[House Report 109-515] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 109th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 109-515 ====================================================================== DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007 ---------- R E P O R T of the COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS [TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 5647] together with MINORITY AND ADDITIONAL VIEWSJune 20, 2006.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007 109th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 109-515 ====================================================================== DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007 __________ R E P O R T of the COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS [TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 5647] together with MINORITY AND ADDITIONAL VIEWS June 20, 2006.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _____ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 2006
28-324 109th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 109-515 ====================================================================== DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007 _______ June 20, 2006.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Regula, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following R E P O R T together with MINORITY AND ADDITIONAL VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 5647] The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (except the Food and Drug Administration and the Indian Health Service), and Education, Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled, Corporation for National and Community Service, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, National Council on Disability, National Labor Relations Board, National Mediation Board, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. Summary of Estimates and Appropriations The following table compares on a summary basis the appropriations including trust funds for fiscal year 2006, the budget request for fiscal year 2007 and the Committee recommendation for fiscal year 2007 in the accompanying bill. 2007 LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL [In millions of dollars] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal year-- 2007 committee --------------------------------- compared to-- --------------------- 2006 2007 2007 2006 2007 adjusted budget committee adjusted budget ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor...................................... $14,531 $14,080 $14,605 +$74 +$525 Advances............................................. 2,537 2,531 2,481 -56 -50 Department of Health and Human Services.................. 475,252 473,290 475,117 -135 +1,827 Advances............................................. 67,103 69,456 69,456 +2,353 0 Department of Education.................................. 62,962 57,168 58,536 -4,426 +1,368 Advances............................................. 15,034 15,034 15,484 +450 +450 Related Agencies......................................... 48,933 48,897 48,685 -248 -212 Advances............................................. 11,510 16,810 16,810 +5,300 0 Grand Total, current year................................ 601,678 593,435 596,943 -4,735 +3,508 Advances............................................. 96,184 103,831 104,231 +8,047 +400 Current year total using 302(b) scorekeeping............. 601,398 592,485 596,502 -4,896 +4,017 Mandatory............................................ 460,310 454,691 454,572 -5,738 -119 Discretionary........................................ 141,088 137,794 141,930 +842 +4,136 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROGRAM LEVEL DISCRETIONARY [In millions of dollars] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal year-- 2007 committee --------------------------------- compared to-- --------------------- 2006 2007 2007 2006 2007 adjusted budget committee adjusted budget ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor...................................... $11,534 $10,983 $11,458 -$76 $475 Department of Health and Human Services.................. 62,698 61,793 63,738 +1,040 +1,945 Department of Education.................................. 55,953 54,331 56,149 +196 +1,818 Related Agencies......................................... 11,346 11,638 11,426 +80 -212 ------------------------------------------------------ Subtotal Program Level............................... $141,531 $138,745 $142,771 +$1,240 +$4,026 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Summary of the Bill Funding levels in the fiscal year 2007 appropriation bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies reflect the Committee's attempt to establish priorities within the very stringent limitations. This year the Committee has made a special effort to increase funding for programs that help low and moderate income people and represent a core Federal responsibility. For example, within the allocation, major increases over 2006 or the Budget Request for 2007 are being provided for Pell Grants, vocational education, special education, community health centers and immunization programs. Bill total.--Total funding, including offsets, for fiscal year 2007 in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007 is $596,502,468,000. Discretionary programs.--For Discretionary accounts for 2007 the bill provides $141,930,000,000, including offsets. This is $842,180,000 above the fiscal year 2006 comparable level. Mandatory programs.--The bill provides $454,572,468,000 for entitlement programs in fiscal year 2007. This is $5,737,076,000 below the fiscal year 2006 comparable level. Funding requirements for entitlement programs are determined by the basic authorizing statutes. Mandatory programs include general fund support for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, Supplemental Security Income, Trade Adjustment Assistance and Black Lung payments. The following chart indicates the funding levels for the major mandatory programs in fiscal years 2006 and 2007. MANDATORY [Dollars in thousands] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Fiscal Year 2006 Fiscal Year 2007 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor: Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances....... $966,400 $938,600 -$27,800 Advances to the UI and other trust funds........... 465,000 452,000 -13,000 Special Benefits................................... 237,000 230,000 -7,000 Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners.......... 232,250 229,373 -2,877 Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 96,081 102,307 +6,226 Fund.............................................. Black Lung Disability Trust Fund................... 1,068,000 1,071,000 +3,000 Department of Health and Human Services: Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund............. 60,972 62,802 +1,830 Medicaid current law benefits...................... 204,166,276 189,499,928 -14,666,348 Medicaid State and local administration............ 9,803,100 9,349,700 -453,400 CMS Vaccines for Children.......................... 1,502,333 2,006,445 +504,112 Medicare Payments to Healthcare Trust Funds........ 178,647,200 197,017,391 +18,370,191 Welfare Payments................................... 39,000 39,300 +300 Child Support Enforcement.......................... 4,079,494 4,076,162 -3,332 Social Services Block Grant........................ 1,700,000 1,700,000 0 Promoting Safe and Stable Families................. 305,000 345,000 +40,000 Payments to States for Foster Care and Adoption.... 4,940,800 5,211,000 +270,200 Medical Benefits for Commissioned Officers......... 328,552 341,694 +13,142 Department of Education: Vocational Rehabilitation.......................... 2,720,192 2,837,160 +116,968 Pell Grant Shortfall Payoff........................ 4,300,000 0 -4,300,000 Related Agencies: Payments to Social Security Trust Funds............ 20,470 27,756 +7,286 Supplemental Security Income....................... 37,566,174 37,231,000 -335,174 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comparisons Unless otherwise specified, the descriptions that follow highlight the program content and the significant differences that are occurring in 2007 compared to the 2006 enacted levels (including the across the board reduction enacted subsequent to the enactment of the 2006 appropriations acts.) One time supplementals are not included for purposes of comparison since as one-time appropriations there is no assumption that funds would be included in baseline funding for those programs. Nevertheless, comparisons to other benchmarks can be found in the table at the back of this report as well as in separately issued tables or analyses that the Committee may issue in the future. Operating Plan The table at the end of this report also provides further details concerning the distribution of funds among activities and sub-activities that are recommended in this Act. Unless specified otherwise in the bill or this accompanying report, the amounts included in the budget request shall be the amounts provided for fiscal year 2007. Within 45 days of enactment each Department and related Agency funded by this Act shall submit an operating plan to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and the Senate for approval. The operating plan should detail any reprogramming requests which are based on information obtained since the submission of the Budget in February 2006 or based on the effects of the amounts provided in this Act. Program Assessment Rating Tools (PART) A general provision is included in this Act to increase the role of the Congress in the Administration's PART studies, which have increasingly become the basis for individual budget requests and legislative proposals that consolidate and reduce program levels. Unless specifically exempted, no funds are provided in this Act to conduct or participate in the conduct of a PART analysis or study unless the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate have approved of the study, inclusive of the data on which the analysis will be based, the methodology to be employed and the relative weight of each of the four factors that will be assigned to the study in determining a final score. E-Gov Initiative (E-Gov) Language is included as a general provision to this Act precluding the use or transfer of funds provided in this Act to implement the Government-wide ``E-Gov Initiative'' unless a reprogramming request is included in the initial or an amended operating plan. The Committee has become increasingly concerned over the failure of this initiative to produce meaningful results, the huge reported costs of implementation and the resulting delay or loss of important information technology investments that were requested and approved by the Congress. The Committee is also concerned about the large number of complaints it has received from career program managers who have been forced to transfer funds, shut down