OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006

Date: Nov. 17, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Labor Unions Health and Health Care Education


DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - November 17, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations is not just an underfunded bill but is harmful. A bill which should be a stepping stone towards providing good education, employment opportunities and access to affordable health care, instead takes away important safeguards upon which Oregonians and Americans depend. It is another example of how out of touch the Republican leadership is with the rest of the Nation.

This bill shortchanges education programs and imposes a burden on our college students. At a time when the global economy demands a highly trained, educated workforce, we are making it more difficult for our students to succeed by cutting financial aid programs, impacting over 90,000 Oregonians who are borrowing money to attend college. Oregonians have already been saddled with at least a $1,000 increase in college tuition over the last year. And while there are over 55 million children in public schools nationwide and State budgets are already stretched thin, No Child Left Behind funding is cut by $784 million.

Students are not the only ones feeling the squeeze. Several health care programs are threatened or eliminated in the legislation. While over 600,000 Oregonians are without health insurance, this bill essentially eliminates many of the safety net clinics and community health centers on which uninsured people depend. We may end up seeing more people in emergency rooms with severe conditions that could have been prevented with regular access to health care.

With over 7 million Americans out of work and over 100,000 Oregonians unemployed, the bill cuts the Department of Labor by $430 million. Without assistance the gap between the wealthy and the less fortunate will continue to widen. Americans deserve better and it is irresponsible to say that these eliminated programs and funding cuts are the only way to solve our budgetary mess.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov

arrow_upward