Federal news
Biden changes health coverage, women’s health funding policies [Roll Call, 1/28/21]
“The Biden administration announced two wide-ranging health care executive actions … one expanding access to reproductive health care and another supporting enrollment in the individual insurance market and Medicaid.”
Death of EPA’s controversial ‘censored science’ rule delights researchers [Science, 2/3/21]
“…would have allowed EPA to ignore or downplay data from human health studies resting on confidential medical information that is difficult to make public” for regulating toxins in air and water pollution, workplace chemicals, and cigarette smoke.
Bills to watch
- SB198 To require the FCC to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps. [Introduced 2/3/21]
- HB870/SB279 To require the FCC to update the national broadband plan, and for other purposes. [Introduced 2/5 and 2/8/21]
- Black maternal health omnibus package introduced by Democratic lawmakers [The Hill, 2/8/21]
State News
Vaccine Eligibility and Library Staff – The Illinois Library Association (ILA) has been working to help library workers request vaccine eligibility. For more information and to see the status in several counties, visit the ILA Vaccine Eligibility page.
Broadband Advisory Council – See the ILA’s legislative update for links to news and opportunities related to broadband access in Illinois.