[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1880-E1881]
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, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3061) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes:

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 3061, the Labor-HHS--Education Appropriations bill for Fiscal 
Year 2002. This bill provides critical funding for our nation's 
students, teachers, doctors, patients, and numerous important programs 
within the Department of Labor.
  Before I go any further, I would like to take a moment to thank 
Chairman Regula, Ranking Member Obey, and the Majority and Minority 
Committee Staffs for their hard work on this excellent, bipartisan 
legislation. They all

[[Page E1881]]

did an excellent job and should be commended for their efforts.
  Mr. Chairman, perhaps no resource in our great country is more 
important than our young people--our students. H.R. 3061 recognizes the 
vital role that this group plays in the future for our nation and for 
the world by increasing funding for the Department of Education by 16% 
over FY01 funding levels.
  Specifically, I am extremely pleased to see a funding increase of 
$1.4 billion for IDEA, $137 million increase for Impact Aid, $1.7 
billion increase for Title I grants, just to name a few of the critical 
programs that are receiving an increase in funding.
  In addition, Mr. Chairman, funding for the Department of Health and 
Human Services has been increased by 13 percent in this legislation. 
Critical programs for rural health care providers and patients, which 
are very important to many rural areas that I represent in northern New 
Mexico, have received significant funds, including $142 million for the 
National Health Service Corps, $27.6 million for the Rural Telemedicine 
Grant Program, and $4 million for a State Offices of Rural Health Grant 
Program, just to name a few.
  Furthermore, this bill provides $120 million for the Community Access 
Program, which provides critical funding for 3 health care service 
providers in New Mexico.
  Also, of nationwide concern, this bill provides $ 100 million more 
than the FY01 level for countering bioterrorism programs at CDC and 
HHS.
  Last but not least, Mr. Chairman, a 3% increase for the Department of 
Labor will provide vital funding for adult job training programs, youth 
training programs, Job Corps, and OSHA.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. The 
committee has done an excellent job in crafting this bill to help 
address the many needs of our nation and I believe we should support 
the work of our colleagues on the committee.

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