Despite Efforts to Delay, DUNS Number Requirement Goes into Effect

Don't forget that all organizations that apply for federal grants must have a DUNS number on their applications beginning last Wednesday, October 1. If you do not have a DUNS number see our DUNS Number Fact Sheet.

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International NGOs are Gagged From Saving Lives

A study released on Sept. 24 reports that President Bush’s ideologies are once again trumping science, this time closing down international family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

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Workforce Investment Act Passes through Senate Committee Without Religious Discrimination Provision

Senate Committee ignores the House's version of the Workforce Investment Act and passes its own version. The House’s Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act gives approval to faith-based charities to discriminate based on religious affiliation when hiring staff for federal job training programs. The bill, H.R. 1261 removes Title VII language of the Civil Rights Act to allow religious discrimination in hiring for federal job-training programs. If H.R. 1261 becomes law it will be an unprecedented repeal of civil rights laws.

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Offsets, Child Tax Credit Make CARE Act Fate Uncertain

Although legislation promoting charitable giving has passed both houses of Congress this year, it could still be derailed in conference committee. There are major differences over whether or not to include offsets that pay the cost of tax breaks for charitable giving. Further complications were added last week when Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) proposed attaching the child tax credit provision to the bill that House Republican leaders strongly oppose. The move could either bring the child tax credit issue back to life or bog down the charitable giving legislation.

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Six Agencies Act on Faith-Based Regulations

In late September the Bush administration announced final regulations implementing faith-based grant rules that Congress could not even pass. For example, the rules place the burden of objecting to the religious nature of a service provider on the person in need, who must ask for an alternative provider. The regulations do not clearly define "inherently religious" activities that cannot be paid for with federal funds in grant programs. However, services paid for with vouchers or certificates can contain religious content.

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Committee Report Finds No EPA Fault After 9/11

A Senate Environment and Public Works Committee report released Sept. 23 claims the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House did not act inappropriately in addressing public health concerns in New York City after 9/11. The committee’s report sharply contrasts an Aug. 22 EPA Inspector General’s report that revealed EPA altered press releases to falsely reassure the public because of pressure from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

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Ashcroft Declassifies Use of a Patriot Act Power

In recognition of growing public distrust of the government's expanded powers under the Patriot Act, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that the Justice Department has not used Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

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Industry Pushing for TRI Reporting Changes

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing increased pressure on at least two fronts to alter reporting requirements under the Toxic Release Inventory Program (TRI) for mining operations and facilities that manufacture or use lead.

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House Votes to Block Bush Plan to Cut Overtime Pay

Reversing course, the House recently voted 221-203 to block changes proposed by the Bush administration that would strip millions of workers of eligibility for overtime pay. The House narrowly defeated a similar amendment in July by a vote of 213-210, but this time around Democrats picked up eight new Republican votes.

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Journalists Decry Ashcroft's Closed Door Speeches

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has limited his exposure to journalists' questions during his around-the-country speaking tour to respond to growing public concerns about the Patriot Act. While the American Civil Liberties Union and American Library Association have been singled out by Mr. Ashcroft and the Justice Department for criticizing the excessive secrecy and overly broad powers of the Patriot Act (see related story, "Ashcroft declassifies use of a Patriot Act power"), journalists also are expressing increased concerns about government powers expanded under the Patriot Act.

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