[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2429]
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. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in opposition to 
H.R. 3010, the Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report. First and 
foremost, I am highly disturbed that the report has no earmarks for 
Member programs. Unfortunately, this conference report invests nearly 
$1.5 billion less in critical education, health care and job assistance 
than last year. In fact, Republicans will spend more on tax cuts this 
week, $70 billion, than they will on all education and labor programs 
over the entire coming year, $68 billion. The conference report is only 
the most recent evidence that Republicans are out of touch with the 
priorities of the American people. Together, America can do better.
  With a record 55 million children in public schools and state budgets 
stretched thin, No Child Left Behind funding is cut by $784 million. 
Title I, which is the core of NCLB's efforts to improve reading and 
math skills, receives the smallest increase for Title I in 8 years--
only $100 million--which means 3.1 million low-income children will be 
left behind. Further, even as the cost of a 4-year public college 
education has increased $3,095, 34 percent, since 2001, the maximum 
Pell Grant is frozen for the fourth straight year, and no new funding 
for all other student financial aid and support programs is provided. 
These cuts are unthinkable, and the American people do not deserve this 
treatment.
  In addition to other horrible cuts, in an age where being tech-savvy 
is a necessity not a privilege, the digital divide just got bigger as 
the bill cuts the Education Technology Program by $221 million or 45 
percent. Republicans will actually cut the Federal share of special 
education costs from 18.6 percent in FY 2005 to 18.0 percent by 
providing the smallest increase for the Individuals with Disabilities 
Act in a decade. The bill provides $4 billion less than Republicans 
promised for IDEA. It is hard to imagine, but with 7.4 million 
Americans out of work, Republicans cut the Community College 
Initiative's efforts to train workers for high skill, high paying jobs 
by $125 million and rescind $125 million from funds provided last year, 
denying this assistance to 100,000 Americans. Republicans also cut job 
search assistance through the Employment Service by $89 million, 11 
percent. To further add injury to insult, state Unemployment Insurance 
and Employment Service offices are cut by $245 million, 7 percent, 
eliminating help for 1.9 million people. With consumers expected to pay 
52 percent more for natural gas and 11 percent more for electricity 
this winter, Republicans still failed to increase funding for LIHEAP 
home heating assistance, which helps keep the heat on for low-income 
seniors and children.
  Only about 10 percent of physicians in America practice in rural 
areas despite the fact that one-fourth of the U.S. population lives in 
these areas. There are significant shortages of health care providers 
in urban, underserved areas, but training grants for healthcare 
professionals are cut $206 million, 69 percent. Further, nearly 46 
million Americans are without health insurance yet Republicans provide 
virtually no funding for new Community Health Centers beyond those 
approved last year. Republicans also eliminate the Healthy Communities 
Access Program, $83 million, and state planning grants to improve 
health care coverage, $11 million. Preventive Health Block Grants to 
state health departments help address critical public health problems. 
The bill provides less for responding to disease outbreaks, immunizing 
children, and improving care for people with chronic diseases, when it 
cuts these grants by $31 million or 24 percent.
  In addition, The International Labor Affairs Bureau will have a hard 
time protecting American workers from being undercut by child and slave 
labor abroad after being cut by $20 million or 21.4 percent.
  In closing let me note that I was disappointed that the bill did 
provide earmarks for Member projects. However, I was pleased to see 
that this action by the Republicans was the straw that broke the 
camel's back, and as a result, the Conference Report was voted down. I 
hope once conferees return to the drawing board; they get it right once 
and for all.

                          ____________________