|
The Human Needs Report is the Coalition on Human Needs'
newsletter on national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable
populations. It is published every other week while Congress is
in session.
If you would like to receive the Human Needs Report by email,
send an message to Adam Hughes with "subscibe
Human Needs Report" in the subject line.
- Budget Outlook Worsens
On July 12, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that the government is expected to run a $165 billion deficit in fiscal year 2002, and $109 billion in FY 03. Under President Bush's FY 03 budget request released in February, OMB had estimated a $106 billion deficit this year and $80 billion next year. Just one year ago, the federal government was operating under a $127 billion surplus. OMB latest estimates predict a return to a modest surplus in 2005.
(More >)
- Senate Committee Approves Labor-HHS-Education Bill
Increasing discretionary spending by $5.8 billion over the President's request, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2003 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill on Thursday, July 18. Most notably, the measure - passed by a unanimous vote - will reach the Senate floor with an increase of $2.8 billion in discretionary funding for education.
(More >)
- House Committee Approves FY 2003 Agriculture Appropriations
On Thursday, July 11, the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee approved a $74.3 billion fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill by voice vote. The FY 2003 appropriation marks an overall increase of $908 million from the government's current agricultural spending. The bill also calls for a $4.1 billion increase in spending on domestic food programs, for a total of $42 billion for FY 03.
(More >)
- House Panel Approves Affordable Housing Bill
On Tuesday, July 9, the House Financial Services Committee finished marking up HR 3995, an affordable housing bill introduced by Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) last March. The bill contains major provisions specifically aimed at increasing the availability of adequate housing for very low and extremely low-income people, in addition to authorizing funds for a variety of federal housing programs and overhauling some housing regulations.
(More >)
- Senate Finance Committee Passes Family Opportunity Act
On July 11, the Senate Finance Committee approved the Family Opportunity Act of 2002 (S 321). Sponsored by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), the bill would give states the option to allow families who do not otherwise qualify for Medicaid to purchase comprehensive Medicaid coverage for their disabled children. The bill provides coverage to families with disabled children who have incomes of up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line - or, for a family of four, about $45,250 annually. Currently, many families with incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to purchase private insurance do not have access to the medical services they need for their disabled children.
- Congressional Debate Over IDEA Continues
Up for reauthorization this year, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA PL 94-142) has been the subject of recent hearings in the House and Senate. At the heart of the debate over IDEA reauthorization is how to fund the program. Despite the law's guarantee of a 40 percent reimbursement to states for the average cost of per-pupil special education, the federal government currently reimburses states for only 16.7 percent of costs. Many Senate Democrats are pushing to make IDEA funding an entitlement, but President Bush and his Commission on Excellence in Special Education oppose mandatory IDEA funding.
(More >)
|
