[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 129 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1642]
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

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    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 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. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Bateman Saxton 
Edwards amendment to restore $22 million to the Impact Aid Program. 
This program, which suffered a 15 percent cut in funding in fiscal year 
1995 is scheduled for another $83 million in cuts this year. Together 
these figures translate to a drastic 2-year reduction of 26 percent for 
Federal impact aid.
  The reason why this reduction is particularly drastic is quite 
simple. Impact aid is a program that provides for the education of the 
children of our military personnel and children on Indian reserves. 
Education programs run on federally owned property are, due to a lack 
of funds caused by an inability to collect State or local taxes, highly 
dependent on Federal funding. Without that assistance, the quality of 
education available for these children is certain to deteriorate.
  I ask you, Mr. Chairman, do you think it is fair some children in our 
country should be offered a lower standard of educational training just 
because they happen to live on federal land? It seems clear to me that 
as it is the Federal Government who owns the land on which these 
children live, the Federal Government should be obligated, just as 
State and local municipalities are, to provide adequate educational 
services for children.
  Mr. Chairman, what would you suggest I tell the
   military children of the Earle Naval Weapons Station in Tinton Falls 
and Fort Monmouth in Eatontown when I go back to New Jersey and they 
wonder why the resources for their education have been reduced? Indeed, 
how do I explain to their parents that their child's school day may 
have to be reduced because the government, though able to pay them to 
fight for their country, does not have enough money to educate their 
children? These are questions, Mr. Chairman, that they should not have 
to ask and I should not have to answer.

  While I support efforts to balance the Federal budget, I believe 
attempting to do so by gutting valuable education programs like impact 
aid is unequivocally a step in the wrong direction. With the Department 
of Education projecting that 89 percent of the jobs being created in 
the United States will require post-secondary training, it is clear 
that cutting education programs jeopardize the well-being of our 
children and, ultimately, the economic growth of our Nation.
  We must not allow the Federal Government to shirk its 
responsibilities to itself, and to our children. I urge my colleagues 
to act responsibly and vote ``yes'' on this amendment.


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