Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2008 --Continued--
Floor Speech
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008--Continued -- (Senate - October 23, 2007)
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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I also would like to commend Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Specter for putting together a funding bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education that reflects of our Nation's priorities and will do much to help the American people. Of particular importance to me and my State is the funding for the National Health Service Corps. I appreciate that the chairman and ranking member were able to restore funding to the fiscal year 2007 level for this program, but believe that we need to do more to combat the serious issue of physician shortage in the underserved areas of our States. In my State, hospitals and health centers are searching for physicians who will fill the numerous vacancies that physician retirement and retention problems have Ðcreated. We need more specialists, surgeons, and general practitioners, dentists, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives. We need to do more to recruit and retain these essential providers--and that is exactly what the National Health Service Corps does. Robust funding of this program, in addition to pursuing other strategies to assist areas experiencing health professions shortages, will make a significant difference to patients and the providers and facilities that care for them. I thank the chair and ranking member and hope that the National Health Service Corps program funding is increased by the $5.8 million that was approved by the House of Representatives.
Mr. HARKIN. I share my colleagues' support for the National Health Service Corps and agree that we must do more to reduce the number of health professional shortage areas. In my State, 14 of our counties are designated as shortage areas, so I know this issue firsthand. When this bill gets to conference, I will support as much funding as possible for this important program, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure an expansion of the National Health Service Corps.
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