Waiving Points of Order Against Conference Report on H.R.3010, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies...
WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3010, DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 08, 2005)
SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2005
Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3010, the FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. I voted against this bill when it passed the House and the conference report before us today is even more objectionable.
The Republican leadership has proposed severe cuts to services that keep our families and communities strong. At a time when consumers are expecting to pay nearly 30 percent more for home heating, the majority has refused to include an increase for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps to keep our seniors and children safe during the winter.
This bill also shortchanges important health care programs. Although slightly better than the House-passed bill, this proposal cuts health professions programs by 69 percent at a time when we are struggling to provide health care access in many areas of this country. It also cuts funding for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and forces a 24 percent cut to block grants for State health departments. Most striking, while we ask our local public health departments to do more to prepare for a possible pandemic, this bill instead imposes an 11 percent cut on local health departments.
The conference report also cuts overall funding for the Department of Education for the first time in over 10 years. It cuts and guts programs from early childhood education through college. Our Nation's public schools will see budget cuts totaling more than $784 million, despite the promise to fully fund No Child Left Behind at the time of its enactment in 2002. Since then, NCLB has been underfunded by more than $39 billion. Our public schools and our students deserve better. This bill underfunds critical programs for the most vulnerable students, providing $217 million less for Title I Education for Disadvantaged Children program than in fiscal year 2005. In addition, Safe and Drug Free Schools will receive a cut of $87 million--a decrease of 20 percent. Several other education programs and services will see their budgets frozen, despite increased program costs, greater needs, and inflation.
Pell grants for low-income college students are frozen for the fourth straight year in a row, despite promises by the administration to increase the maximum Pell grant award. While Congress underfunds student financial aid, students and families continue to struggle to pay for a college education that is increasing faster than the rate of inflation.
Investments in health and education are important to our families, our communities, and our country. This conference report does not reflect the values of Minnesotans or Americans. I will vote to reject this conference report and urge my colleagues to do the same.
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