innovative and creative web sites and delay the development of critical technology because they have had to conform to inferior Agency- wide Web sites or transfer funds to the Departmental Chief Information Officers (CIO) for subsequent transfer to other Departments or Agencies with lead responsibility for a specific E-Gov initiatives. The amounts being assessed on program offices appear to have no relationship to the benefits that are returned to the assessed programs. Further, claimed savings associated with the ``E-Gov Initiative'' can not be verified. Previous attempts by the Committee to ensure that the initiative would not impede the development of critical technology and the continuation of valuable, innovative or creative web sites have been ignored. In fact, new initiatives have been introduced which means higher assessments on the programs in the future. Therefore, concurrent with the submission of any request to reprogram or transfer funds in this Act for any purpose relating directly or indirectly to the ``E-Gov Initiative,'' the lead career executive in the program or office being assessed must submit a certification that: (1) states and attests to the accuracy of previously estimated savings the Department assumed to be associated with the ``E-Gov Initiative'' and (2) certifies that the benefits to the program or office that would be derived from the proposed transfer exceed the benefits to the program or office from the use of funds for the purposes for which funds were originally appropriated. Failure to submit this certification will automatically result in a denial of the request. TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (INCLUDING RESCISSION) The Committee recommends $4,966,899,000 for this account, which provides funding authorized primarily by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). This is $150,567,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level ($121,679,000 below the 2006 level adjusted for the change in Job Corps funding) and $554,494,000 above the budget request. The Training and Employment Services account is comprised of programs that enhance the employment and earnings of those in need of such services, operated through a decentralized system of skill training and related services. The account is mostly forward-funded on a July to June cycle, with funds provided for fiscal year 2007 supporting the effort from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The Committee directs that the Department take no action to amend, through regulatory or other administrative action, the definition established in 20 CFR 667.220 for functions and activities under title I of the Workforce Investment Act until April 1, 2007, until such time as legislation reauthorizing the Act is enacted or until the Department reaches agreement with the Workforce and Education and Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committees, whichever occurs first. Recent reports of significant abuses of administrative costs by local Worker Investment Board has prompted Congress to take immediate action but also highlights the importance of enacting permanent legislation. Based on an analysis of funding cycles, the Committee established that there remain unexpended balances in many of the local entities which implement workforce training and employment activities. A summary of this analysis follows: STATE FORMULA SPENDING--WIA YOUTH, ADULTS AND DISLOCATED WORKERS PROGRAMS TOTAL--PROGRAM YEARS 2000-2007 [dollars in thousands] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unexpended Total Expended Program Year Period carry-in New funding available Expenditures (%) Unexpended ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PY 2000.......................... $826,788* $3,194,735 $4,021,524 $2,283,197 56.8 $1,738,327 PY 2001.......................... 1,755,277 3,209,861 4,965,138 3,236,579 65.2 1,728,559 PY 2002.......................... 1,706,193 3,276,241 4,982,434 3,565,273 71.6 1,417,161 PY 2003.......................... 1,405,153 3,013,751 4,418,904 3,221,451 72.9 1,197,453 PY 2004.......................... 1,178,102 3,034,746 4,212,848 3,069,784 72.9 1,143,064 PY 2005.......................... 1,133,865 3,038,371 4,172,237 3,030,105 72.6 1,142,132 PY 2006 (est).................... 1,132,428 2,975,891 4,108,319 2,976,106 72.4 1,132,213 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *$954,392 Updated per Department of Labor accounting system (breakout by program not available). As a result, prior year balances are being partially reduced through a rescission of $325,000,000. This analysis supports the Department's testimony over the past two years concerning unspent balances. However, unexpended balances have dropped some and many states are using unspent funds toward implementing other training programs and initiatives. Therefore, prior year balances are being partially reduced through a one time rescission of $325,000,000 instead of the full amount of anticipated unexpended balances. The Department is instructed to ensure that reductions are assigned to entities that have the greatest excess balances, to the maximum extent possible. Of greatest concern to the Committee is the lapsing of funds in each of the past five years. Funds not expended in the allowable time could have been recaptured and applied to other urgent needs in this or other Titles in this Act. Therefore, the Department's central Budget Office is further directed to establish a methodology using quarterly reports and end of year audited statements to more intensely monitor the expenditure of obligations by the State and local funding recipients and report those findings for the latest program year, for each formula grant, to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate. This information should be included as part of the 2008 congressional budget submission. In addition, the Department's central budget office shall provide the Committees with a detailed description of the funds that have been reallocated between states by the Secretary and between programs within states for fiscal year 2006. There is evidence that the ``core'' funded activities of the Adult, Dislocated and Youth programs overlap with the similar core activities funded by the Employment Services account, with both WIA and ES funds often distributed to the same local entities, and providing the same services. This diminishes the overall effectiveness of the two programs and wastes scarce dollars. The Department is instructed to establish detailed funding criteria for all local entities receiving funds from both the WIA and Employment Services accounts that, to the maximum extent possible, ensures that overlap of core activities is reduced. The Employment Services Account should be the primary sponsor of core activities and the WIA account should be the primary source of more intensive services required by Adult, Dislocated and Youth individuals that are not able to secure employment through core services. The Department should incorporate these criteria into each local entity plan and closely monitor their implementation. Adult employment and training activities For adult employment and training activities, the Committee recommends $854,000,000. This is $10,199,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $142,000,000 above the budget request. Of the amount recommended $712,000,000 will become available on October 1, 2007. This program is authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The funds are allocated by formula to States and further distributed to local workforce investment boards. Services for adults will be provided through the One- Stop Centers system and most customers receiving training use their individual training accounts to determine which programs and providers fit their needs. The Act authorizes core services available to all adults with no eligibility requirements, and intensive services for unemployed individuals who are not able to find jobs through core services alone. Dislocated worker employment and training activities For dislocated worker employment and training activities, the Committee recommends $1,476,064,000. This is $4,161,000 above the 2006 level and $361,482,000 above the budget request. Of the amount recommended, $1,060,000,000 will become available on October 1, 2007. Of the total, $1,193,264,000 is designated for State formula grants that support core services, intensive services, training, and supportive services. In addition, States use these funds for rapid response assistance to help workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closures. The Committee recommendation includes $282,800,000 for the National Reserve, which supports National Emergency Grants to respond to mass layoffs, plant and/or military base closings, and natural disasters across the country, which cannot be otherwise anticipated, as well as technical assistance and training and demonstration projects. Although the Committee is not in agreement with the separate request for a $150,000,000 Community College Initiative, it is not opposed to the use of community colleges for workforce training per se. However, the Committee remains concerned about the role and use of the One-Stop Centers in the initiative. The Committee does not agree with a shift in approach to worker training at this time but instead directs that the Department may use up to $125,000,000 of funds made available in the National Reserve for competitive grants to community colleges for dislocated worker training. This repeats the Committee's recommendation in fiscal year 2006. Again in 2007, the Committee directs that future solicitations for grant applications for the Community Based Job Training initiative include One-Stop Career Centers as an eligible applicant and that all applicants describe the relationship of One-Stop- Centers in their applications. Even so, the Committee remains concerned about the use of initiative grant funding for community college capacity building instead of training. This is a departure from traditional Department of Labor grant programs. Therefore, the Department is instructed to give highest priority to grant applications that will train workers with skills needed to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot complex integrated technologies and to monitor the expenditure of funds for capacity building and training and report these findings to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate by March 31, 2007. The Committee further directs the Department to utilize existing curricula developed by previously funded initiatives. Youth employment and training activities For youth activities, the Committee recommends $935,500,000. This is $5,000,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $95,000,000 above the budget request. