[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 128 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1608-E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 2, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under 

[[Page E 1609]]
     consideration the bill (H.R. 2127) making appropriations for the 
     Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
     Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, the outrageous cuts to the Department of 
Labor and related agencies proposed by the Republican majority are a 
vicious attack on hardworking Americans.
  The proposed cuts to OSHA enforcement, to the Wage and Hour Division, 
and to NLRB would result in a dangerous shift in the policies which 
protect working Americans. The prohibition on enforcement of President 
Clinton's Executive order banning striker replacement is but one 
example of the egregious and inappropriate legislating occurring on 
this year's appropriations bills.
  From Youth Fair Chance, School-to-Work, and Summer Youth Employment, 
to the Job Training Partnership Act and Community Service Employment 
for Older Americans, opportunities for job training and employment are 
being severely reduced, and in some cases, completely eliminated. The 
funding cuts to the National Labor Relations Board and the Wage and 
Hour Division will mute two strong advocates for working people.
  These programs are an essential part of providing opportunities for 
millions of Americans to achieve a decent standard of living. The cuts 
in this bill would move us farther and farther away from this goal. We 
cannot, with any conscience, allow these cuts to happen. This bill has 
devastating consequences for all Americans. I strongly urge defeat of 
this bill.


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