[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6233007,"mediaKeyId","3425493-eb4014392885dede06819ce273b54b54","parentId",3425493,"title","Senate Health & Welfare edits draft resolution opposing recent federal health actions, delays final text","audioSeconds",461,"startMs",2311000,"endMs",2772000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425493-eb4014392885dede06819ce273b54b54&start=2311&end=2772","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425493-eb4014392885dede06819ce273b54b54/thumbnail_2311000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6233007/Vermont/Senate-Health-Welfare-edits-draft-resolution-opposing-recent-federal-health-actions-delays-final-text","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233007-57a6829febb368179b6824d23937ab30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152676&Signature=gGoKasMqfPoQysbeR2auI7yr2NkkxmjvG9UR5cwkh6pUiS3oAQkOQZ35hZHhnW7GXOlEGwDKJagxiKOwycppNPccg82R-Ax-eDlBTyfRvKXzHRW6C~NKVJWFAi28bABRwtWSGLr96fAeB5GDYm5YoI2BtwY8Y4ECIFdVFBovgRMwZU85wX9ynwwRRWFW0JiVpgd1eMv5N7-yOFKzdtKF3Tv-ioAEQjZjKJe~-tFo1Ty8YCm9w1diMWaTtojQnwJRNZOUl7xKs1zCrhWYyVHB6sNittFYZwerznk~2C3-90TS9la6L2unCpmqNOoAR2RpaoWqvUGkRlKkMDqgQuLNQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-21T15:30:54.98Z","article","The Senate Health & Welfare Committee reviewed and revised a draft resolution on May 21 that opposes recent federal actions and urges reversal of policies the draft said threaten public health. Committee members discussed specific wording, factual claims about grant and job cuts, and the legal risks of naming individuals.

Why it matters: The draft resolution calls attention to federal policy changes at agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Education. The committee’s language could be sent to federal officials and the Vermont congressional delegation and shapes the Legislature’s public stance on national public-health matters.

The draft resolution’s new language described a U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization as jeopardizing global and Vermonters’ health, asserted that HHS actions have eliminated approximately 20,000 jobs (including at CDC teams focused on injury prevention, mental-health and substance-use tracking, maternal and child health, and tobacco prevention), and said NIH refusal to fund some programs tied to diversity, equity and inclusion jeopardizes medical research. The draft also said the U.S. Department of Education cut about $1 billion in grants for school mental health services.

Committee members raised concerns about strong or categorical phrasing. Senator Gulick asked whether phrases such as “will have a devastating impact” could be stated more cautiously. Members also discussed potential legal exposure from language that could be read as a statement about an individual’s scientific competence; legal counsel in the room warned that statements about named officials can carry defamation risk if inaccurate and noted the heightened standard for public officials.

Members proposed tightening and reorganizing the resolution’s clauses to improve clarity. Staff suggested splitting a lengthy whereas clause listing many CDC functions into shorter clauses or removing some detailed examples; one option was to use a general descriptor such as “preventing injuries and violence” rather than enumerating multiple examples. The committee also suggested removing or softening state-specific claims where evidence was not yet confirmed.

The committee did not take a final vote on the resolution. Members asked staff to circulate revised draft language and to return with printed copies for further review; the chair proposed taking the item up again at the next meeting so members could finalize wording and confirm factual claims before the resolution is transmitted.

Ending note: The resolution remains under committee revision; staff will rework clauses and circulate updated drafts for review before any formal committee action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health and Welfare - 2025-05-21- 9:10AM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee reviewed a draft Senate resolution that criticizes federal actions affecting public health agencies and funding, discussed wording and factual accuracy, and deferred finalizing the resolution for further drafting and review.","taxTitle","Health & Welfare, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",38585,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6233010,"Senate Health & Welfare debates H.91 changes, rejects amendments to move HOP funding without broader review",1861,4000,1865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425493-eb4014392885dede06819ce273b54b54&start=4&end=1865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425493-eb4014392885dede06819ce273b54b54/thumbnail_4000.jpg","/articles/6233010/Vermont/Senate-Health-Welfare-debates-H91-changes-rejects-amendments-to-move-HOP-funding-without-broader-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233010-8811f09113e544d12409689bfbb57f01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152676&Signature=GSFgCmrUfV88SjR7ipq-GO2dgdfd~1TgH92VU6yIQfyMvv53VTqSCYRbJaCjkxqKKCcIYSRfrgjQR6Mj5noaEgHUh03Tna6idO3LMMfc7gQTRCFwMsvfAGHGmZpZLLSmPhso0YcdO2FyvddaathhCDU-qECANyYk73Z2eBvtI5QxPHyBEUa~G5OsfhFLmnxebBxgZrkTcoLrhNu8WWsHriJuOpsrbtLgMZbgn1G2AJaxSpktQWKfLJylvuRS8v8rCqTznk2PMHcrW9ntld5sklIM4wocM9D3EgASsoTNdOyEYgE-Xpb5VkhHaLcLS2rrDuE7syexFHQgAatKxmyzlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Health & Welfare members on May 21 considered two amendments to H.91 that would change how the Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) is treated in the bill: one would remove references to moving HOP funding and administration; the other would create an advisory committee to study the feasibility of any transfer and report back before a transition date.