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 consolidated the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program and Youth Training Grants under the Job Training Partnership Act into a single youth training activity. The funds are allocated by formula to states and further distributed to local workforce investment boards in accordance with the Workforce Investment Act of 1988. For the second straight year the budget request proposes funding in Labor under proposed legislation. To avoid the possibility that the Youthbuild program will not receive funding for fiscal year 2007, the Committee recommendation requires that within the amount made available for youth activities up to $50,000,000 may be dedicated toward the Youthbuild Program, the specific amount to be determined by the Department, and dependent on when the program is authorized for transfer from HUD to Labor. However, the provision requires that all funds shall revert to the Youth formula grant program if the program is not authorized for transfer by April 1, 2007. Job Corps The Job Corps, authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, is a nationwide network of residential facilities chartered by Federal law to provide a comprehensive and intensive array of training, job placement and support services to at-risk young adults. The mission of Job Corps is to attract eligible young adults, teach them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and place them in meaningful jobs or further education. Participation in the program is open to people in the 16 to 24 age range who are unemployed, have dropped out of school or who are at risk of being involved in the criminal corrections system. For Job Corps operations the Committee recommends $1,465,000,000. This is $8,740,000 above the ``comparable'' enacted level for 2006 and $64,000,000 above the President's Budget Request. Funds for Job Corps staff that were included in operations in the fiscal year 2006 are included in ``program administration'' in the Budget Request and the Committee recommendation as it has been in every other year. Of the amount recommended, $591,000,000 will become available on October 1, 2007. In addition, the Committee provides $58,000,000 for construction, compared to $100,000,000 in the request and $107,920,000 for fiscal year 2006. The Committee did not include the request to rescind $75,000,000 in construction funds. However, based on the projected level of funds for construction and the timeline of construction activities, the Committee includes $50,000,000 in advanced appropriations rather than $100,000,000 as requested. Further, the Job Corps received a $16,000,000 increase in construction funds for the two facilities impacted by the hurricanes in the most recent supplemental appropriation. Finally, the previously appropriated funds are already available for the construction of two new centers. The Department is directed to give the highest priority to the maintenance, repairs and rehabilitation of existing facilities, prior to the use of funds for new facilities. Every new facility increases the future demand for funds for operating expenses in an increasing tight budgetary environment. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on rehabilitation and repair of existing facilities. Furthermore, the Committee supports the effort of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to more fully integrate Job Corps centers into their local communities and directs that the Department review the system developed and employed by Youthbuild America as a model for local education and training of at risk youth. After being elevated to the Office of the Secretary in celebration of its 40th anniversary, in 2007 the Job Corps program is returned to ETA, which oversees all youth training activities. Native Americans For Native Americans, the Committee recommends $50,000,000. This is $3,696,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $1,458,000 below the budget request. This program, authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, is designed to improve the economic well being of Native Americans (Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians) through the provision of training, work experience, and other employment-related services and opportunities that are intended to aid the participants to secure permanent, unsubsidized jobs. The Department of Labor allocates formula grants to Indian tribes and other Native American groups whose eligibility for such grants is established in accordance with Department regulations. The Committee directs the Department to require that the planned use of these funds by Indian tribes or Designated Tribal Entities be coordinated with and incorporated into the Indian Economic Development Block Grant plans, funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Economic development funds and job training funds should go hand in hand. Migrant and seasonal farm workers The migrant and seasonal farmworkers program, authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, is designed to serve members of economically disadvantaged families whose principal livelihood is derived from migratory and other forms of seasonal farm work, or fishing, or logging activities. Enrollees and their families are provided with employment training and related services intended to prepare them for stable, year-round employment within and outside of the agriculture industry. For migrant and seasonal farm workers, the Committee recommends $80,053,000. This is $801,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $80,053,000 above the president's budget request. For the fourth year in a row the budget request did not include funds for this program, and the program continues to be rated as one of the least effective in the Department. The Committee is concerned that the program is not sufficiently focused on job training. Each year, more than 60% of the program's participants receive no job training. Further, the cost per participant has risen to nearly $3,500. However, the Committee recommendation is unwilling to terminate the program, as requested, until the Department has demonstrated that mainstream health and welfare programs, as well as mainstream job training programs are in place to provide the combination of services needed to help secure permanent employment for farm and forestry workers. Therefore, the Committee is recommending a status quo budget for 2007. As in prior years, the Act directs that of the amounts made available, $5,000,000 is targeted for migrant and seasonal farmworker housing grants. The Act further directs that not less than 70 percent of this amount be used for permanent housing grants. Recently the Committee has become aware that some of the remaining funds have been allocated to temporary housing. By March 1, 2007 the Department is to provide a list of temporary housing activities and should include a list of the grantees, states in which grantees are located, the uses of funds and the number of individuals or families served. NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS This activity includes Workforce Investment Act authorized programs in support of the workforce system including technical assistance and incentive grants, evaluations, pilots, demonstrations and research. Pilots, Demonstrations and Research.--The Committee recommends $43,361,000 for grants or contracts to conduct research, pilots or demonstrations that improve techniques or demonstrate the effectiveness of programs. This is $13,661,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $25,661,000 above the 2007 budget request. Of the amount made available in this account, a total of $25,661,000 is dedicated to specific projects which are detailed below: Agudath Israel of America Community Services, Inc., Brooklyn, NY, for its Fresh Start job training and counseling program.................................. $400,000 Alabama Southern Community College, Thomasville, AL, for its pulp and paper training center.................. 200,000 Arc of Blackstone Valley, Pawtucket, RI, for a workforce development initiative.............................. 150,000 Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center, Ashland, OH for the Northeast Central Ohio Bioscience Consortium's creation of a customized, tiered training model in the biosciences................... 150,000 Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, CT to develop a multi-cluster Manufacturing Technology Center....... 300,000 Automation Alley, Troy, MI to train incumbent and new workers to construct, manage, and evaluate the Digital Manufacturing Network....................... 750,000 Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, WA, for a Process Technology Workforce Development Project.... 150,000 Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND, for an instrumentation and control training program........ 250,000 Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, for workforce training programs through its Center for Excellence in Technology, Telecommunications and Economic Development......................................... 250,000 Capital Idea, Austin, TX, for a workforce development project............................................. 185,000 Casper Event Center, Casper, WY for infrastructure improvements........................................ 100,000 Center for Employment Training, San Jose, CA, for its Building Trade Jobs for Out-of-School Youth Project. 200,000 Center for Training and Careers, San Jose, CA, for vocational training services........................ 75,000 Central Maine Community College, Auburn, ME, for a training program in precision metalworking and machine tool technology............................. 150,000 Charity Cultural Services Center, San Francisco, CA, for job training and placement services for new or recent immigrants................................... 400,000 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH for the Project SEARCH job training for people with disabilities........................ 150,000 City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, for a health care workforce training initiative through the Welcome Back Center............................. 200,000 City of Alexandria, VA, for an automobile industry workforce development and training initiative....... 275,000 City of Las Vegas, NV for a walk-in employment center... 366,000 City of Milwaukee, WI, for a project to train youth in construction trades................................. 200,000 College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD, for its Partnership for the Advancement of Construction and Transportation Training Project..................... 250,000 Community Learning Center, Ft. Worth, TX to provide training for dislocated and incumbent aerospace workers............................................. 500,000 Community Solutions for Clackamas County, OR, for its Working for Independence job training and workforce development program................................. 250,000 Consortium for Worker Education, New York, NY, for education, job readiness and occupational skills training services................................... 150,000 Construction Apprenticeship Tech Prep Consortium, North Kansas City, MO..................................... 50,000 County of Fresno, CA to provide vocational training services............................................ 