[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           EDUCATION FUNDING

  Mr. GRASSLEY. As to the issue of education, all I can point out is 
that this President has always had education very high on his agenda. 
Except for September 11 and the war that we are now involved in, 
education would be No. 1 on this President's agenda. But because of the 
war, we are in a budget situation now where we are having 10-percent 
increases for homeland security, 7-percent increases for defense 
because of the war, and we are having 3-percent increases for 
education. Now, that may be, as the distinguished Democratic leader 
said, the smallest increase in education for years, but this 3-percent 
increase in education is far higher than anything else in the domestic 
budget that the President proposed to the Congress of the United States 
because every other domestic program in that budget is going to be 
increased nine-tenths of 1 percent.
  So when we are involved in war, whether it is the 21st century war on 
terrorism or whether it is the 20th century war on fascism, World War 
II, this country puts all of its efforts behind the men and women who 
are on the front line, giving them all of the resources they need to 
win that war because we only go to war if we go to war to win. This 
President has done that. But, after taking care of our responsibilities 
to the men and women on the battlefield, this President has always had 
education at the top of his agenda. With the way this year's budget 
treats education compared to every other domestic program, and only 
third to homeland security and the war, this President is keeping his 
commitment to education.

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