The debate focused on whether the Legislature should assume a transition of HOP funding into a different program structure (reflected in the bill text) or step back and require a study with broad stakeholder input. Supporters of removing the HOP language argued that deletion is the cleanest option and preserves future legislative flexibility; supporters of the advisory committee said a formal, diverse review was needed before any administrative shift.

Why it matters: H.91 would reorganize certain emergency housing and general assistance functions and contemplates moving HOP responsibilities into a different administrative structure. Shelters and HOP providers told the committee they want clarity and a process that does not presume a particular outcome. The committee’s decision could affect how emergency housing dollars are administered statewide and which agencies or community organizations handle day-to-day operations.

Committee staff explained the two amendment options. Katie McLennan of the Office of Legislative Council described one amendment that would delete multiple bill sections referencing HOP, including proposed changes in legislative intent and specific sections (identified in the draft as sections 5, 11 and 12). The alternate amendment would add a new section creating an advisory committee charged with studying whether HOP should move into the other program and reporting by Jan. 15, 2027. That advisory committee as drafted would include representatives with lived experience, appointees from community action agencies, representatives from the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance and the Balance of State Continuum of Care, shelter providers, the deputy commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) Economic Services Division or a designee, and the director of the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) or a designee.

Shelter providers and local HOP administrators addressed the committee. Angus Chaney, director of the Homeless Prevention Center, said the provider network “is in full support of the first one because it is the cleanest option,” and added that the second amendment would be preferable to the bill’s current language because it “asks the question” rather than presuming a transfer. Chaney also said providers “would much prefer a timeline that allowed the community action agencies to operate the GA version of the [program] for a full year.”

Neli Marmol of DCF told the committee the department was likely to be neutral on the amendments and suggested that, if an advisory process were used, it might be more productive for DCF to work with advisory members and submit the department’s report rather than have the advisory committee submit an independent report. Nolan Magewell of the Joint Fiscal Office flagged a fiscal point: given the advisory committee’s proposed size, per diem costs could total “about $25,000,” and those costs would be noted in a fiscal report.

Committee members questioned the proposed timeline and composition of the advisory committee. Senator Clarkson (presenting the amendments) said the draft calls for the advisory group to meet beginning on or before July 1, 2026, and to deliver a report by Jan. 15, 2027, to inform any planned transition intended for July 1, 2027. Several senators warned that committee composition could bias results if appointments heavily favored either shelter providers or proponents of transition. Committee members also emphasized that no action to dismantle or reduce existing shelters or HOP services is intended by the sponsors.

After brief roundtable comments the committee took two informal straw votes. Members opposed deleting all references to HOP from the bill and opposed adopting the advisory-committee amendment as presented. The committee chair said members would continue consultation with stakeholders and that no immediate decision would be taken to disrupt current HOP operations.

The committee’s conversation closed with a commitment to continued engagement among DCF, shelter providers, community action agencies, and legislators before any legislative change affecting HOP administration.

Ending note: Committee staff and agency representatives said they will continue to refine draft language and consult interested parties; H.91 remains on the Legislature’s calendar for further action.","The Senate Health & Welfare Committee heard two amendments to H.91 that would remove or delay a planned transfer of Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) funding into a different administrative structure and instead create an advisory study committee. After public comment and agency input, the committee signaled it would not adopt either amendment.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate Health & Welfare edits draft resolution opposing recent federal health actions, delays final text

Senate Health & Welfare debates H.91 changes, rejects amendments to move HOP funding without broader review