[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 29, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2087]
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, 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 3293) 
     making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health 
     and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Chair, I want to commend your hard work on this bill 
which shows our strong commitment to America's children, seniors, 
families, and others in most need.
  In particular, I want to thank the Chairman for increasing funding 
for the NIH, CDC and SAMHSA.
  When it comes to medical research the bill moves our nation forward. 
It provides $500 million over the President's Budget for the National 
Institutes of Health so that NIH can get us closer to the cures that we 
all wait for.
  When it comes to addressing our national security from the H1N1 virus 
it moves our nation forward. The bill gives $545 million total for 
critical pandemic flu activities at NIH, CDC and the Office of the 
Secretary.
  When it comes to public and preventative health the bill moves our 
nation forward. It provides increases to health professions and nursing 
education, which have been starved in recent years. This year instead, 
we will be able to train the doctors, nurses, and other health 
professionals the country needs to ensure that more people get quality 
health care.
  When it comes to mental health and substance abuse services the bill 
moves us forward. In particular, I want to commend the new initiative 
funded by the Chairman in SAMHSA regarding the effects of the economic 
downturn on mental health. There is $5 million provided for a Community 
Resilience Initiative.
  Nowhere are our economic hard times felt more than in Rhode Island, 
where we have over twelve percent (12%) unemployment and a state in 
budget crisis. This new initiative will help workers across the nation 
and in my state, to better cope with the stress this economy is placing 
on them.
  I also would like to commend the Chairman for his commitment to 
funding the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Named after my 
father, the senior Senator from Massachusetts, this bill provides the 
public and volunteer service roadmap for the Twenty-first Century, much 
like my uncle's call to service over 40 years ago.
  Named after a steadfast leader of so many of the programs that are 
funded in this bill, from vocational education to AmeriCorps, from NIH 
research to the Corporation for National and Community Service, it is 
only fitting that funding for the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Institute 
for the Senate be included in this Labor, HHS, Education and Related 
Agencies Appropriations bill. I thank the Chairman for his support for 
what will be a part of a tremendous legacy.
  Again, I want to thank the Gentleman from Wisconsin and his staff, 
for their unwavering commitment to the vital programs in this bill.

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