Hamilton offers amendment to restore access to reproductive health care

Today, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to Senate Joint Resolution 21 that would codify the protections of Roe v. Wade in the United States Constitution. The amendment failed by a vote of 26-56. 

Hamilton released the following statement upon the defeat of the amendment: 

“Today, I offered an amendment to restore comprehensive reproductive health care for women and girls. Two and a half years after Indiana passed a near-total abortion ban, we now know that this is hurting women, families and our state. We also know that 64% of Hoosiers support access to abortion. I offered this amendment on behalf of the majority of the state that supports this measure, and for all of the Hoosiers who fear for their own health or that of their daughters, granddaughters or any woman in their life. 

“I have been in contact with a mother from Hamilton County who recently faced the consequences of Indiana’s abortion ban. When she was told that her baby had a fatal fetal anomaly and would die minutes after being brought into the world, she, her husband, and her three sons were devastated. While having to come to terms with the fact that she would have to end a pregnancy that she desperately wanted, she had to fill out 13 pages of legal paperwork required by the state. 

“To have this medically necessary procedure and allow her baby peace, she had to provide her name, birthday, social security number, age, gender, race, address, level of education, pregnancy history, marital status, religion, cause of death, and occupation. Her husband only had to provide his name. She will be on a registry for the rest of her life. She had to sign a paper stating if this was found ‘unnecessary’ she would be charged with a felony. Not her husband.

“This ban is not family friendly. It is hurting Hoosiers. It is hurting our economy. It is hurting the future of our state. I will continue to do everything in my power to restore access to life-saving health care and privacy to Hoosier women and girls.” 

Hamilton offers amendment to expand pre-k

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D- Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would expand eligibility for the On My Way Pre-K program. 

“In the last budget, the Republican supermajority carved out over $1 billion to expand the school voucher program to upper-income households," Hamilton said. "We are back two years later to craft the state budget with a proposal on the table to make the school choice voucher program universal (subsidizing private school tuition for even the wealthiest households), but we have done nothing to move the needle on pre-K. 

“Indiana remains one of only six states that lacks a state-funded pre-K program. Now, the wealthiest families in Indiana will have access to private school on the state dime, while 85% of our 4-year-olds still lack access to pre-K. Currently, to qualify for the state’s On My Way Pre-K program, a family of four must earn less than 127% of the federal poverty limit (FPL), or $38,100 per year. This amendment would increase eligibility to 400% of the FPL, or $128,600 for a family of four.

"My colleagues say they care about improving literacy and math skills for Hoosier students and this amendment helps achieve those goals. A Purdue University study found children in Indiana's On My Way Pre-K voucher program score higher in literacy skills, school readiness and language than children from similar economic backgrounds who attended lower-quality pre-K programs. It's time to make this program available to more Hoosier children.

“Expanding pre-K will not only improve academic performance but also boost our economy. According to research from Indiana University, investment in early care and learning provides a $4 return for every $1 spent. Parents forced to cut back hours or leave the workforce altogether because they can’t afford child care will be able to return to work earlier if they have access to pre-K. This small investment is a win-win for Indiana families and our economy.  It’s past time to join the majority of states and get this done.”

Hamilton bill to boost workforce development, reduce recidivism heading to the Senate

Today, Feb. 11, House Bill 1289, authored by State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), unanimously passed on third reading in the House of Representatives. The bill has been sent to the Senate for further consideration.

HB 1289 defines "employment social enterprises" in Indiana Code to match the federal definition. This would allow the state of Indiana to better compete for federal funding for organizations that provide job training and services to help integrate those who were formerly incarcerated back into society. 

Hamilton released the following statement regarding the bill's passage in the House:

"Fully supporting Indiana's economy and workforce requires a collaborative, comprehensive effort," Hamilton said. "People that have recently been released from prison often struggle to secure jobs. Anyone that wants to work and contribute to the economy of our state should have every opportunity available to do so. Employment Social Enterprises give formerly incarcerated individuals a transitional job that provides job skills training as well as a chance to learn valuable life skills that can help them find and keep jobs. Not only would this expand our workforce, but it would also reduce recidivism rates as employment is one of the critical steps to reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals into society. By simply adjusting the language in Indiana code to match the federal definition, House Bill 1289 would allow these organizations to receive federal funding that is critical to their mission of providing people with second chances and strengthening our economy.

