This is View from the Hill's roundup of the most interesting news from Capitol Hill pertaining to North Carolina and Higher Education.
Price signs letter encouraging national service
Rep. David Price, D-N.C., co-signed a letter encouraging colleagues to promote national service programs in the state.
In a Dear Colleague letter, Price and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., encouraged members of Congress to join them in encouraging the chairman and ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to support increased funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service.
"These programs have proven time and again their immense value and positive return on investment," the letter said.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is an independent federal agency that promotes service and includes organizations like Americorps, Senior Corp, the Social Innovation Fund and the Volunteer Generation Fund.
Price and Matsui sent the letter in their capacities as chairman and chairwoman of the National Service Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to promote service opportunities for all Americans.
The letter was created in light of concerns that President Barack Obama's budget would reduce appropriations for service opportunities.
Burr promotes mental health support
Upon new data showing the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is calling for support a bill that would allow for savings accounts for disabled families.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study showing one in 68 children nationally have an autism spectrum disorder.
The study also showed that of 11 states surveyed, North Carolina had the third highest number of children with ASD, with 17.3 in every 1,000 children.
"Children and adults with autism face enormous daily challenges," said Burr in a press statement. "It is important that we do what we can to support these individuals and their families as they deal with the day-to-day struggles presented by autism spectrum disorders."
Burr used the occasion for the Senate to support the ABLE Act, which he introduced in the Senate with Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa.
The bill would allow for the establishment of tax-exempt ABLE accounts, which could be used to pay for disability expenses.
Butterfield encourages African-American men to enroll in health insurance
Rep. G.K Butterfield, D-N.C., is encouraging African-American men to enroll in health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act.
Butterfield posted a tweet on his account to encourage African-American men to share their pictures to encourage enrollment.
Join me and my @OfficialCBC colleagues in the #BlackMenEnroll movement. Print your poster here http://t.co/WtW7Um26it & tweet your picture
— G. K. Butterfield (@GKButterfield) March 27, 2014
The social media campaign by the Congressional Black Caucus.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as enrollment began, 6.8 million African-Americans were uninsured. In addition, African-Americans were 55 percent more likely to be uninsured than white Americans.
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