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BLACK FARMERS
The National Black Farmers Association claimed a victory Thursday night with the release of details in a compromise version of the Farm Bill.
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., told the group the bill includes a provision to pay $100 million to black farmers who were blocked from joining a 1999 class-action discrimination suit against the government.
"Seventy-thousand farmers are waiting for relief. This is do or die for black farmers," said John Boyd, the founder of the Baskerville, Va., based group.
The bill also would allow additional payments as needed for farmers who allege government discrimination on farm loans.
Congress is expected to vote on the bill next week. President Bush has threatened a veto, saying the $300 billion agriculture package is too expensive.
HOUSING HELP
With President Bush threatening to veto the Democrats' plan to help homeowners amid a national foreclosure crisis, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., called on Congress to consider alternatives.
Cantor, a member of the House Republican leadership team, supports a bill to give homebuyers a one-time tax credit of 10 percent of the home's price. The credit would be capped at $10,000.
"What we need is some type of return to stability in the real estate market," Cantor said outside the Republican Party headquarters Tuesday. "The way to do this is to trust the market, to put in place incentives in the tax system so that we can see increased demand among homebuyers."
HERITAGE AREA
President Bush signed into law Thursday a bill pushed by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., to create the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, conserving key historic places along the Route 15 corridor in Virginia.
"By designating this corridor as a national heritage area, the route will be celebrated, honored and shared with our children, grandchildren and generations to come," Wolf said in a statement.
The bill authorizes Congress to spend up to $1 million a year to help Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia work together to improve parks, tourism and educational opportunities tied to the trail of historic sites.
The 175-mile corridor encompasses eight presidential homes or sites, 15 National Historic Landmarks, 47 historic districts and the largest collection of Civil War battlefields in America.
MILITARY PAY
Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va., introduced a bill Wednesday to equalize pay between military service members and their civilian counterparts.
Congress is currently considering a bill to bring the military pay scale in line with the private sector for one year. Drake's bill aims to close the pay gap for five years.
"Our military families should not have to worry about their financial security from year to year," Drake said in a statement. "They deserve to know that the American people are taking care of their interests while they are fighting for ours."
--Neil H. Simon
The National Black Farmers Association claimed a victory Thursday night with the release of details in a compromise version of the Farm Bill.
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., told the group the bill includes a provision to pay $100 million to black farmers who were blocked from joining a 1999 class-action discrimination suit against the government.
"Seventy-thousand farmers are waiting for relief. This is do or die for black farmers," said John Boyd, the founder of the Baskerville, Va., based group.
The bill also would allow additional payments as needed for farmers who allege government discrimination on farm loans.
Congress is expected to vote on the bill next week. President Bush has threatened a veto, saying the $300 billion agriculture package is too expensive.
HOUSING HELP
With President Bush threatening to veto the Democrats' plan to help homeowners amid a national foreclosure crisis, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., called on Congress to consider alternatives.
Cantor, a member of the House Republican leadership team, supports a bill to give homebuyers a one-time tax credit of 10 percent of the home's price. The credit would be capped at $10,000.
"What we need is some type of return to stability in the real estate market," Cantor said outside the Republican Party headquarters Tuesday. "The way to do this is to trust the market, to put in place incentives in the tax system so that we can see increased demand among homebuyers."
HERITAGE AREA
President Bush signed into law Thursday a bill pushed by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., to create the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, conserving key historic places along the Route 15 corridor in Virginia.
"By designating this corridor as a national heritage area, the route will be celebrated, honored and shared with our children, grandchildren and generations to come," Wolf said in a statement.
The bill authorizes Congress to spend up to $1 million a year to help Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia work together to improve parks, tourism and educational opportunities tied to the trail of historic sites.
The 175-mile corridor encompasses eight presidential homes or sites, 15 National Historic Landmarks, 47 historic districts and the largest collection of Civil War battlefields in America.
MILITARY PAY
Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va., introduced a bill Wednesday to equalize pay between military service members and their civilian counterparts.
Congress is currently considering a bill to bring the military pay scale in line with the private sector for one year. Drake's bill aims to close the pay gap for five years.
"Our military families should not have to worry about their financial security from year to year," Drake said in a statement. "They deserve to know that the American people are taking care of their interests while they are fighting for ours."
--Neil H. Simon