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George Orwell once wrote that "probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one's meaning as clear as one can through pictures or sensations." Novelist Reynolds Price thought perhaps one baby was doing just that when he chose "soap" and "book" as his first words, instead of the more usual Ma Ma or Da Da.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the first congressional hearing into electoral reform since the contested Presidential election five months ago. The House Administration Committee heard from five secretaries of state, officials responsible for voting procedures. They testified that equipment needs to be modernized, voters should be better educated in voting procedures, poll-workers should be trained better, and higher standards should be set for conducting elections and recounts.

NPR's Margot Adler reports on troubles at Hale House, the Harlem charity that has cared for babies who are born with the virus that causes AIDS -- or are born addicted to drugs. The New York state attorney general's office is investigating allegations over how the charity has raised and used its funds.

NPR's Religion Correspondent Duncan Moon reports on a summit held today by Republican Congressional leaders on the challenges and opportunities of the Bush administration's plan to provide federal funds for faith-based initiatives.

Robert Siegel talks with Richard L. Garwin, senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations in Yorktown Heights, New York, about the creation of the hydrogen bomb. It was previously believed that Stanislaw Ulam or Edward Teller were responsible for designing the bomb. The New York Times recently received a transcript of a recording made by Teller in 1979, giving Garwin the credit. Garwin now says he regrets the bomb's creation.

Robert Siegel speaks with Megan Twohey, welfare reporter for the National Journal, about how welfare reform has affected the lives of people like Maria Lopez. Twohey says welfare reform and a booming economy have succeeded in getting many former recipients into jobs. But, she says, those jobs are often low-paying and dead-end. Twohey also says that it remains difficult for welfare recipients to pursue higher education, an issue that will likely come up when Congress looks at reauthorization in 2002.

Robert Siegel talks with Philip Chatennay, an editor with the Political Weekly Marianne, about an unauthorized "sequel" to Victor Hugo's novel, Les Miserables. The book is Cosette, or the Time of Illusions, written by journalist Francois Ceresa. It is considered scandalous within French literary circles. It's due for publication next week. (3:00) Cosette, or the Time of Illusions will be published in France by Plon.

Author Debra Ginsberg introduces us to Maria Lopez of National City, California. Lopez is profiled as part of our series on The Changing Face of America. She's a mother of three who is on the cusp of escaping from state assistance, the result of determination, changes in the law and a two-year college education. When national welfare reform took place in 1996, the push in state's like California was to get people into any job. But Maria wanted to rise above poverty, so despite the odds, she got her high school equivalency degree, and enrolled in courses at a nearby junior college. Everyday is a struggle to keep from sinking into deeper poverty. But she has a feverish determination, a rosy outlook, and an ability to work the system. (14:00). The Changing Face of America series has a companion area on our Web site.

President Bush seemed to remove some of the deliberate ambiguity in U.S. policy toward Taiwan and China by suggesting the U.S. might get involved in defending Taiwan against an attack from China. Despite this change in tone from previous administrations, the administration says there has been no change in U.S. policy.

Host Bob Edwards talks with LA Times reporter Anthony Kuhn about Beijing's reaction today to President Bush's statement that the U.S. would protect Taiwan against Chinese aggression.

NPR's Joe Palca reports on new studies that seem to disprove the theory that the virus that causes AIDS was first transmitted to humans in tainted polio vaccine during the late 1950's. The evidence against that theory appears in today's issue of the journal Nature.

On Capitol Hill today, negotiators sat down to work out differences between the budget plan approved by the House and the one approved by the Senate. The House has approved a smaller increase in spending and a bigger cut in taxes, sticking close to the plan proposed by President Bush. But the Senate was a different story, because Democrats occupy half that chamber's seats. The Senate negotiating group that went to work today is also split 50-50 between the parties. NPR's David Welna reports from the Capitol.