200,000 Des Moines Area Community College, IA, for training for dislocated workers, and for career exploration and preparation for high school and community college students............................................ 250,000 East Los Angeles Community Union, Los Angeles, CA, for a workforce training initiative....................... 500,000 Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County, Greensburg, PA, for workforce development initiatives......................................... 200,000 Enterprise South Industrial Park (ESIP) Workforce Training Center, Chattanooga, TN to establish a state of the art training center.................... 1,300,000 Essex County Community Organization, Lynn, MA, for its Education Advantage for Manufacturing project....... 250,000 FIB Economic Development Corporation, Inc., Atlanta, GA, for a youth pre-apprenticeship program.............. 400,000 Fifth Avenue Committee, Brooklyn, NY, for workforce development services for unemployed or underemployed individuals......................................... 300,000 Foundation of the Delaware County Chamber Job Readiness Program, Media, PA to provide workforce development services............................................ 75,000 Fresno County, CA, for the West Fresno County Vocational Training Project.................................... 300,000 Frontier Community College, Fairfield, IL to help create a lineman training program.......................... 100,000 Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, for its Southeastern Technology Education Program (STEP) workforce training initiative....................... 400,000 Guam Community College, Barrigada, Guam, for vocational training programs................................... 250,000 Home of Life Community Development Corporation, Chicago, IL, for a financial services training and placement program............................................. 150,000 Indochina Sino-American Community Center, New York, NY, for its Immigrant Literacy, Technology and Employment Project.................................. 150,000 Iowa Central Community College, Ft. Dodge, IA for workforce skills assessment......................... 300,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Center for Cybersecurity, Columbus, IN to train the existing and developing workforce............................ 100,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Center for Health Information Technology, Lafayette, IN, for program support and student aid............................. 100,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Center for Orthopedic Manufacturing, Warsaw, IN for training curriculum.......................................... 200,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Warsaw, IN Center for Orthopedic Manufacturing to train workers....... 350,000 Ivy Tech Community College, Center for Logistics, Evansville, IN for Distribution and Transportation for a technical workforce........................... 200,000 Ivy Tech Community College, Terre Haute, IN for a Center for Geographical Information Systems................ 500,000 Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, Lima, OH for job training in manufacturing technologies.............. 200,000 JumpStart, Inc., Cleveland, OH for technical assistance job training........................................ 200,000 Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, MI for training and certification curriculum development... 270,000 Lancaster County Career and Technology Foundation, Lancaster, PA for the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center's Collision Repair Technology program............................................. 100,000 Long Island Teen Challenge, West Babylon, NY for vocational training program......................... 100,000 Louisiana National Guard, Carville, LA for Job Challenge Program training and equipment...................... 150,000 Make the Road by Walking, Brooklyn, NY, to establish an English and Economic Literacy Initiative in the Bushwick neighborhood............................... 200,000 Marc Center, Mesa, AZ for job training for adults with disabilities........................................ 200,000 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA, for the Northern Tier Healthcare Workforce project.. 75,000 Medina County Office of Workforce Development, Medina, OH for the Building Careers in the Building Trades Initiative.......................................... 50,000 Medina County Office of Workforce Development, Medina, OH, for the Building Careers in Healthcare Initiative.......................................... 50,000 Medina County Schools Educational Service Center, Medina, OH for the Workforce Initiative program..... 100,000 Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Upper Marlboro, MD, for workforce analysis and services to place individuals with developmental disabilities into competitive employment.............................. 200,000 Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Plymouth, MI for a new market sector training pilot.............. 100,000 Minot State University, Minot, ND, for the Job Corps Executive Management Program........................ 100,000 Mission Language and Vocational School, San Francisco, CA, for a training program in health-related occupations......................................... 400,000 Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, MO for its Integrated Systems Technology program............... 150,000 Monterey County Workforce Investment Board, CA, for a study and other activities to better align the local workforce development system with high-growth industry sectors.................................... 150,000 National Association of Street Schools Career Pathways Program, Denver, CO for tools and training designed to create positive life change for at-risk youth.... 100,000 Northeast Bronx Redevelopment Corporation, Bronx, NY, for its PROJECT SUCCESS job training initiative..... 75,000 Northern Tier Industry and Education Consortium, Dimock, PA for regional career awareness and training programs............................................ 90,000 Oakland Community College, Oakland County, MI to lead a consortium on emerging sectors in secondary institutions........................................ 500,000 Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism, Oil City, PA for the Rural Technical Training Initiative.......................................... 200,000 Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City, OK to fund a pilot program for training nurse's aides specializing in long-term care facilities........... 500,000 Opportunity, Inc., Highland Park, IL to expand the Secure Document Destruction for Disabled Persons Division............................................ 250,000 Our Piece of the Pie, Hartford, CT, for education and employment services for out-of-school youth......... 600,000 Palm Beach Education Commission, West Palm Beach, FL to initiate a Quality Economic Development, Education, and Employment (QE\3\) demonstration project........ 100,000 Patrick County Education Foundation, Stuart, VA, for a workforce development project....................... 100,000 Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, for establishment of a training institute........................................... 175,000 Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, VA for the Residential Construction Academy............ 300,000 Precision Manufacturing Institute, Meadville, PA for training in advanced manufacturing initiatives...... 200,000 Project One, Louisville, KY for the Summer Earnings and Enrichment program.................................. 100,000 PRONTO of Long Island, Inc., Bayshore, NY, for a vocational training initiative...................... 100,000 Safer Foundation, Chicago, IL, for training and support services to ex-offenders............................ 200,000 San Diego Workforce Partnership, Inc., San Diego, CA, for its Adult Special Population Contracted Training Program............................................. 250,000 Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center, Charleston, WV for the Enterprise Development Initiative............... 255,000 SCLC/Women's Organizational Movement for Equality Now, Inc., Atlanta, GA, for education, employment and support services at its Empowerment Training Center. 100,000 Sierra College, Rocklin, CA for Mechatronics workforce training initiative................................. 200,000 Signature Academy Inc., Chicago, IL, for its Exodus to Excellence After School Youth Program............... 75,000 South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Hawthorne, CA, for its Bridge-to-Work program.......................... 335,000 South Valley Worksource Center, Palmdale, CA to increase business recruitment................................ 380,000 Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO for equipment and training.......................... 350,000 Southern Queens Park Association, Jamaica, NY, for a workforce skills training program................... 300,000 Southside Virginia Community College, Alberta, VA for the Heavy Equipment Training Center project......... 300,000 Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK to develop new manufacturing entrepreneurs through the Western Oklahoma Business Commercialization Center.............................................. 300,000 Three Rivers Community College, Norwich, CT for the Collegiate Nurse Preceptor program.................. 100,000 Union Mission, Inc., Savannah, GA, for its culinary arts training program, in collaboration with Savannah Technical College................................... 100,000 United Mine Workers of America, Fairfax, VA, for the UMWA Career Center's mine worker training and reemployment programs............................... 1,000,000 University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN for the Nursing Workforce Initiative........................ 200,000 University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA for the Business Forecasting Center.................................. 350,000 Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, Weslaco, TX, for a workforce development project.... 180,000 Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc., Johnstown, PA, for employment services and support programs for veterans............................................ 400,000 Webster University, Old Post Office Campus, St. Louis, MO, for workforce development programs.............. 250,000 West Los Angeles College, Culver City, CA, for a craft and technician training program..................... 350,000 Westside Industrial Retention and Expansion Network (WIRE-Net), Cleveland, OH, for a manufacturing workforce development and job placement program..... 300,000 Worker Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, NY for an aircraft repair training program 125,000 Workforce Resource, Inc., WI, for a regional web-based clearinghouse....................................... 