[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1380-E1381]
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, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration this bill, (H.R. 3010) 
     making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health 
     and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Labor, 
Health & Human Services and Education Appropriations bill before us. 
This bill fails to address the priorities of the American people.
  The bill shortchanges critical health care programs, offers the 
smallest increase to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) In 36 
years, and falls to fulfill promises this Congress made

[[Page E1381]]

to disadvantaged children. With 45 million uninsured Americans, we 
cannot afford to eliminate programs targeted at meeting the needs of 
the uninsured or remove the support systems that exist for those 
doctors and nurses who are serving in areas where there is a shortage 
of professional health services.
  Furthermore, in a time when scientists are just beginning to make 
meaningful progress on the projects they began between 1998 and 2003, 
it is irresponsible to fund NIH at a level 2.6 percent short of what 
they need to keep up with inflation in research costs. Under this 
legislation, NIH will be able to support about 505 fewer research 
grants than just two years earlier.
  Finally, with a record 55 million children in public schools and 
state budgets stretched thin, this bill proposes to cut No Child Left 
Behind funding by $806 million, leaving 3.1 million low-income children 
behind. This brings the total NCLB funding shortfall to $40 billion, 
since its enactment in 2002.
  The Appropriations Committee did take care to address some critical 
issues, such as restoring funding for the Elementary and Secondary 
School Counseling Program and the Assistive Technology Act, and I 
appreciate the support for these important programs. Unfortunately, the 
budget resolution for FY2006 prevented appropriators from being able to 
put forth a bill that truly reflected the needs of the American people. 
When Congress passed H. Con. Res. 95, the Budget Conference Report, the 
Republican leadership set the stage for these devastating cuts. This 
legislation makes it clear that tax cuts for the wealthy will continue 
to be paid for by slashing programs that Rhode Islanders depend on.
  I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 3010.

                          ____________________