Welcome to Unity of Purpose!

 Your source for up-to-date, accurate policy information on federal Human Service programs

Current Activities on the Hill and with the Administration

President Obama's Federal Year 2011 Budget Proposal
On February 1, President Obama released his Federal Year 2011 budget proposal.  To read a detailed account of where health and human service programs stand, click here.

Medicaid and Health Care Reform
The House passed H.R. 3962, "Affordable Health Care for America," on November 7, 2009 by a vote of 220-215.  The Senate passed H.R. 3590, "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" on December 24, 2009 by a vote of 60-39.  The two bills need to be combined, then passed by both chambers prior to Presidential Approval.


Anticipated Activity on the Hill

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Reauthorization
Preview of the National Association of State TANF Director's (NASTA) TANF reauthorization recommendations released January 19.  

Child Welfare
The House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee is holding a hearing on November 5th entitled, "Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis".

Child Support Enforcement and Healthy Fatherhood Initiatives
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on October 6 entitled, "Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Forms of Family Maintenance (Treaty Doc. 110-21)."

Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization
A recent survey of Child Care Administrators shows that ARRA funds for the CCDBG will be obligated by states by the September 30, 2010 deadline.  CCDBG is slated for reauthorization in 2010.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization
WIC is slated for reauthorization in 2010.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)Reauthorization
WIA is slated for reauthorization in 2010.

Additional Programmatic Areas

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) releases $490 million in contingency funds.  The funds are allocated based on unemployment rates and prior grant amounts.  To see each state, territory and tribal allocation, click here. 

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
This block grant was last amended in the 105th Congress.  In FY 2009, Congress appropriated $700 million to the grant.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Congress passed and President Obama signed P.L.111-118, providing states with an additional $400 million available in administrative funding through September 30, 2011.  Seventy-five percent of a state's allocation would be based on the state's share of participation households for the most recent 12 months, while 25 percent would be based on the increase in the number of participating households in the state over the same period.  Go to Division B of the Law to see details on SNAP.

Social Services Block Grant
More information coming soon.

Performance Measurement and Quality Control
More information coming soon.

Federal/State Partnerships
More information coming soon.

Health and Human Services and Climate Change
The Senate Environment and Public Works held a hearing on October 27 on S. 1733 entitled, "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act".  This bill has placeholder language regarding reimbursing low-income individuals' expenses accumulated through compliance with new regulations.

Fiscal Year 2010 Budget
To view the current status of appropriations in Congress, click here.

Congressional Committee Information