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 June 7, 2002

• House Passes FY 02 Supplemental Appropriations
  On May 24, the House of Representatives passed, by a 280 to 138 vote, a fiscal year 2002 supplemental appropriations bill (HR 4774) that provides, according to Republicans, $28.8 billion for defense operations, homeland security, aid to New York City, and other, smaller programs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that legislation's price tag is actually $30.1 billion. The Senate passed its own, $31.6 billion version of the supplemental spending bill (S 2551) on June 6, by a 71 to 22 margin. The Senate bill contains slightly more money for national security than its House counterpart. President Bush originally requested $27.1 billion in supplemental spending.
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• House Passes Permanent Repeal of the Estate Tax
  On June 6, the House voted, by a 256 to 171 margin, in favor of legislation (HR 2143) to make permanent a repeal of the estate tax. Last year, Congress passed and the President enacted budget reconciliation legislation (HR 1836) that would phase out the estate tax over the next decade, but without congressional action the phase-out will sunset in 2010.
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• Senate HELP Committee Prepares for IDEA Reauthorization
  On Thursday, June 6, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), held a hearing on the oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is the HELP Committee's third hearing this year focused on IDEA, which is set to be reauthorized by Congress in 2003.
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• Minimum Wage Bill Hits Possible Snag
  The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2002, introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative David Bonior (D-MI), may find itself in trouble due to timing. The companion Senate and House bills, S 2538 and HR 4799, would increase the minimum wage by $1.50 - from $5.15 to $6.65 per hour - by January 1, 2004. This increase would benefit nearly nine million workers in the United States. Senator Kennedy and fellow minimum wage supporter Representative George Miller (D-CA) met with advocates this week to rally support and encourage movement on the legislation. Miller, acknowledging the importance of the legislation, noted, "It's about basic decency," while Kennedy stated, "It's a matter of enormous need."
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