Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 -- (House of Representatives - July 24, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I rise to support this bill, which provides funding for essential health and education services for the well-being of the American people.

I commend the Appropriations Committee for providing $263 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, a $92 million increase in funding for these nurse education and training programs. Our nation is facing a severe shortage of nurses, and this shortage will only become more severe as we embark on health reform and provide more Americans access to affordable healthcare.

There are many young people in my district and throughout the country who would welcome the opportunity to pursue a career in nursing. Enabling promising young people to receive a college education in nursing will reduce unemployment rates in the short term and provide a long-term investment in our nation's healthcare system.

Over the last four years, funding for the Nursing Workforce Development programs has remained relatively flat. In fiscal year (FY) 2006, these programs received just under $150 million and supported 91,189 nursing students. In the following year, these programs received the same amount of funding but supported only 71,729 nursing students. In FY 2008, the programs received $156 million but still supported only 51,657 nursing students. These recent trends demonstrate the rising costs of nurse education and training, which results in the participation of fewer nursing students and, therefore, fewer new nurses. In FY 2009, the programs received $171 million and, while this was a slight increase, it was still far below our nation's needs. A significant increase is necessary for these programs to overcome rising tuition costs and allow more students to participate.

The increase in this bill for nurse education and training programs will improve our nation's health system and allow thousands of young people to pursue a promising career field and serve their communities as nurses.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose the Souder amendment, which prohibits funding needle exchange programs. Needle exchange programs are effective at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

There are over 1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today, and over 20 percent of them do not know they are infected. Every 9 1/2 minutes, another person is infected with HIV. Last fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new estimates of HIV infection in the United States, which indicate that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is even worse than was previously thought. These new estimates indicate that approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006. This figure is approximately 40 percent higher than CDC's previous estimates of 40,000 new infections per year.

According to the CDC, 13 percent of new HIV infections in the United States occur among intravenous drug users. Needle exchange programs are an effective means of preventing HIV transmission among this population. Needle exchange programs save lives, reduce health care costs, and link intravenous drug users with substance abuse treatment programs that could end their addiction and allow them to live healthy and productive lives.

The Souder amendment is opposed by AIDS Action, the HIV Medicine Association, The AIDS Institute, and several other organizations concerned about the spread of HIV/AIDS in our communities.

I urge my colleagues to oppose the Souder amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source