The US Senate has restored many of the social service funding cuts originally sought by President George W. Bush and the House of Representatives, as legislative work continues on the 11 bills that make up this year's federal budget. The differences in the proposed spending -- which include programs under the Faith-Based and Community Initiative -- will have to be resolved in House-Senate conference committees before being sent to the President for final approval. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill to authorize $145.7 billion in discretionary program funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies. The Senate bill provides $3.8 billion more than requested by President Bush, and $3.2 billion more than approved by the House last month. For the full scoop!