250,000 York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC, for its construction trades training program................ 150,00 Technical Assistance.--No funds are provided for the technical assistance program, as requested. This is $1,980,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. The development of performance measurement systems, the provision of quality services and the promotion of accountability and collaboration should be a quintessential part of every program's activity level. Evaluation.--The Committee recommends $4,921,000 to provide for the continuing evaluation of programs conducted under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, as well as of Federally funded employment-related activities under other provisions of law. This is $2,936,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offenders.--The Committee does not include funding for the Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offenders program. The budget did not request funds for this program. The fiscal year 2006 level is $49,104,000. Prisoner Re-entry.--The Committee recommends no further funding for the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative until Congress has authorized the program and has established the authorized program levels. The Committee has funded the program in the past few years under the authority of a demonstration program. However, the Committee is concerned that continued funding for the program under the guise of a demonstration program is inappropriate, since all of the restrictions normally associated with the demonstration program would have to be waived in order for the program to be eligible for funding. It is now time for the program to be authorized or dropped. Community Based Job Training Initiative.--The Committee does not include separate funds for this initiative but provides that of the amount made available for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve competitive grant program, up to $125,000,000 can be made available for the Initiative. This is the same as provided in 2006. Rescissions.--The Committee has included language rescinding $325,000,000 in prior year WIA funds, or if needed other headings under this title. The Committee directs the Department of Labor continue to submit quarterly reports to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the status of H-1B, National Emergency Grants, and High-Growth Job Training Initiative awards, and awards made for pilot, demonstration, multi-service, research, and multi- state projects as directed in House Report 109-337, except that the Department shall identify all awards made on a sole source basis and provide the justification, purpose and expected outcomes for any such awards. COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT FOR OLDER AMERICANS The Committee recommends $420,000,000 for community service employment for older Americans. This is $12,311,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The Committee's recommendation directs the Department to find ways to reduce the significant overhead costs of the program pending enactment of the program's reauthorization. The community service employment for older Americans program provides grants to public and private nonprofit organizations that subsidize part-time work in community service activities for unemployed persons aged 55 and older, whose family's annual income does not exceed 125 percent of the poverty level. The Committee recommends new language requiring the Secretary of Labor to use a portion of funds to make a grant to the Forest Service for the Senior Community Service Employment Program. FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES The Committee recommends $938,600,000. This is $27,800,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA) provides assistance to certified workers adversely affected by imports and trade with countries covered by the North America Free Trade Agreement. Funding will continue the implementation of the TAA program with an emphasis on integrating the program into the One-Stop System. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 expanded the eligibility to include secondary workers and workers whose employers shift production overseas. STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OPERATIONS The Committee recommends $3,411,762,000 for this account. This is $53,605,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $23,955,000 below the budget request. Included in the total available is $3,349,746,000 authorized to be drawn from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund and $62,016,000 to be provided from the general fund of the Treasury. The funds in this account are used to provide administrative grants and assistance to State agencies that administer Federal and State unemployment compensation laws and operate the public employment service. For Unemployment Insurance services, the Committee recommends $2,650,075,000. This is $142,405,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $100,000 below the budget request. The total includes $2,640,175,000 for State Operations and $9,900,000 for National Activities. Included in the amount provided for State Operations is $40,000,000 for One-Stop Centers to conduct Unemployment Insurance eligibility interviews and to enable staff to investigate unemployment insurance identity theft as requested. However, the original budget request double counted funds for eligibility reviews. For the Employment Service, the Committee recommends $688,769,000, which includes $22,016,000 in general funds together with an authorization to spend $666,753,000 from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. This is $27,114,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Committee recommends $32,918,000 for ES national activities. This is $510,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for America's Labor Market Information System. This is $41,662,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $23,855,000 below the budget request. This funding supports access for customers in labor market transactions, and measuring and displaying WIA performance information. It is important to note that the private sector continues to increase public, free of charge and universal access to job information and the States continue to implement their own electronic job banks. Therefore, this recommendation agrees with the closing of the America's Jobs Bank. Funds should be focused in three areas: Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC), the Workforce Information in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) and the Workforce One web site. The Committee concurs with the recommendation to provide no funds for the Work Incentives Grants program. The 2006 budget included $19,514,000 for this program to help persons with disabilities find and retain jobs through the One-Stop Career Center system mandated by the Workforce Investment Act. Several years of WIG funding have successively demonstrated approaches to improve accessibility to One-Stop Center services for new job seekers with disabilities. One-Stop Centers now incorporate these best practices into their normal operations. ADVANCES TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND AND OTHER FUNDS The Committee recommends $452,000,000. This is $13,000,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The appropriation is available to provide advances to several accounts for purposes authorized under various Federal and State unemployment compensation laws and the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, whenever balances in such accounts prove insufficient. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION General funds in this account provide the Federal staff to administer employment and training programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Older Americans Act, the Trade Act, and the National Apprenticeship Act. Trust funds provide for the Federal administration of employment security functions under title III of the Social Security Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Committee recommends $211,554,000 for fiscal year 2007. This is $42,131,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. Most of the increase reflects the return of the Job Corps staffing cost to this account. Funds are allocated in accordance with the attached table at the end of the report. This includes $118,760,000 in general funds and authority to expend $92,794,000 from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. Of the amount made available $700,000 is targeted to the transition of the Youthbuild program if the program transfer is authorized by April 1, 2007. WORKERS COMPENSATION PROGRAMS Employee Benefits Security Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES The bill provides $143,573,000 for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, $10,023,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Committee recognizes the importance of developing and implementing a new EFAST2 system and has provided funds in accordance with the request. Language is also included requiring that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation share in the costs of the new system since they are also a beneficiary of the system's development. The Department is directed to provide a schedule for completion within 30 days of enactment and to report monthly on progress relative to that schedule to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is responsible for the enforcement of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) in both civil and criminal areas. This involves ERISA fiduciary and reporting/disclosure requirements. EBSA is also responsible for enforcement of sections 8477 and 8478 of the Federal Employees' Retirement Security Act of 1986. The agency was also given responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation The Corporation's budget for fiscal year 2007 is $397,644,000, which is $100,666,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Corporation is a wholly owned government corporation established by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The law places it within the Department of Labor and makes the Secretary of Labor the chairperson of its board of directors. The Corporation receives its income from insurance premiums collected from covered pension plans, collection of employer liabilities imposed by ERISA, and investment earnings. It is also authorized to borrow up to $100,000,000 from the United States Treasury. The primary purpose of the Corporation is to guarantee the payment of pension plan benefits to participants if covered plans fail or go out of existence. The bill includes language permitting obligations in excess of the amount provided in the bill after approval by the Office of Management and Budget and the Committee on Appropriations in the House and Senate. Language is also included to require that the