Since 1983, the National Priorities Project (NPP) has been the only group in the country that focuses on the impacts of federal tax and spending policies at the community level. We link political analysis to action by serving as a bridge between policy organizations and grassroots groups. We translate policy information into everyday language and assist national and grassroots groups in their efforts on such issues as improving their schools, creating living wage jobs and providing affordable housing.

For a number of years, NPP has focused on the trade-offs between military spending and tax breaks with social spending. This has enabled us to build bridges between the peace community and the many groups fighting for social and economic justice, expanding the number of groups who will work on both community needs and peace.

NPP collaborates with national organizations and local citizen groups, including 110 Local Partners in 44 states. Below is a short summary of some of our most notable successes:

2002: Launched the NPP Database, the first interactive database providing state-level data on socio-economic needs and federal expenditures on such issues as hunger, education, housing, poverty/income and military spending. It allows the user to create customized tables, graphs and reports. For more info click on www.nationalpriorities.org/database.

2001: Provided state-by-state impact information on the Estate Tax to United for a Fair Economy and others to preserve the Estate Tax. It was used extensively in meetings with Senators in Washington, D.C. and in local organizing. For more info, click on www.nationalpriorities.org/taxes/estatetax/estatetax.html.

2000: Published a national report with National People's Action on the deterioration of our nation's public schools. It strongly contributed to education as a major budget issue during the election campaign and the budget negotiation process between the President and Congress. For more info, click on www.nationalpriorities.org/recess/recess.html.

1999: Provided NPP materials that were used to prevent a number of social programs from being cut and staved off major increases in the F22 Jet Fighter's budget. For more info, click on www.nationalpriorities.org/grassrootsfactbook/choices/choices.html.

1998: Authored a national report in coalition with Jobs with Justice that provided living wage information for all 50 states that was used effectively by local campaigns in passing legislation establishing local living wages. For more info, click on www.nationalpriorities.org/grassrootsfactbook/jobgrowth/jobgrowth.html

1997: Provided data for states and local communities on the fiscal impact of the B-2 bomber that helped stop the funding for the B-2 bomber.

1993-94: Led the charge for an "alternative" Common Sense Budget in coalition with Common Agenda and the Citizens Budget Campaign.

1991-92: Published Reinvest in Our Communities reports that were used by community-labor-peace coalitions nationwide to hold Presidential and congressional candidates accountable to local economic needs.

1989-1990: Authored a national housing report, with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which aided in the passage of the Housing Act of 1990, which created more affordable housing.