ACA Update: Congress Passes Medicaid/School Aid, Supporting Many Counselors

Today, Congress passed legislation, by a 247-161 vote, providing education and healthcare aid to help states ratchet back massive cuts in the face of budget shortfalls. The final legislation provides $10 billion to help prevent approximately 140,000 teachers, school counselors and other education-system personnel from losing their jobs this school year. These jobs are essential to keeping local schools, districts and state education departments functioning for our students. The legislation also extends, through June 30, 2011, Medicaid increases made under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. This funding enables states to continue providing a range of community-based mental health services and supports that are lifelines for many low-income Americans and individuals with disabilities. The president is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

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