PBGC share in the costs of the new EFAST2 System being developed in EBSA, by transferring $7,000,000 to the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The Committee has included language that permits workload driven increases in obligational authority. Although unanticipated workload increases do occur, the use of reapportionments authority should not become an excuse for bypassing the normal budgetary process. The Committee directs the Department to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate, if administrative expenses increase by more than 25 percent during fiscal year 2007. Employment Standards Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $418,495,000 for this account. This is $7,431,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $18,922,000 below the budget request. The bill includes $416,419,000 in general funds for this account and contains authority to expend $2,076,000 from the Special Fund established by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Funds are to be distributed in accordance with the table at the end of this Report. The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) is involved in the administration of numerous laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Protection Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (black lung). The agency also administers Executive Order 11246 related to affirmative action by Federal contractors and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The Committee recognizes the importance of succession planning and appreciates the effort by the ESA to plan and train new staff for the future. However, funds were not provided for the staffing increase in the absence of a Department-wide succession plan. The Department is directed to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service to implement a Forest Service data base on H2B forestry workers. The Department of Labor is instructed, through its Wage and Hour Division, to populate the data base with violations of wage disbursements. The Department is further instructed to include as part of its 2008 budget request, a report about its enforcement efforts on those companies that have violated employment standards. SPECIAL BENEFITS The bill includes $230,000,000. This is $7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. This appropriation primarily provides benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). The payments are required by law. In fiscal year 2007, an estimated 152,000 injured Federal workers or their survivors will file claims; 58,500 will receive long-term wage replacement benefits for job-related injuries, diseases, or death. SPECIAL BENEFITS FOR DISABLED COAL MINERS The Committee recommends an appropriation of $229,373,000 for special benefits for disabled coal miners, as requested. This is in addition to the $74,000,000 appropriated last year as an advance for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007. These funds are used to provide monthly benefits to coal miners disabled by black lung disease and to their widows and certain other dependents, as well as to pay related administrative costs. The Committee recommends an advance appropriation of $68,000,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, the same as the budget request. These funds will ensure uninterrupted benefit payments to coal miners, their widows, and dependents. The Black Lung Consolidation of Administrative Responsibility Act of 2002 amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to transfer part B black lung benefits responsibility from the Commissioner of Social Security to the Secretary of Labor. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION FUND The Committee recommends $102,307,000 for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program authorized by Title XXXVI of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2001. This is $6,226,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. Funds will be used to administer the program that provides compensation to employees or survivors of employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its contractors and subcontractors, companies that provided beryllium to DOE, and atomic weapons employees who suffer from a radiation-related cancer, beryllium-related disease, or chronic silicosis as a result of their work in producing or testing nuclear weapons, and uranium workers covered under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The Committee directs the Department to submit a report on the implementation of the Part E program, including the level of coordination between the DOL and CDC-NIOSH on the special Exposure Cohort provisions. BLACK LUNG DISABILITY TRUST FUND The Committee recommends such sums as necessary for payment of benefits and interest on advances. The Committee estimates that $1,071,000,000 will be required for this account. This is $3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the Administration estimates. The Trust Fund pays all black lung compensation/medical and survivor benefit expenses when no responsible mine operator can be assigned liability for such benefits, or when coal mine employment ceased prior to 1970, as well as administrative costs which are incurred in administering the benefits program and operating the Trust Fund. The basic financing for the Trust Fund comes from a coal excise tax for underground and surface-mines coal. Additional funds come from reimbursement payments from mine operators for benefit payments made by the Trust Fund before the mine operator is found liable. The advances to the Fund assure availability of necessary funds when liabilities may exceed other income. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 continues the current tax structure until 2014. The Committee is aware that the fund is more than $9,000,000,000 in debt from prior year borrowing from the Treasury and has no hope of keeping current on its interest payments. The fund is in the impossible position of having to borrow from the Treasury just to pay its interest that it owes to the Treasury. The Administration has submitted legislation to implement a one time restructuring of its debt to the Treasury, which is now before the Authorizing Committees. Occupational Safety and Health Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $486,051,000 for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is $13,624,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $2,384,000 above the budget request. This agency is responsible for enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in the Nation's workplaces. Funds are to be distributed in accordance with the table at the end of this report. Included is an increase to fully fund the development and implementation of the OSHA Information System. However, the Department is directed to provide quarterly reports to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate on the progress of the system's implementation. The Committee continues last year's direction that OSHA take no further action to implement regulations requiring the annual testing of respiratory protection for occupational exposure to TB. Neither the CDC nor the health industry endorses the requirements in the OSHA rule. The Committee is once again disappointed with the lack of progress on the agency's regulation concerning Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment, the public comment period for which ended over seven years ago. The Committee is especially concerned because the rate of worker deaths and injuries, which has decreased in the last decade for all American workers, has increased by two percent among Hispanic workers during 2003 and 2004 because they take on a disproportionate number of jobs in the nation's most dangerous professions, including the construction industry. The Committee expects the Secretary to report to the Committee, within 30 days of the enactment of this Act, the definitive status of this regulation, the agency's reasons for not issuing the regulation sooner, and a timetable for its issuance. Mine Safety and Health Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $278,869,000 for this agency. This is $1,183,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $8,967,000 below the budget request. Funds are to be distributed in accordance with the table at the end of this report. This agency enforces the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act in underground and surface coal and metal and non-metal mines. The requested funding increase was not provided since Congress is taking immediate actions to enhance the MSHA inspection and enforcement programs in the 2006 supplemental. The program received a $25,600,000 increase in the recent emergency supplemental H.R. 4939 and funds are available for two years. Hence the requested increase for 2007 is no longer needed. The Committee is concerned over several reported incidents where, under the guise of ``rebuilding'', certain equipment manufacturers have built new machines and removed MSHA Approval Plates (commonly referred to as ``2G tags'') from scrap machines, reattached these plates to the new machinery that they built, and then sold these machines for use in underground mines. Several of these machines have been involved in accidents that have resulted in serious injuries. The Committee directs MSHA to increase emphasis to ensure that all mining machinery sold by manufacturers and re-builders for use in a mine is in compliance with the MSHA Approval Plate that is on the machine. The Committee directs that MSHA report back to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate surveillance and enforcement of this misuse of ``2G'' tags by January 1, 2007. The Committee commends MSHA for actions on the role of equipment technology in mine rescue efforts and directs that the agency work with manufacturers of new oxygen technology to determine the extent to which the new technology can be applied to mine safety. In addition, and in the meantime, the agency is urged to promote the use of refillable oxygen cylinders and tubing for mineworker safety. Bureau of Labor Statistics SALARIES AND EXPENSES The total funding recommended by the Committee for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is $565,288,000. This is $28,189,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $2,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee recommends $486,262,000 in general funds for this account and authority to spend $79,026,000 from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The BLS is the principal fact- finding agency in the Federal government in the broad field of labor economics. Its principal surveys include the Consumer Price Index and the monthly unemployment series. Funds are to be distributed in accordance with the table at the end of the Report. The Committee has provided additional funds to expand the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). This has become, for example, one of the most important surveys for determining dietary patterns and food consumption, an