{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-banks-and-kim-introduce-the-kidds-stuttering-act-alongside-former-nba-player-michael-kidd-gilchrist/", "Sens. Banks and Kim Introduce the Kidd\u2019s Stuttering Act Alongside Former NBA Player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Kidd\u2019s Stuttering Act, to improve early identification and treatment for children who stutter in Medicaid and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).\n\nAn estimated one in twenty American children stutter, beginning between the ages of two and five. Early intervention dramatically improves outcomes, yet many children are never screened or diagnosed, and access to speech therapy under Medicaid and CHIP can be inconsistent for different speech disorders.\n\nSen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): \u201cNo child should fall behind because a treatable speech disorder goes undiagnosed. This bipartisan bill will help more children find their voices and reach their full potential.\u201d\n\nSen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.): \u201cI\u2019ve been moved by Michael\u2019s continued advocacy on behalf of children across our country who stutter and so many who go without the diagnosis and support they need. Our kids are looking to us to be their voice in Congress \u2013 let\u2019s show up for them with this bill and get them the care they need for lifelong success.\u201d\n\nMichael Kidd-Gilchrist, Former NBA Player: \u201cThere has been a negative social stigma around stuttering for as long as I can remember,\u201d said Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Stuttering Advocate and NBA Veteran. \u201cI\u2019m thankful to Senator Banks and Senator Kim for working to change that and improve access to the care and support children and families deserve.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Kidd\u2019s Stuttering Act:\n\nDirects the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to add stuttering and fluency screening measures to the Children\u2019s Core Set of pediatric health quality measures.\n\nRequires stuttering screenings during Medicaid well-child visits for children ages two to six.\n\nRequires Medicaid and CHIP to cover speech therapy for stuttering at no less than the level provided for other speech fluency disorders.\n\nBackground:\n\nStuttering affects approximately one in twenty American children, and childhood onset stuttering most often begins between the ages of two and five. While many children recover with timely intervention, roughly twenty percent continue to stutter into adulthood. Research shows that early speech therapy significantly improves the likelihood of recovery, making prompt diagnosis and treatment critical.\n\nDespite the benefits of early intervention, many children are never screened for stuttering during routine health visits, and access to speech therapy under Medicaid and CHIP varies widely by state. The Kidd\u2019s Stuttering Act establishes consistent screening standards for young children and ensures families enrolled in these programs have access to medically necessary speech therapy.\n\nThe legislation was inspired by the personal advocacy of former NBA player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has spoken publicly about his lifelong experience with stuttering and championed state-level policy efforts to expand access to speech therapy. Separately and through his nonprofit, Change & Impact, Kidd-Gilchrist has helped advance awareness and education for the stuttering community.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\nRead The Hill Exclusive here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-banks-and-kim-introduce-the-kidds-stuttering-act-alongside-former-nba-player-michael-kidd-gilchrist/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.026843838393688, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}