CHN: White House Wants to Take Back Some Just-Approved FY18 Funding

Despite the fact that Congress finally passed and the President signed an FY18 omnibus spending package just last month, the White House and some in Congress want to renege on the funding promises made within it. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said the Trump administration will send spending cut requests, known as rescissions, to Congress in the next few weeks, with hopes of a vote in the House before July. These proposed cuts, which could total as much as $60 billion, could target both the $1.3 trillion FY18 omnibus package as well unused funding from previous years. Read More »

EPI: Between 2013 and 2017, wage growth at the bottom was strongest in states with minimum wage increases

CHN: Farm Bill – with Harmful SNAP Provisions – Clears House Committee

A Farm Bill, which includes the legislation authorizing SNAP/food stamps, passed (26-20) out of the House Agriculture Committee on April 18. Despite historically being a bipartisan bill, this version of the Farm Bill passed along party lines. Democrats on the committee were united in their opposition to deep cuts and harmful changes to SNAP included in the bill, which would cause more than 1 million low-income households with more than 2 million people — particularly low-income working families with children — to lose their benefits altogether or have them reduced. Read More »

CHN: FY18 Appropriations Package Passed with Important Gains for Human Needs Programs

After months of negotiations, uncertainties, a shutdown, and multiple stopgap spending measures, Congress finally passed a $1.3 trillion FY18 spending package to fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The spending package includes many wins for advocates and for the communities they fight for, as it contains increases to many programs affecting low-income people and left out many poison pill policy changes. It was not a win for all, however, as Dreamers remain unprotected. Read More »

CHN: President Trump Signs Executive Order on Work Requirements

On April 10, President Trump issued an executive order directing several federal agencies to review government assistance programs with the purpose of adding or strengthening work requirements for benefits recipients. While the executive order does not implement new policy at this time, it is seen by advocates as a continuation and expansion of the efforts by the Trump administration and some in Congress to curtail public benefits for low-income Americans. Read More »

CHN: Tax Cut Bill Signed into Law

President Trump signed the GOP tax cut bill into law on Dec. 22 after the bill passed both the House and Senate earlier that week. The bill gives huge tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations, repeals the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, raises taxes on those making under $75,000 by 2027, and adds more than $1 trillion to the national debt. A number of CHN member organizations have released multiple resources covering the GOP tax cut bill. Read More »

CHN: FY18 Appropriations Package Passed with Important Gains for Human Needs Programs

After months of negotiations, uncertainties, a shutdown, and multiple stopgap spending measures, Congress finally passed a $1.3 trillion FY18 spending package to fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The spending package includes many wins for advocates and for the communities they fight for, as it contains increases to many programs affecting low-income people and left out many poison pill policy changes. It was not a win for all, however, as Dreamers remain unprotected. Read More »