"I appreciate the opportunity to advance this common-sense, bipartisan effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill passed into law for the benefit of all Hoosiers."

Hamilton offers amendments to bolster Indiana’s child care infrastructure

Today, Feb. 10, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) offered two amendments to House Bill 1253 that would help address Indiana’s child care crisis. The first amendment sought to authorize a study into what it would take for Indiana to make child care accessible and affordable statewide. The amendment was struck down along party lines by a vote of 27-65.

“Indiana was recently ranked as having the 2nd worst quality of life in the nation due to our lack of access to child care,” Hamilton said. “Not one of our 92 counties meet the threshold for adequate access to child care. If you happen to be located near a facility with room for your child, it is often simply too expensive for working families. Studies show that the high cost of child care causes a significant amount of working parents to cut back on hours or leave the workforce altogether. According to recent data from Early Learning Indiana and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, insufficient child care availability costs Indiana $4.22 billion in economic activity each year.” 

Hamilton also offered an amendment that would prohibit a waitlist for Child Care Development Fund vouchers and fully fund the current program. The amendment was blocked on procedural grounds. 

“The announcement of the CCDF waitlist in December as a ‘cost-saving measure’ means we are now moving backwards when it comes to Indiana’s child care crisis. This decision left many working families wondering how they could continue to afford child care while they work to earn a living. I want to ensure that families are not threatened with losing this vital service in the future. It is past time to advance solutions to the child care crisis. Doing so will strengthen our economy and ensure that Indiana is a state where working families can thrive.”

Hamilton comments on Braun’s executive order requiring the submission of Terminated Pregnancy Reports

Today, Jan. 22, Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order requiring health care providers to submit a Terminated Pregnancy Report (TPR) every time an abortion is performed. A TPR contains information about a woman’s pre-existing medical conditions, her age, location, marital status and reason for the abortion. Under this executive order, the Indiana Department of Health would be required to release these reports for public access. 

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement regarding the executive order: 

“This executive order is a continuation of the Republican attack on women and health care providers. Reproductive health decisions are best left to a woman and her doctor, not the Indiana General Assembly or our governor. Like any other medical procedure, patients receiving reproductive care deserve to have their privacy respected. 

“Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, our colleagues in the Republican Party have made concerted efforts to strip women of our rights to health care access, family planning and our dignity. Today’s executive order is a reminder that this attack didn’t stop with the near-total abortion ban state Republicans passed in 2022. 

“Under Indiana’s narrow exceptions, Hoosier women will die unnecessarily. Forcing doctors to wait until a woman risks losing her life to perform an abortion is not just bad health care practice; it’s cruel. We’ve heard countless heartbreaking stories out of other states with abortion bans of women who are miscarrying and not able to receive crucial health care because of the laws implemented by their state government. In order to truly be a ‘pro-life’ policy, a policy ought not lead to the unnecessary deaths of women. A woman undergoing an abortion – for whatever reason – ought to have the dignity and privacy to not have her health care information shared with a state government hellbent on persecuting her. 

“I didn’t come to the Indiana Statehouse to tell doctors how to do their jobs or to control Hoosier women's bodies. I’m far more interested in tackling high property taxes and fix our education system than I am putting a woman’s health information and safety at risk. I wish my Republican colleagues felt the same, and then we could really start to make life better for our constituents.”

Hamilton comments on FSSA waitlist for child care, worries for status of Hoosier families

Today (Dec. 11), the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced a waitlist for the Indiana Childcare Development Fund voucher program, effective immediately. This waitlist will only affect new applicants since the FSSA has promised to prioritize funding for families already enrolled in the program. 

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding the waitlist: 

“Today, the FSSA announced yet another waitlist that will take a tremendous toll on Hoosier families and our state’s economy. Thousands of parents desperately in need of affordable, high-quality child care will have their plans to work and support their families put on hold. Child care is vital infrastructure essential to a majority of Hoosier families, and it's critical to growing our state’s economy. According to a recent study by the Indiana Chamber, lack of access to affordable, high-quality child care is costing the state around $4.2 billion in lost economic activity every year.  

