An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research
project of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State
University of New York.

New! Congress Returns to Find Action Taken on Unfinished Business

Congress returned this week from a month-long summer recess to a hefty ledger of unfinished
legislation that did not go unnoticed while the lawmakers were away. During August, President
George W. Bush took action to advance policies on issues left uncompleted by lawmakers before
they left for vacation. Among the pending legislation are bills that religious groups have been
working to move forward, such as troop withdrawals in Iraq, spending bills for federal programs,
and immigration reform.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

New! Battle Lines Redrawn in Fight Over Children’s Health Insurance

Days after members of Congress left Washington to return to their home districts, the Bush
administration sent letters to state governments outlining new standards to prevent expansion
of children's health insurance coverage to middle-income families. That was right after each
house of Congress completed work on separate bills that would increase federal spending for
the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, despite President Bush’s threat to
veto any bill that opened the door to more public funding of health insurance. Those bills are
now slated to go to a House and Senate conference to resolve differences in the
respective versions.

The program, of great interest to religious groups, expires on September 30. It is a national program
designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy
private insurance. The new rules outlined in letters sent to state officials on August 17 would make
it difficult for states to provide coverage to children in families with incomes above 250 percent of the
poverty level. Federal officials have characterized the move as an attempt to prevent SCHIP from
becoming a substitute for private insurance.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondents Anne Farris and Claire Hughes.

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through
programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Corporation
for National and Community Service and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs may require specific technical
expertise, or experience with particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grant digest, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff with
Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Help for house as close as mouse; Web links volunteers to groups in need
New Orleans Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6990

Trouble pushes many toward faith, experts say
The Virginian-Pilot (Virgina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6991

Hispanic needs no strain for area charities
Burlington Times-News (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6992

Nonprofit aims to get homeless women off of the streets
Napa Valley Register (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6993

Emergency Aid of Boulder City reaches out to community
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6994

Atheist pursues political mission: Angry at what he sees as
government support of religion, businessman holds protest rallies
Contra Costa Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6996

A haven for illegal immigrants;
Los Angeles Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6988

Ladies of Charity to continue service tradition at new location
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6995

State Shifting Faith-Based Funding Push
Baltimore Jewish Times (Maryland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6997

Muslim group focuses on civic involvement
Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6998

Program for felons loses facility
Daytona Beach News Journal (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6999

"We've been where you are": Center for Women's Ministries celebrates 10 years of counseling
Times-Mail (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7000

Grant will fuel neighborhood 'weed and seed'
Blue Springs Examiner (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7001

Former Habitat for Humanity Employee Threatens to Sue Organization
WTVC-TV (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7002

Fish House offers hope for recovery
Star News (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7005

Nonprofit declares Columbus its home;
Teen Challenge's $2.5M project will bring 60 new jobs to Columbus
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7006

Good medicine; Christian clinics reach out to the city's poorest neighborhoods
The Commercial Appeal (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7007

Faith groups plan for disasters
Palm Beach Post (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7008

Charity, volunteers slowly reviving Mississippi Coast
Kansas City Star (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7009

More than 100 laws added to the books in Missouri
The Kansas City Star (MIssouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7010

Valley's Katrina victims still struggling: Many are homeless, ailing or suicidal
East Valley Tribune (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7003

Katrina Churches Rebuild -- But Not Always in New Orleans
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7004