Nontraditional Students On Sept. 30, 2011, the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance held a hearing on higher education regulations and nontraditional students. CLASP submitted comments focusing on the primary barriers to access and persistence for nontraditional students and promising strategies and policies and the role of the federal government in helping nontraditional students in overcoming the barriers. Download PDF
• Sep 22, 2011  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Improving Work and Other Welfare Reform Goals On September 8, the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on TANF, in preparation for the pending reauthorization of the block grant. CLASP submitted this testimony for the record. Download PDF
• Aug 26, 2011  |  Marcie Foster and Vickie Choitz Comments on Model Financial Aid Offer Form The Department of Education requested comments on recommendations for improving the model financial aid offer form as required by the Higher Education Act. CLASP recommends that these letters should provide direct and transparent information that will help the student make informed enrollment and financial decisions. They should also serve as an educational tool that helps students better understand the true costs of college and develop a plan for funding their education. Download PDF
• Jul 27, 2011  |  Rutledge Q. Hutson and Tiffany Conway Perrin Testimony for the Record on Hearing on Child Deaths due to Maltreatment This testimony was submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Human Resources in response to the July 12, 2011 Hearing on Child Deaths due to Maltreatment. CLASP encourages steady work towards comprehensive child welfare financing reform in order to reduce child fatalities and all child maltreatment. Download PDF
• Jul 12, 2011  |  CLASP AND OTHER NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge Comments on Selection Criteria CLASP wrote and submitted comments with other national organizations to the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services on the draft Early Learning Challenge proposal. Download PDF
• Jul 05, 2011 CLASP Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on SNAP Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions These comments, submitted to the US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), were in response to a request for public comment on SNAP Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions. CLASP's recommendations are intended to help FNS implement provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008, Pub. L. 110-246. The recommendations focused on four main areas: the dependent care deduction, access to benefits, transitional benefits, and employment and training services. Download PDF