CHN just released our latest edition of the Human Needs Report, our regular newsletter on national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. This edition includes articles on the ongoing appropriations process, family-friendly workplace legislation, No Child Left Behind, child nutrition, and more. See below for the full analysis and links to each section of the report.
Click here for the full PDF Human Needs Report: http://www.chn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/July-20-2015.pdf

Progress Stalls on Appropriations Bills: Final Decisions Lurching Towards End-of-Year Deal
Despite the work of House and Senate appropriators to approve most of the funding bills before them, it is not likely that any bills will get full Congressional approval by the September 30 deadline. Democrats and the White House have remained firmly opposed to maintaining the sequestration spending limits. Appropriations levels, as approved by the Republican majority, stay within these restrictive caps. There is one big exception: Congress approved additional uncapped defense spending through the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account, which is meant for spending related to Iraq and Afghanistan operations. READ MORE »

Child Nutrition Reauthorization on the Table this Fall
This fall, Congress is set to reauthorize – with bipartisan support – the law governing child nutrition programs. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act sets the policy and funding structure for all of the federal school meal and child nutrition programs, including School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and others. READ MORE »

No Child Left Behind Overhaul Moves through Congress
The Senate last Thursday passed (81-17) a bipartisan overhaul of the No Child Left Behind federal education law. The passage of the bill, the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177), came a week after the House narrowly passed (218-213) its version, the Student Success Act (H.R. 5). READ MORE »

Advocates Push Congress to Pass Family-friendly Workplace Legislation
Citing a lack of family-friendly policies, especially for low-income workers, advocates have been calling for legislation focused on work/life balance to move through Congress. The Healthy Families Act, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) , would create a national paid sick days standard, with workers accruing sick days to use for their own medical needs, care for an ill family member, or address issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. READ MORE »

House Draft Bill Offers Potential Improvements to TANF
A discussion draft bill released by the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources contains a number of substantive reforms aimed at helping the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program better facilitate employment and reduce poverty. On July 15, the Human Resources Subcommittee held a hearing to solicit feedback about the proposals, which could be included in legislation to reauthorize TANF. READ MORE »

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