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DC DIGEST/House approves Head Start school program Sunday, Sep 25, 2005 By Tony Batt Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- The House voted 231-184 last week to continue funding Head Start, a program that helps poor children from birth to age 5 prepare for school. The bill would provide $6.58 billion for Head Start through 2011. But the legislation faces opposition in the Senate because of a provision that would allow faith-based charities to consider religious preference in hiring staff. A Senate version of the bill does not include the faith-based provision. Supporters of the provision said faith-based groups should not have to change their character or mission to participate in Head Start, which serves about 1 million children from low income families. Opponents argued the 1998 Head Start law bars discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation or beliefs. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, voted for the faith-based provision. Reps. Marion Berry, D-Gillett; Mike Ross, D-Prescott; and Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, voted against the faith-based provision. Technology funded but program axed After adding an amendment to help small businesses impacted by Hurricane Katrina, the House voted 394-24 to provide $2 billion during the next three years to invest in manufacturing research and development. But the House voted 226-196 to reject a Democratic effort to save the Advanced Technology Program, which finances early-stage research into technologies with commercial potential. Democrats sought $140 million in next year's budget to maintain the Advanced Technology Program. They said the program is critical in keeping U.S. companies competitive with foreign businesses and to stem the loss of jobs overseas. Critics complained the program is an example of corporate welfare and noted the White House wants to eliminate it. Boozman voted for technology investment and against the Advanced Technology Program. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted for technology investment and for the Advanced Technology Program. Senate retaliates against Japan The Senate voted 97-2 to spend $100.7 billion next year on agricultural programs such as land conservation, food stamps and nutrition aid, food safety and rural housing. Before approving the bill, senators retaliated against Japan for refusing to lift a ban on U.S. beef because of fears about mad cow disease. The Senate voted 72-26 to prohibit importation of Japanese beef until Japan lifts its ban. Advocates of extending the ban on Japanese beef said it makes no sense to expand the U.S. market for Japan while their market remains closed to American beef. Opponents said trade decisions about food safety should be based on science, not foreign trade restrictions. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, both D-Ark., voted for the agriculture bill. Lincoln and Pryor also voted to extend the ban on Japanese beef. Horse meat exports banned By a vote of 68-29, the Senate denied federal funding next year for the three remaining horse slaughterhouses in the United States. The amendment would halt payments for federal meat inspectors at the three U.S. meat packing plants that slaughter an estimated 65,000 horses per year. Supporters of the amendment said it would shut down the slaughterhouses and prevent wild horses from being sold to butchers who would then sell the meat to countries where horse meat is commonly eaten. Opponents argued the amendment would not prevent American wild horses from being sold to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. Lincoln and Pryor voted against the amendment to stop funding horse slaughterhouses in America. -30- |
