WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Bush administration Monday announced new regulations it will use to allow faith-based organizations to receive federal funding.
Jim Towey, director of the Faith-based And Community Initiatives Office, said the six new regulations, along with the modification of four existing rules, will help "mobilize armies of compassion in the country."
The new rules will make $8 billion in grant programs available to organizations of faith.
In addition, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said the administration is changing existing regulations to allow training vouchers to be used by people pursuing faith-based careers and to eliminate an existing prohibition against federally supported faith-based groups hiring members of their own faith.
Claude Allen, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced $30 million in new funding to continue the Compassion Capital Fund and to allow faith-based organizations to use federal monies to provide services for the children of incarcerated parents.
He also told reporters the administration is changing regulations to allow faith-based groups to obtaining federal moneys for various programs, such as community services block grants, substance abuse and mental health services and discretionary grant programs.
