Announcement by the Acting Chairman

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN -- (House of Representatives - April 06, 2006)

Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Chairman, women understand the difference this budget can make in improving their lives and, their families' lives. Everyday, whether it is ovarian and breast cancer research, college loan assistance, or nutrition program, for low-income seniors, women are reminded how our sense of opportunity is in so many ways inseparable from our Nation's health, education and labor infrastructure.

But when it comes to this budget, our investment in each of these areas is cut. Pell Grants, Head Start, housing programs, child care, even the president's own No Child Left Behind education program--all fall victim to Republicans prioritizing tax cuts for the few over investments in the future of all Americans.

Republicans had an opportunity to show their commitment to women and families when I offered an amendment that would have simply restored $7 billion of funding to our communities, our community health centers and hospitals, our school districts and one-stop employment centers. It would have restored funding for lifesaving research at the NIH--research that saved this woman's life nearly two decades ago. This funding would have impacted every woman and her family at all levels of income in one way or another. But Republicans turned it aside on a party-line vote.

Mr. Chairman, women deserve a budget that supports them--a Congress that supports them. And as women are increasingly realizing, they are getting neither.

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