Congress

Progress Made on Homeless Funding
   The Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee is expected to hold a mark-up on its proposal to renew the nation's homeless funding programs prior to the August break, a staffer for Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the committee, tells FAM.The staffer, speaking at a Nat'l Alliance to End Hom...
posted 7/19/07 11:12 AM  read complete story

(HOUSING) House Approves 100,000 Sec. 8 Vouchers
   The House approves a measure to expand rental assistance opportunities for the nation's low-income population.The proposed Sec. 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007 (HR 1851) would alter the Sec. 8 and public housing programs. A highlight would be the creation of 100,000 new vouchers over the next five year...
posted 7/18/07 2:44 PM  read complete story

(HEATING ASSISTANCE) Senators Push for Release of LIHEAP Funds
   A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), urge President Bush to release nearly $202 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds.In a letter to the president, the senators, part of the Northeast-Northwest Coalition, say the fundin...
posted 7/18/07 2:43 PM  read complete story

(HEALTHCARE) Democrats Will Offer SCHIP Proposal
   Congressional Democrats successfully included millions of dollars for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in the FY 2007 war supplemental law (PL 110-28), and remain hopeful the program will be reauthorized this year.Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,...
posted 7/18/07 2:42 PM  read complete story

(HIGHER EDUCATION) Grants Would Increase Nursing Staff
   New legislation would allow colleges and universities to hire additional faculty to increase the number of registered nursing graduates.The proposed America's Partnership for Nursing Education Act of 2007, offered by Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ), would provide $20 million annually from FY08-FY12 to aid sta...
posted 7/12/07 12:06 PM  read complete story

(RURAL) Measure Would Improve Healthcare
      A bipartisan group of representatives offer a measure (HR 286) to improve the quality of healthcare in rural areas.The proposed Health Care Access & Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 seeks to cure glaring errors in current law and regulations concerning healthcare quality in rural a...
posted 7/6/07 11:50 AM  read complete story

(HEALTHCARE) CBO Concerned About Healthcare Costs
   (CD Publications) Urging Congressional action, the head of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) tells members of the Senate Budget Committee that current and future costs associated with U.S. healthcare present a dangerous challenge warranting far greater attention than now is being paid by the fed...
posted 7/6/07 11:48 AM  read complete story

HELP Leaders Seek Greater Access
   A new Senate measure offered by the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) leadership would improve healthcare access for millions of minorities.HELP Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran(R-MS) offer the Minority Health & Disparity Elimination Act (S 1576), which...
posted 7/2/07 2:26 PM  read complete story

Reentry Funding Should Be Approved
   (Substance Abuse)The House Judiciary Committee approves a measure to extend and expand prisoner reentry programs for adult and juvenile offenders.The proposed Second Chance Act of 2007 (HR 1593) has considerable support in the House, with 92 cosponsors. The bill would increase funding for state/loca...
posted 6/21/07 3:05 PM  read complete story

IRS Offers Draft Nonprofit Form
   (Comment Deadline: Sept. 14) The leaders of the Senate Finance Committee praise the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for offering a draft redesign of Form 990, a form filed by public charities indicating their expenditures.Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) says the revised form "will help the ...
posted 6/21/07 2:56 PM  read complete story