We show God’s special concern for the poor and vulnerable by supporting foster care services and programs making healthcare affordable and accessible while providing incentives for morally appropriate health research.

HB 109		In addition to funding outreach for CHIP enrollment, this bill would increase eligibility to 12 months, remove the 90 day waiting period, change the income qualification from gross income to net income, and improve the asset test. The TCC supports this compromise bill on CHIP as a first step in ensuring every eligible child has access to CHIP.
HB 327		There are multiple bills filed to increase the minimum wage in Texas. Distribution of income is not only an economic issue but also a social justice concern. The TCC supports increasing the minimum wage as a way to obtain just wages for all.
HB 551		This bill would place the system benefit fund, currently in the general revenue fund, into a separate trust. It would also develop a rate reduction program for eligible nursing home customers. The system benefit fund is used to help low-income electric customers. The TCC recognizes the importance of caring for the elderly and supports legislation that helps fund their care. The TCC also supports legislation that will assure that funds collected for the system benefit fund are not diverted to other spending streams. See also SB 65.
HB 709		This bill would provide for the creation of a brochure containing information about the adult stem cells found in umbilical cord blood. This information would be listed on the State Health Services web site and would also be provided to pregnant women before their third trimester. The TCC supports informing the public about adult stem cells found in cord blood as part of its support of adult stem cell research.
HB 852		There are multiple bills filed to improve the Children's Health Insurance Program. The TCC supports efforts to increase health care coverage for children. TCC supports CHIP improvements that will (1) change the income eligibility to net income rather than gross (2) remove the asset test (3) increases eligibility from 6 months to 12 months (4) changes the waiting period to begin when the child loses coverage rather than at application date.
HB 854		This bill would give certain unemployed ex-criminal offenders access to the federal food stamp program. The TCC supports this bill because food stamps are federally funded and can be a lifeline to ex-offenders trying to reintegrate into society.
HB 1155		This bill would require that children applying for health benefits coverage under the child health plan present proof of US citizenship. The TCC opposes legislation that limits a child's access to health care.
HB 1440		This bill would prohibit a physician who is discussing transfer options with another physician, from stating whether he or she felt that life-sustaining treatment was appropriate or not. The TCC opposes this bill because, in situations that focus on whether life-sustaining treatment s appropriate, the attending physician must be able to express his or her opinion, as rendering medical judgment is a fundamental role of a physician.
HB 1826		This bill would require that a person providing substitute care for a relative's child receive at least 60% of the foster care reimbursement rate. The TCC supports this bill because it would enable families to stay together and reduce the number of children in the foster care system.
HB 2152		This bill would allow local government to deny construction or operation of chemical dependency treatment facilities in close proximity to residential of community property. The TCC opposes this bill because it limits access to healthcare facilities that may be providing multiple services, one of which is chemical dependency counseling. In addition, the sign requirements contribute to stigma and discrimination against those who suffer from the illness of addiction.
HB 2320		This bill calls for a temporary moratorium on the authorization for certain coal-fire plants. The TCC supports this moratorium because coal plants harm people and the environment. For more information, see the Bishops' Statement on Coal Fired Plants.
HB 2475		This bill would allow for the creation of a toxic hotspot pilot program that would evaluate air conditions for toxicity, set air toxicity standards, and work to achieve those standards throughout the state. The TCC recognizes that care for the environment represents a challenge for all humanity as a common and universal duty of respecting a common good. See SB 1855 and SB 1906.
HB 3007		This bill would help expedite approval of foster care homes for relatives. The TCC supports this bill because it would enable families to stay together and reduce the number of children in the foster care system.
HB 3050		This bill would require the creation of a commission to perform mercury tests in waterways near coal-fired electricity generating plants, and publish an annual report of their findings. The TCC supports this bill because it encourages concern and care for the environment, which is part of our universal duty of respecting the common good.
HB 3377		This bill would require that hotel and motel defendants of common nuisance suits provide information on human trafficking in all rooms. The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person and the TCC supports measures to raise awareness for an end this insidious act. See SB 1288.
HB 3474		The TCC supports this advance directive bill because it includes nutrition and hydration as ordinary care, changes the definition of "irreversible condition," revises the process to provide better and more compassionate communication to the family, and extends the period of time of transfer to a minimum of 21 days. We believe that the patient and his or her family should be the first concern of any legislation impacting end-of-life care. Further, we believe that natural death with dignity is the primary goal of every individual and institution engaged in this process. For our joint statement with the Catholic Health Association of Texas, go here.
SB 124		This bill would implement a low-emission vehicle program for 2009 vehicles and onward. The purpose of the bill is to protect the health and safety of residents of the state by decreasing vehicle emissions. Out of the recognition of the integrity of God's creation, the TCC supports legislation that protects and improves air quality.
SB 125		This bill would allow revenue collected from certain traffic penalties be deposited to the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services accounts. The TCC supports dedicated funding for trauma care in Texas because it saves lives.
SB 199		This bill would set a minimum personal needs allowance of $60 for Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities and are not participating in a medical assistance waiver program.The TCC recognizes dignity of all people and supports raising the minimum personal needs allowance so that our elderly are able to afford their basic needs. See also SB 696.
SB 266		This bill extends a child's eligibility for medical assistance from six months to one year. The TCC supports this bill, recognizing that access to healthcare is vital to children in Texas.
SB 598		This bill would extend medical assistance to former foster care adolescents who are in college. The TCC supports making healthcare accessible for all people and recognizes the importance of providing continued support for young adults aging out of our foster care program.
SB 758		This bill would continue reforms for our State child services program including allowing case workers to enlist the help of local law enforcement, determining qualifications for potential foster care parents, and easier medical release requirements if a child transfers hospitals. The TCC supports reforms that would help the State provide better support and protection for children in the foster care system.
SB 1283		This bill would expand the definition of human trafficking victims. The TCC supports these broader definitions because they allow for a clearer standard of determining of who is a victim of human trafficking
SB 1286		This bill allows for the creation of an account that would distribute grants to counties that have full-time or part-time personnel who investigate and prosecute human trafficking. The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person and the TCC supports measures to raise awareness for an end this insidious act.
SB 1287		This bill would require alcoholic beverage retailers to post a sign stating that obtaining forced labor is a crime and displaying the national human trafficking toll-free support line.The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person and the TCC supports measures to raise awareness for an end this insidious act.
SB 1288		This bill would require that hotel and motel defendants of common nuisance suits provide information on human trafficking in all rooms.The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person and the TCC supports measures to raise awareness for an end this insidious act.
SB 1410		This bill would sets caseloads at 24 for some caseworkers and 80% of the average caseload as of Jan. 1, 2007 for others. The TCC recognizes the critical role of the caseworker in ensuring that a child is placed in a loving home and supports reducing an individual caseworkers caseload in order to allow a caseworker to pay more quality attention to their cases. See HB 3756.
SB 1650		This bill would create minimum training standards for people licensed to provide personal assistance services. The TCC supports this bill, recognizing the importance of securing a high quality of life for elderly Texans by ensuring that they have access to highly trained personal assistants.
SB 1941		This bill would allow a search of a family's history of domestic violence phone calls before renewing a foster care home's license or registration. The TCC supports this bill because it provides an additional check to ensuring that a child in the foster care system is placed in a safe home.See HB 2670.