Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance (DHHA)

On April 14, 2010, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2010 in the Senate (S. 3199). It is now under consideration by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Rep. Lois Capps introduced the EHDI reauthorization bill on March 2, 2009. On March 4th it was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and on March 30th it was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on a voice vote.

You might recall that the House moved swiftly to move the EHDI bill during the previous Congress as well, but the Senate was unable to act. This was due in part to the absence of the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Edward Kennedy, for health reasons.

The Senate champions for EHDI reauthorization (Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) are expected to introduce legislation soon, however it is unclear when the legislation will see action in the HELP Committee or on the Senate floor.