[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23825]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   GULF COAST HOSPITAL APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, as I mentioned earlier this week, I have 
serious concerns about the way the appropriations process was handled 
this year. One of my greatest concerns was the removal from the 
Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing 
Appropriations Act of $350 million to aid Mississippi and Louisiana 
hospitals with problems they continue to face from the devastation of 
Hurricane Katrina. This funding was extremely important to these 
hospitals to be able to retain the workforce needed to address the 
health concerns of the area. I was pleased, however, to learn that the 
majority had increased the amount of funding available under the Social 
Service block grant program specifically for this purpose. It is my 
understanding that the House Appropriations Committee included an 
additional $288 million under the program to help assist these 
hospitals. It is my hope that when the Department of Health and Human 
Services awards these funds that they consider this intent.

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