[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1591]]
  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3043) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3043, the 
Federal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education Appropriations Bill. By passing this legislation today the 
House of Representatives is taking a significant step forward toward 
investing in our Nation's long-term future. This $152 billion 
investment marks a $10 billion increase over President Bush's 2008 
request and a $7 billion increase over the Federal Year 2007 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
Appropriations Bill. The increases in the appropriation's legislation 
before us today, will translate into more help for those in need of 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, more affordable higher education, 
and health care for the uninsured.
  Home heating costs have skyrocketed over the last few years. Many 
people are finding themselves unable to keep up. We in Congress believe 
that no American should be forced to choose between whether to eat or 
heat your home. This is why we are increasing Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance to $501 million in 2008, an increase that will ensure 1.3 
million families are not left out in the cold this winter.
  We have also used this appropriation to demonstrate the Democratic 
Party's commitment to reining in the sharp rise in college costs that 
continue to be a barrier to so many students. By increasing the Pell 
Grant from $4,050 to $4,700, an increase which will benefit more than 
5.5 million low- and middle-income students, we have taken another 
major step in the 110th Congress toward making higher education more 
accessible.
  Finally, it is a disgrace that there are 46.6 million Americans 
without health insurance; in this year's Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education Appropriations Bill we have taken major steps 
to expand access to health care for the uninsured. For example, the 
bill provides a $200 million increase in funds allocated to community 
health center initiatives--enabling these centers to serve an 
additional 1 million uninsured Americans. Furthermore, the bill 
provides $75 million for a new initiative to state health access 
grants--providing start-up grants to states that are ready with plans 
to expand health care coverage to targeted groups. Finally, H.R. 304 
also includes $50 million for an initiative to assist states in 
providing high-risk insurance pools to support affordable insurance for 
almost 200,000 people who are medically high-risk.
  This is finally a Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
Appropriations bill with the right priorities, one that puts working 
Americans first.

                          ____________________