[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1105, OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am glad we are finally wrapping up our 
FY 09 Appropriations work and offer this legislation my full support 
today.
  Instead of slashing our federal investment in priorities like 
education, health care, energy, law enforcement and biomedical research 
as President Bush had demanded, this bill complements the economic 
recovery package by addressing our Nation's immediate needs while 
laying the foundation for long term economic growth.
  For example, to help 6.9 million families pay for college and prepare 
our students to compete in the 21st century global economy, we allocate 
$17.3 billion--or $3 billion more than 2008--for Pell Grants.
  To provide health care for over 470,000 uninsured Americans during 
this economic downturn, we provide $2.2 billion--or $125 million above 
last year's levels--for our community health centers.
  To accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies and the 
jobs that go with them, we include $18.5 billion in additional loan 
guarantee authority for renewables in the Department of Energy's 
Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program.
  To keep our communities safe, we designate $3.2 billion--or $495 
billion above 2008--for State and local enforcement.
  And to ensure that America remains the global leader in lifesaving 
biomedical research, we invest $30.3 billion--or $938 million more than 
last year--in the National Institutes of Health.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a long time coming, but we now see it was 
worth the wait. I will cast a ``yes'' vote and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.

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