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 September 17, 2004

• Congress Unlikely to Complete Appropriations Bills Before Target Adjournment
  With the October 8 target adjournment date fast approaching, any chance of Congress completing 13 separate appropriations bills has melted away. Nonetheless, appropriators continue to push bills through committee and onto the floor. The Senate has passed just two appropriations bills (Defense and Homeland Security) while the House has voted on all but two spending bills (Transportation - Treasury and Veterans Affairs - Housing and Urban Development).
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• Human Needs Legislation Stuck in Gridlock
  Several human needs programs are caught up in end-of-the-session legislative gridlock as Congress races towards its early October target adjournment. In some cases, gaping differences between House and Senate bills have stymied attempts to find agreement. Others - the Family Opportunity Act, for example - have bipartisan support but may be left behind for unrelated issues.
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• Number of Americans Living in Poverty Increases for Third Consecutive Year
  The number and percentage of Americans living below the poverty level has increased for the third year in a row, according to data released by the Census Bureau on August 26. The total number of Americans living in poverty rose from 31.6 million in 2000 (12.1 percent) to 35.9 million in 2003 (12.5 percent). The number of poor people rose significantly among residents of the South and Midwest, Hispanics and Asians, residents of cities and suburbs, and working-age adults (aged 18-64). In addition to releasing annual national data, the Census Bureau also released state and local profiles about poverty, income, housing and other information. The Coalition on Human Needs has compiled 50 state income and poverty tables.
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