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.

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.

Articles from March 27, 2003

• Senate Budget Resolution Slashes New Tax Cut
  The House and Senate have completed work on their respective fiscal year 2004 budget resolutions, and conference negotiations between the two chambers have already begun in earnest. Republican conferees must craft a budget that satisfies the conservative wing of their party and appeases Senate moderates, who banded together this week with their more liberal counterparts to slash President Bush's $726 billion tax cut proposal by more than half. GOP leaders would like Congress to approve a final resolution before the spring recess begins April 12. Meanwhile, the president is asking for quick action on a $75 billion emergency supplemental bill to fund the war with Iraq.
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• House Education and Workforce Committee Passes WIA Reauthorization
  On Thursday, April 10, the House Education and the Workforce Committee approved legislation to rewrite and reauthorize the nation's special education law, the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL 105-17). Known by its acronym, IDEA guarantees students with disabilities a free public education in the "least restrictive environment" and authorizes the federal government to reimburse states for 40 percent of the average per pupil special education cost. The House committee's reauthorizing legislation (HR 1350) was passed on a 29-19 vote with support from all committee Republicans and three Democrats - Representatives Robert E. Andrews (NJ), Ron Kind (WI), and Denise L. Majette (GA).
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