[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS, FISCAL YEAR 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 68, the 
Continuing Appropriations Resolution for FY 2006. By funding the 
government at the lower of the House bill, the Senate bill, or current 
rate, this continuing resolution would require immediate cuts in 
programs that address the very problems that America's families are 
facing this fall--unemployment, education, health care, and emergency 
preparedness.
  Right now, there are 7.4 million unemployed Americans--1.4 million of 
whom have been jobless for more than 26 weeks. Thousands more are 
applying for benefits in the wake of Katrina and Rita, yet this bill 
would cut essential Federal training and employment services below last 
year's level, including $138 million, or 4 percent, from job training 
formula grant programs. Just as students are going back to school, this 
legislation calls for an $800 million cut in education programs. With 
45.8 million uninsured Americans, this bill fails to provide necessary 
assistance to the Community Health Centers that serve these very 
citizens. In a time when emergency preparedness should be a high 
priority, the bill cuts Hospital Preparedness Grants by $15 million and 
Public Health Preparedness Grants by $66 million.
  In light of these pressing concerns for all Americans and rising 
defecits, we must spend our dollars wisely. Yet, we have been presented 
with a bill that shortchanges the very programs that promise to rebuild 
our workforce, educate our children and protect the health and well 
being of our citizens. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
fiscal responsibility by voting against H.J. Res. 68.

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