Human Needs Report

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.

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Articles from October 26, 2001

• House Passes Economic Stimulus Bill
  On Wednesday, October 24, the House passed the Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001 (HR 3090) by a razor-thin 216 to 214 margin. The $103 billion measure has been widely criticized for favoring tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy while ignoring the needs of moderate and low-income Americans. Moreover, critics assert that the bill would do little to actually stimulate the economy.
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• Senator Lugar Introduces Farm Bill with Strong Nutrition Title
  On October 18, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced his proposal for a comprehensive Farm Bill (S 1571) encompassing agricultural and commodity programs, in addition to food stamp legislation. While Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) has yet to release his proposal, the Senate Agriculture Committee may begin a mark-up of its version of the Farm Bill sometime next week. The House passed its version of the Farm Bill (HR 2646) in early October, which includes a provision to reauthorize the Food Stamp Program.
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• Representative Mink Introduces TANF Reauthorization Bill
  Representative Patsy Mink (D-HI) and members of the Progressive Caucus introduced legislation (HR 3113) on October 12th to reauthorize and improve the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Many view this anti-poverty bill, which has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, as a progressive marker for welfare reauthorization next year.
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• Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill Clears House
  After a mere seven hours of debate, the House passed its annual Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education appropriations bill (HR 3061) on a 373-43 vote Thursday. Several amendments - including one introduced by Rep. Melissa A. Hart (R-PA) that would have banned schools from distributing contraceptive pills to students - were either withdrawn or rejected in the interests of keeping the measure bipartisan.
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