The US Department of Health and Human Services has just released a toolkit for local governments to understand and implement the Affordable Care Act.

The toolkit includes an overview of the Affordable Care Act, a sample outreach and enrollment plan that you can tailor for your community, frequently asked questions and answers, resources and information on training sessions, contacts for HHS regional offices and sample materials that can be used for newsletters, social media and public events.

You can find the toolkit by clicking here. Email the HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at HHSIEA@hhs.gov with any questions.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

“The Affordable Care Act and Your City” is a learning session being hosted by the National League of Cities and The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, August 28th at 2:00pm. Beginning October 1, 2013, a new Health Insurance Marketplace will open in every state, giving Americans a whole new way to shop for health insurance. These changes are creating a lot of confusion about what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) means for individuals and businesses. To register for the event, click here.

The hour-long learning session will include:

*   How elected officials can help their constituents and smaller businesses obtain the health insurance they need and deserve;

*   How the Health Insurance Marketplace and SHOP will work;

*   Information about subsidies for individuals who need health insurance but whose incomes are too low to afford it;

*   How a city can become a “Certified Application Counselor and

*   Basic information every American should have about the Affordable Care Act.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

MSHDA is accepting funding requests from CDBG non-entitlement local units of government for residential blight removal projects under the Community Development Division’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The CDBG program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

It’s open to cities, townships and villages of less than 50,000 in population, and non-urban counties that do not receive CDBG funding directly from HUD.

The program will provide financial assistance to communities to make physical improvements to residential neighborhoods through blight removal of vacant residential single-family structures that are publicly owned and/or formally designated as dangerous structures.

For additional information, see the attached memorandum from MSHDA.

mshda_cd_blight_430445_7

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

The Federal Highway Administration staff is doing a webinar to provide technical assistance from the June 28th notification regarding ADA requirements to provide curb ramps. The webinar is August 20th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. You can sign up for the webinar by clicking here. Attached is a letter with more information.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

2013-07-30 – BRIEF – ADA Resurfacing Technical Assistance

The US House of Representatives did not have the votes to pass the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Budget this week. This is good news for local communities, as the House budget had steep cuts to many programs including a 50% reduction to already reduced CDBG funding, and zeroing out both TIGER grants and the Bridge Repair Program. The Senate proposal is much more favorable with funding for local government programs. We are hopeful that will pass the Senate and set up a good scenario as they start negotiating on next years’ budget. Please continue to reach out to your Representatives and talk to them about how important this funding is. Tell them to support the Senate proposals rather than the drastic reductions in the House. You can reach them by clicking here.

Summer Minnick isthe Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

This week Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced an amendment that would have significant negative impacts to cities around the country, but was targeted at Detroit. The amendment, which is attached, was offered in the Senate Appropriations committee and would have prohibited federal funding to any local government that was in default OR at risk of default, which was not defined. The League has partnered with the National League of Cities to send a letter to the Senate opposing these efforts. The letter is also attached. This proposal is an inflexible and irrational way of attacking communities which are seeking lawful measures to handle fiscal distress. While the amendment was defeated in the Senate Thursday – it was along party lines, 16-14, so it will most certainly rear it’s head again. The League has been in direct communication with the DC staff of both Senators Levin and Stabenow on this issue, who have both spoken out in opposition to the concept.

Revised Graham – BAILOUT

Letter from MML and NLC to the Senate re Appropriations

Congress has been working its way through the budget process, and as we have seen so far this year, the Senate budget proposals regarding local government issues are much more favorable than the House versions. This coming week, the Senate will resume work on the Transportation Housing and Urban Development bill. There have been many amendments to slash funding for specific programs in this budget, so we have a simple message – to support the Senate budget and oppose all amendments which slash funding from various programs going to local communities. If you have yet to add your voice to this effort you can get contact information for Senators Levin and Stabenow by clicking here.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at sminnick@mml.org or 517-908-0301.

League CEO Dan Gilmartin has signed on with MSHDA’s CEO Scott Woosley in a letter to Michigan’s Congressional delegation regarding the critical importance of keeping municipal bonds tax exempt as Congress debates federal tax reform. The letter (attached) was distributed from Governor Snyder’s Washington DC Office last week. This is the League’s latest effort to impress upon Congress how essential it is that they keep the tax exempt status in place as Congress consideres overhauling tax policy. Michigan is in a unique position as we have both the Chairman (Rep. Camp – R) and ranking member (Rep. Levin – D) on the House Ways and Means Committee, which is leading the effort in the House. If you have not done so yet, please take the time to contact your Congressional leaders by clicking here. A sample letter is attached in addition to a report on the issue.

MSHDAMML LH

Sample Letter

Muni Bond Report

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at sminnick@mml.org or 517-908-0301.

Congress is moving budget plans through the appropriations process, and the House and Senate are at odds with funding levels for various transportation programs. The House is proposing much less funding, and zeroed out TIGER grant funding and bridge repair grant funding. Please take a moment to contact your congressman to let them know how important this funding is for your community. You can use a sample letter from Transportation 4 America, by clicking here. Or you can just contact your leaders by clicking here.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org