important element in the Nation's evolving understanding of obesity trends. An increase of $2,000,000 is provided to conduct a biennial module, improve the response rates and conduct research on non-response bias. BLS should conduct a module every other year, with the food use module conducted every fourth year and other modules on rotating topics conducted in between. Office of Disability Employment Policy SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $20,319,000 for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, which is $7,336,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Office provides policy guidance and leadership to eliminate employment barriers to people with disabilities. The Committee is in agreement with the request to suspend the grant program until the results of the three-year research and demonstration grants programs has been fully assessed and resulting policy changes incorporated in new policy directives. The Committee directs the Secretaries of Labor and HUD and the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) to develop a joint plan to increase the access of homeless and disabled veterans in locations where homeless veterans congregate, including grantees under the homeless provider grant and per diem program and the homeless veterans reintegration program, to facilitate re-employment. Departmental Management SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $236,784,000 for Departmental Management activities. This is $60,796,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $5,307,000 below the budget request. Included is $236,462,000 in general funds for this account along with authority to transfer $322,000 from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The Committee has included $28,000,000 for the Information Technology Crosscut which is the requested amount except for funds targeted to the Government-wide ``E-Gov Initiative''. The Departmental Management appropriation finances staff responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of Departmental policy and management activities. In addition, this appropriation includes a variety of operating programs and activities that are not involved in Departmental Management functions, but for which other salaries and expenses appropriations are not suitable. The allocation of the funds is provided in the table accompanying this report. The Committee agrees with the request to significantly reduce the role of the International Labor Affairs cooperation program. Clearly the role of other Agencies, including those at the Department of State and USAID are greatly increased in the areas of international labor negotiations. In addition, recent legislation has refocused the Department's activities on research, and administering the labor agreements. The Committee recommends that the Department's strategic plan for the Women's Bureau include a future use of the Women's Work program as part of its overall Women's Bureau activities. The Committee notes however, that the Women's Work program has been funded for years without an authorization and appears to have no specific performance measures. It is only fair that funding in the future should be contingent on the submission and enactment of authorizing legislation for this program, as is required for all others. VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING The Committee recommends $224,440,000 for veteran employment and training activities. This is $2,349,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $447,000 below the budget request. Within this amount, $195,177,000 is to be expended from the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund for the traditional State and Federal administration of veterans' employment and training activities. Individuals leaving the military are at high risk of homelessness due to a lack of job skills transferable to the civilian sector, disrupted or dissolved family and social support networks, and other risk factors that preceded their military service. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) has been established to ease the transition of separating service members to the civilian sector. The Committee instructs the Secretary of Labor to ensure that a module on homelessness prevention is added to the TAP curriculum. The module should include a presentation on risk factors for homelessness, a self-assessment of risk factors, and contact information for preventative assistance associated with homelessness. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL The Committee recommends $73,761,000 for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This is $2,660,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. This includes $68,073,000 in general funds along with the authority to transfer $5,688,000 from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The OIG was created by law to protect the integrity of Departmental programs as well as the welfare of beneficiaries served by those programs. Through a program of audits, investigations, and program evaluations, the OIG attempts to reduce the incidence of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness throughout the Department. WORKING CAPITAL FUND (WCF) The Committee includes no direct appropriation for the WCF for 2007 postponing further development of the core accounting system, until funds in the pipeline have been expended, the Department has completed its review and assessment of the individual program requirements and an in depth discussion of alternatives to a new core accounting system for the Department of Labor have been vetted with the Committees on Appropriations in the House and the Senate. This is $6,168,000 below the 2006 level and $13,954,000 below the budget request. Administrative Provisions Sec. 101. The Committee continues and amends a provision to prohibit the use of Job Corps funding for compensation of an individual that is not a Federal Employee at a rate in excess of Executive Level II. Sec. 102. The Committee repeats and amends a provision to permit transfers of up to one percent between appropriation Accounts. Sec. 103. The Committee continues a prior year prohibition on the purchase of goods that were in any part produced by indentured children. Sec. 104. Requires the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations on the projects awarded under the research and demonstration projects. Sec. 105. The Committee recommends new language requiring the Secretary to issue a monthly transit subsidy of not less than $105 to each of the Department's eligible employees in the National Capital region. TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES The Committee includes a program level total of $7,075,917,000 for health resources and services programs, which is $487,553,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level for these activities and $742,062,000 above the budget request. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports programs which provide health services to disadvantaged, medically underserved, and special populations; decrease infant mortality rates; assist in the education of health professionals; and provide technical assistance regarding the utilization of health resources and facilities. Community health centers The Committee provides $1,988,000,000 for community health centers, which is $205,692,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $25,139,000 above the budget request. These funds support programs which include community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless and public housing health service grants. In providing this significant increase to the community health centers program, the Committee intends that funding will be used to support the development of over 300 new or expanded medical capacity sites. Within the total, $25,000,000 also is included to provide base grant adjustments for existing centers. In addition, the Committee urges the community health centers program to continue the initiative designed to help reduce chronic conditions of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases in the communities they serve. The Committee includes bill language similar to previous years limiting the amount of funds available for the payment of claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act to $44,550,000, which is the same as the budget request and the limitation in the fiscal year 2006 bill. The Committee does not provide additional funds for loan guarantee authority for community health centers under section 330(d) of the Public Health Service Act. The Committee notes that an estimated $72,000,000, of the $160,000,000 appropriated in fiscal years 1997 and 1998, will be available in the program after the end of fiscal year 2006 for loan guarantee authority for guarantees of both loan principal and interest. The Committee recognizes the importance of increasing the use of health information technology (IT) at health centers. Health centers have demonstrated improved access to services and improved patient outcomes by utilizing electronic patient registries and other IT tools through their participation in integrated service delivery networks, the integrated information and communication technology project, the shared integrated management information system, and health disparities collaboratives. Given this success, the Committee urges HRSA to ensure that health centers have adequate resources to establish and expand health IT systems in order to further enhance the delivery of cost-effective, quality health care services. The Committee is pleased by the increasing proportion of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) assignees being placed at community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers. The Committee encourages HRSA to further expand this effort to ensure that health centers have access to a sufficient level of health professionals through the NHSC, especially given recent efforts to expand the health centers program. The Committee believes that adequate funding for the technical assistance and networking functions available for health centers, including through the National Association of Community Health Centers, state and regional primary care associations, and planning, developmental, and operational networks, is critical to the successful operation and expansion of the health centers program. Within amounts provided, the Committee encourages HRSA to make funds available to continue technical assistance and networking to existing centers and support the expansion of these activities to new communities. The Committee is aware that dental disease disproportionately affects our Nation's most vulnerable populations. New ways of bringing oral health care to underserved populations are needed to address geographic and other challenges that exist. The Committee encourages HRSA to explore innovative programs to delivering preventive and restorative oral health services. Specifically, the Committee encourages HRSA to work with the dental provider community, including