“The high cost of child care is becoming an insurmountable barrier to starting or growing families. I remember all too well that my ability to help support my family was contingent upon securing affordable, high-quality child care. Hoosier parents are yet another victim of the FSSA’s waitlist and the GOP’s budget cuts. 

“This waitlist is not pro-family; it’s not pro-children. It will hinder our economy. When will my colleagues across the aisle understand what so many other states have figured out: State support for affordable child care is critical to supporting an economy where all families have a chance to thrive.” 

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Hamilton statement on Statehouse workplace culture

House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement in light of this week's conversation on Statehouse workplace culture:

"I am grateful to House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta for his statement earlier this week affirming the Indiana House Democratic Caucus’ commitment to delivering on a respectful and professional workplace for all employees. As House Democratic Caucus Chair and a member of the House Ethics Committee, I want to ensure we have the latest best practices in place at the Indiana House of Representatives since we revisited them five years ago.

"The vast majority of individuals working in our legislature are dedicated professionals who serve our state with integrity and commitment. We owe it to them—and to the people we represent—to ensure that our workplace is a model of respect and accountability.

"It’s also important to understand that while the Indiana House and Indiana Senate both operate under the same roof, they are distinct legislative bodies with their own personnel policies and procedures. The current allegations involve the Senate, which operates independently under its own policies.

"Here in the Indiana House, I commend the bipartisan work of Speaker Todd Huston and his team in conjunction with our caucus to make it clear to members and staff that professionalism and mutual respect should never be political. In 2019, we made significant improvements to our harassment training and reporting policies. Now five years later, it is time to ask ourselves: Are there ways to improve the House’s harassment reporting system? How can we best support staff to come forward when they have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior?

"In light of Monday’s news about a Senate colleague, it is critical that we revisit these questions. I will be reaching out to my House Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Ethics Committee to work with me on this issue. Together, we can uphold the highest standards of professionalism and accountability in our workplace."

Indiana House Democrats announce leadership team

Indiana House Democrats today reelected State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) to serve as the Indiana House Democratic Leader. This will be GiaQuinta's fourth term as Leader, having first assumed the position in 2018.

GiaQuinta will serve alongside State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) and State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), who were reelected as Minority Floor Leader and Minority Caucus Chair, respectively.

“I'm thankful that House Democrats have once again entrusted me to lead our efforts at the Statehouse to protect our freedoms and build up Indiana's working class. As we enter next year's budget session, Indiana House Democrats' priorities are the same as they always have been: people before profit. That means fully funding our public schools, keeping healthcare costs low and empowering our local communities to better become places where people want to live, work, play and stay.

"Given state and national election outcomes for Democrats, I'm proud we defended all 30 of our incumbent seats. I always say that House Democrats are pragmatic problem solvers. Our constituents clearly understand that we approach our work in the legislature by putting solutions before partisanship – and that will be no different this upcoming legislative session."

Indiana House Democratic Caucus leadership positions went into effect immediately following an internal election this afternoon.

The 124th General Assembly will convene for the ceremonial start of session on Nov. 19, otherwise known as Organization Day.

Hamilton to hold press conference on impact of the Medicaid Waiver waitlist

Tuesday, Oct. 15, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) will hold a press conference to discuss the devastating impact of PathWays and Health and Wellness waiver waitlists under Indiana's managed care program, PathWays for Aging. The waitlist went into effect this past April in a cost-saving effort by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) after the $1 billion Medicaid shortfall. Hamilton will be joined by her constituent, Jo Lynn Garing, whose recently deceased grandmother, Josephine Malone, didn’t receive her waiver benefits in the transition to managed care and the waitlist put into place by FSSA. Josephine, a 103-year-old woman suffering from dementia and congestive heart failure, nearly had to move care facilities weeks before her death because she could not get off the waitlist. 

WHO: State Rep. Carey Hamilton, Jo Lynn Garing, Dan Kenyon (Executive Director of the Indiana Assisted Living Association (INALA)), and Executive Staff from Bloom Senior Living.

WHAT: Press conference to discuss the issue of the Medicaid PathWays for Aging Waiver waitlist causing vulnerable Hoosiers to lose medical care.

WHERE: Bloom at Kessler, 5011 Kessler Blvd E Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46220.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. 

*Press interested in attending should RSVP to Courtney.bell@iga.in.gov.