|  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.
Article from the January 30, 2004 edition of the CHN Human Needs Report: The Coalition on Human Needs Plans Activities The President will release his budget for Fiscal Year 2005 on Monday, February 2; the taxing and spending decisions in the federal budget will reflect the Administration's priorities. The President has announced that he will not increase domestic discretionary spending by more than one percent in the budget and advocates should prepare for a tough fight ahead.
The Coalition on Human Needs will be advocating for a federal budget that expresses a practical commitment to build a nation in which every American, young and old alike, is free from hunger, is adequately housed, and has access to health care. The budget should include concrete steps to enable parents to receive the jobs, skills and supports they need to raise safe and healthy families, and to ensure every child has the chance to learn and grow in order to become a productive citizen.
The Coalition will continue to educate advocates about the budget and encourage advocates to weigh in early. With the help of many of our member organizations, CHN will write an analysis of how programs for moderate- and low-income families fare in the President's budget. On Monday, February 9 CHN will hold a briefing for Capitol Hill staff discussing the budget's impact on programs benefiting low- and moderate-income people. The briefing will be held in Dirksen Senate Office Building 138 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will feature Bob Greenstein from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Ron Pollack from Families USA; Bethany Little from Children's Defense Fund; and Debbie Weinstein from the Coalition on Human Needs. Look for more announcements and actions around the budget process in the weeks ahead.
|