[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2134]
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. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    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 Service, and Education, and related agencies for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3293, the 
Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
Appropriations Bill. This legislation provides a total of $730.5 
billion, including $163.4 billion in discretionary funds, for the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. In the 
current economic crisis, this bill makes vital investments to improve 
job training, shore up our Nation's health and social safety nets, and 
provide the educational opportunities that are critical to the nation's 
longer-term prosperity.
  With health care reform looming in Congress, H.R. 3293 is a step in 
the right direction to provide a health care safety net to nearly 50 
million people with no insurance and another 16 million who are 
underinsured. This bill includes $603.5 billion for the Department of 
Health and Human Services, including funding for Medicare and Medicaid. 
H.R. 3293 provides $73.7 billion in discretionary funds, including $2.2 
billion for community health centers, $2.3 billion for AIDS 
initiatives, $6.7 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, and $31.3 billion for critical research at the National 
Institutes of Health.
  During this economic downturn, H.R. 3293 makes important investments 
to help Americans get back to work. This bill provides almost $16 
billion for the Department of Labor, including $100 million for low-
income youth education and job training, $1.4 billion for Dislocated 
Worker Employment and Training Activities, and $265 million in 
veterans' job training. In addition, the bill provides $135 million for 
the Career Pathways Innovation Fund to provide new competitive grants 
for community colleges and local adult education providers for 
initiatives that prepare workers for careers in high demand and 
emerging industries.
  I am particularly pleased that this bill makes significant 
investments in the Department of Education. As the only former state 
schools chief serving in Congress, I understand the devastating impact 
education cuts have had on our Nation's school systems. This bill 
includes $14.5 billion in Title I grants to local districts, $1.4 
billion in Innovation and Improvement, $12.6 billion for special 
education, and $19.7 billion for student financial assistance including 
Pell Grants.
  As the representative of Fort Bragg, however, I am concerned that 
this bill again underfunds Federal Impact Aid, which helps support the 
education needs of federally-connected students. The bill provides $1.3 
billion, which is less than two-thirds of the full funding needs for 
Impact Aid. As Fort Bragg expands through the BRAC process, military 
children represent a significant burden to communities in Cumberland, 
Harnett, Lee, and Sampson Counties, and current funding is 
insufficient. Impact Aid allows school districts to use funds for 
either operating expenses or capital expenditures, yet by the 
Department of Education's own admission these funds are barely enough 
to support current expenditures for educating federally connected 
students. I hope that this flaw in an otherwise excellent bill will be 
improved in conference.
  Mr. Chair, H.R. 3293 is fiscally responsible and represents the 
priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this legislation.

                          ____________________