Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Leadership Conference Education Fund

18.11.2005 A law guaranteeing construction workers on federal contracts the prevailing wage of the area in which they are working was suspended for post-Katrina reconstruction projects. The law was recently reinstated after citizens from all over the U.S. sent messages urging Congress to overturn the suspension.

27.10.2005 Nearly 60 major civil rights and advocacy organizations have called on Congress to investigate attempts to waive longstanding federal civil rights and worker protections in bills appropriating funding to Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.

25.10.2005 Legislation authorizing the Affordable Housing Fund--a provision supported by many civil rights groups--is about to get a rider that would have a "chilling" effect on U.S. non-profits, say those same groups, prohibiting voter participation efforts that are open to for-profit groups.

13.10.2005 Companies have been allowed to pay sub-standard wages to workers cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina--and new legislation could mean similar wage cuts for future disaster clean-ups too. A citizens' petition is calling on lawmakers to ensure those working to rebuild devastated communities are paid a fair wage.

07.10.2005 A new report shows that computer use and Internet connectivity in the U.S. may not be as ubiquitous as you think, further handicapping certain minority groups in their quest for economic prosperity and educational opportunity.