| 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. - TANF Extended for Six Month
For the eighth time since 2002, Congress temporarily extended the law authorizing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) just before it was set to expire. This extension will run through March 31, 2005. No policy changes were made; the extension allows funding to continue so states can operate their TANF programs under the provisions of existing law.
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- Congress Passes Yet Another Tax Cut -- Future Generations To Pick Up Tab
Congress agreed to yet another package of middle class tax cuts on Thursday, September 24 (HR 1308). Like previous tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003, the $146 billion the bill was not paid for. The Working Families Tax Relief Act is awaiting the President's signature.
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- Children's Health Insurance Funds Expiring
On September 30 $1.1 billion in earmarked funds for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reverted back to the U.S. Treasury in spite of broad bipartisan support to redistribute the unspent funds to the states. This amount could provide health coverage for 750,000 of the nation's 8.4 million uninsured children for one year. This further translates into coverage for 184,200 children in New York, 13,900 in Maryland, 6,600 in Virginia, 2,500 in the District of Columbia and 60,000 in California, to name only a few.
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- FDIC Considering Rules That Would Gut CRA
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is considering making rule changes that would weaken significantly the Community Reinvestment Act, which could have a potential devastating effect on affordable housing investments in rural areas.
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- HUD Appropriations Bill Clears Senate Panel; Next Steps Unclear
The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY05 Veteran's Affairs/Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill (S 2825) on September 21. None of the programs in the bill are funded below FY04 levels. This is in contrast to the House appropriations bill, which inflicted substantial cuts to all HUD programs with the exception of Section 8 housing voucher program.
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- Congress Passes Continuing Resolution Unitl November 20
Because lawmakers were unable to complete work on appropriations before the October 1 start of the 2005 fiscal year, Congress agreed to a continuing resolution on Wednesday, September 29 (HJ Res 107). The continuing resolution funds the government until November 20. In the meantime, appropriators will work to put together an omnibus spending bill for next year that will combine most appropriations bills into one package. If lawmakers are able to agree on an omnibus bill, it will be debated and voted on during a lame duck session of Congress in mid-November.
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