Lame Duck CARE Act Vote Attempt Fails

On November 14, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) attempted and failed to secure unanimous consent to bring the CARE act up for a vote. This effectively killed the bill, which has been mired in controversy and compromise for almost two years, in the 107th Congress. The most controversial point, allowing churches to discriminate based on religion when hiring for government-funded programs was supported by House Republicans, but strongly opposed by several Democratic Senators, including Jack Reed (D-RI). Adjournment of the Senate, however, has not daunted supporters of the administration's plans to increase government funding to faith-based and community organizations. An aide for Santorum told Congressional Quarterly that the Senator is "sure to revive the legislation next year" and that it will "be high on the agenda." Republican control of both chambers could mean that next year's version of the legislation will be more like the White House-backed House version, H.R. 7, which passed this year, rather than the compromise language contained in the Senate's CARE Act. James Towey, head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, quoted in a November 25 Washington Post article, said, "We're hopeful the new [congressional] leadership might bode well for faith-based" initiatives. Read more about action on the CARE Act.
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