FIFTH WEEK OF LENT: GLOBAL HIV/AIDS FUNDING
During Senate consideration of the FY�06 budget resolution, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment to more-than-double funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Senate passed the Santorum-Durbin amendment on a voice vote, bringing U.S. support for the Global Fund to $800 million in the Senate�s version of the budget resolution. Since the House version of the bill follows President Bush�s budget request and slashes funding for the Global Fund to $300 million, its lowest level in three years, a House-Senate conference committee will determine the final funding recommendation after lawmakers return from the Spring recess.

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT: THE FY�06 FEDERAL BUDGET
In the weeks leading up to the Spring recess, lawmakers in both chambers passed their own versions of a federal budget for FY�06. We remain gravely concerned that neither chamber�s budget resolution properly reflects our nation�s values in the areas of compassion, concern for the whole human family, and service of the common good. While the Senate improved significantly upon President Bush�s recommended funding level for the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic (see above), the chamber also used its bill to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (see below). The final disposition of each of these issues will be determined by a House-Senate conference committee.

THIRD WEEK OF LENT: TANF AND AID TO THE PALESTINIANS AND SUDANESE
The Senate Finance Committee has approved the Personal Responsibility and Individual Development for Everyone (PRIDE) bill setting the stage to reauthorize Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)�the nation�s primary funding source for services to America�s working poor. While some of the provisions are problematic, there was an important victory in the form of a $6 billion increase in childcare funding over five years. House and Senate action will likely be scheduled after the Spring recess. The Finance Committee�s action so early in this congressional session sends a message that TANF reauthorization is finally on a fast track. This is crucial because it will probably protect TANF from budget cuts that are expected for nearly all low-income programs.
In the areas of aid to the Sudanese and the Palestinians, the House included funding levels advocated by the Episcopal Church in its version of the FY�06 supplemental appropriations bill. As addressed above, however, the House also imposed significant and onerous restrictions on the Palestinian aid. The Senate will consider both of these issues when it takes up its version of the spending bill upon return from the Spring recess.

SECOND WEEK OF LENT: GLOBAL HIV/AIDS FUNDING
See update above for the fourth week of Lent.

FIRST WEEK OF LENT: DEBT RELIEF AND FARM-WORKER PROTECTIONS
When the finance ministers for the world�s seven richest nations (the so-called G7) met in London in February, they officially reached agreement to work toward 100% cancellation of debts owed by the world's poorest countries to international lenders. However, they did not reach agreement on how to pay for debt cancellation. The Episcopal Church and others in the debt-relief community currently are engaged in advocacy to the U.S. government and other G7 nations calling for adoption of a concrete plan for debt relief by the end of this year. The July meeting of the G8 heads-of-state (leaders of the G7 nations plus Russia) is an important focal point in this advocacy.
The Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2005 (AgJOBS)may be considered by the House (H.R. 884) and Senate (S. 359) as early as April. AgJOBS has broad bi-partisan support and is the result of lengthy negotiations between advocates for farm workers and for agricultural employers. It would be a significant step toward insuring both a legal and a stable supply of agricultural labor.

WEEK OF ASH WEDNESDAY: THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND PROTECTION OF THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
As world leaders prepare for the G8 and the annual UN heads-of-state meetinsg in July, the Episcopal Church is deeply engaged in advocacy to ensure that the world remains committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Two reports released over the last several months from the UN�s commission on the MDGs and from Prime Minister Blair�s Commission on Africa pointed to the need for wealthy nations to mobilize a significant increase in resources if the Goals are to be met by 2015. When the Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane, primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, visited the United States in March, staff for the Episcopal Office of Government Relations accompanied him on a series of meetings focused on the MDGs with key congressional offices and the media.
Supporters of protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge narrowly lost a vote that would open the refuge, sacred space of the native Gwich�in people, to oil drilling. The Senate�s 49-51 vote allows Arctic revenues to be included in the already controversial FY�06 Budget. The House did not include these revenues in their version, and we will be working to uphold the House in the conference committee.