representatives of the dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and the African-American and Hispanic dental communities to explore state and community proposals and programs that seek to improve access to care in accordance with state licensing laws. Free clinics medical malpractice The Committee provides $10,000 for payments of claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act to be made available for volunteer free clinic health care professionals, which is $30,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The program extends Federal Tort Claims Act coverage to health care professional volunteers in free clinics in order to expand access to health care services to low-income individuals in medically underserved areas. According to section 224(o) of the Public Health Service Act, Section 233(o), a free clinic must apply, consistent with the provisions applicable to community health centers, to have each health care professional `deemed' an employee of the Public Health Service, and therefore eligible for coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Radiation exposure screening and education program The Committee provides $1,917,000 for the radiation exposure screening and education program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program provides grants for the education, prevention, and early detection of radiogenic cancers and diseases resulting from exposure to uranium during mining and milling at nuclear test sites. National Hansen's disease program The Committee provides $15,905,000 for the National Hansen's disease program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program offers Hansen's disease treatment to 11 long-term residents who continue to receive care from the National Hansen's Disease Center and to others who receive care from grant-supported outpatient regional clinics. Other former long-term residents have been offered and elected to receive a living allowance from the program and now live independently. These programs provide treatment to about 3,000 of the 6,000 Hansen's disease sufferers in the continental United States. National Hansen's disease program--buildings and facilities The Committee provides $220,000 for National Hansen's disease buildings and facilities, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These funds are used to finance the repair and upkeep of buildings at the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center at Carville, Louisiana. Payment to Hawaii for treatment of Hansen's disease The Committee provides $1,996,000 for the treatment of persons with Hansen's disease in the State of Hawaii, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program, which provides a partial matching payment to the State of Hawaii, dates to the period of Father Damien's facility for sufferers of Hansen's disease. That facility now has only 40 residents who live there by choice, and the grounds have been converted to a historical site. Most patients diagnosed with Hansen's disease in Hawaii are now treated in the same manner as new patients on the mainland; their care is handled on an out-patient basis, with the program paying for 247 active ambulatory Hansen's disease cases. Black lung clinics The Committee provides $5,891,000 for black lung clinics, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program supports fifteen grantees that treat a declining population of coal miners with respiratory and pulmonary impairments. The clinics presently receive just under one-third of their funding from other sources, such as Medicaid and Medicare. Of the fifteen grantees, six receive health center funding as well as black lung grants. National Health Service Corps: field placements The Committee provides $42,218,000 for field placements, which is $1,920,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These funds are used to support the activities of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) obligors and volunteers in the field, including travel and transportation costs of assignees, training and education, recruitment of students, residents and clinicians and retention activities. Salary costs of most new assignees are paid by the employing entity. National Health Service Corps: recruitment The Committee provides $89,310,000 for recruitment activities, which is $4,080,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program awards scholarships to health professions students and assists graduates in repaying their student loans. In return for every year of support, these individuals are obligated to provide a year of service in health professional shortage areas of greatest need. The minimum obligation is two years. Health professions The Committee provides $309,296,000 for all health professions training programs, which is $14,419,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $149,884,000 above the budget request. The table at the end of the report identifies how funding is allocated for programs authorized by titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. The Committee rejects the rescission proposal included in the budget request that would have cancelled unobligated balances available at institutions of higher education with a student loan revolving fund. Centers of excellence The Committee provides $11,880,000 for centers of excellence, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The program is designed to strengthen the national capacity to educate underrepresented minority (URM) students in the health professions by offering special support to those institutions which train a significant number of URM individuals. Funds are used for the recruitment and retention of students and faculty, information resources and curricula, faculty and student research, and the development of plans to achieve institutional improvements. The Committee is pleased that HRSA has refocused the minority centers of excellence program on providing support to historically minority health professions institutions. The Committee recognizes the important role of this program in supporting faculty and other academic programs at minority institutions. The Committee recognizes that the intent of the Title VII funding for the centers of excellence (COE) has been to strengthen the national capacity to train students from minority groups that are under-represented in these health professions, thereby building a more diverse health care workforce, and that budgetary cuts in fiscal year 2006 may not have been adequately inclusive of grants to the health professions schools that would reach the Hispanic student population. Therefore this Committee urges, that within the Title VII funds appropriated in fiscal year 2007 for the COE program, one third of the funds should be set aside for regional Hispanic centers of excellence, to be selected from a competitive applicant pool, that are located in geographic areas that have a large medically underserved Hispanic population, and that would use a regional approach to serve that area. Health careers opportunity program The Committee concurs with the budget request and does not include funding for the health careers opportunity program. The fiscal year 2006 funding level for this program is $3,960,000. Faculty loan repayment The Committee concurs with the budget request and does not include funding for the faculty loan repayment program. The fiscal year 2006 funding level for this program is $1,289,000. Scholarships for disadvantaged students The Committee provides $46,657,000 for scholarships for disadvantaged students, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $36,924,000 above the budget request. The program provides grants to eligible health professions and nursing schools to provide scholarships to eligible individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. By statute, not less than 16 percent of the funds must go to schools of nursing. Training in primary care and dentistry The Committee provides $40,851,000 for training in primary care and dentistry, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The training program is comprised of four elements: (1) family medicine; (2) general internal medicine and general pediatrics; (3) physician assistants; and (4) general and pediatric dentistry. Area health education centers The Committee provides $28,681,000 for area health education centers, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The program provides cooperative agreements to medical and nursing schools to encourage the establishment and maintenance of community-based training programs in off-campus rural and underserved areas. Emphasis is also placed on enhancing the diversity of the health personnel workforce and improving the practice environment and the quality of care available in underserved areas. Allied health and other disciplines The Committee provides $3,960,000 for allied health and other disciplines, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request does not include funding for this program. The program assists eligible entities in meeting the costs associated with expanding or establishing an allied health professions program. The Committee recognizes the importance of the graduate psychology education program, a competitive and peer reviewed grant program. Established five years ago, this program has achieved a 40 percent increase in the rate of students entering into and staying to practice in underserved areas following completion. The need for mental health services is significant and well documented. Through this program, psychology graduate students are trained along with students from over thirty other health professions to provide mental and behavioral health care services to underserved populations, such as older adults, children, chronically ill persons and victims of abuse or trauma including returning military personnel. Within the total for allied health and other disciplines, the Committee includes $2,000,000 for graduate psychology education. Geriatric programs The Committee provides $31,548,000 for geriatric programs, which is the same as the fiscal year 2005 funding level. Funding for these programs was not included in either the fiscal year 2006 appropriation or the fiscal year 2007 budget request. The geriatric programs are comprised of three activities: (1) geriatric education centers; (2) the geriatric training program for physicians, dentists, and behavioral and mental health professionals; and (3) Geriatric Academic Career Awards. Public health, preventive medicine, and dental public health programs The Committee concurs with the budget request and does not include funding for the public health, preventive medicine, and dental public health programs. The fiscal year 2006 funding level for this program is $7,920,000. Advanced education nursing The Committee provides $57,061,000 for advanced education nursing, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program provides grant support to eligible entities to meet the costs of: (1) projects that support the enhancement of advanced nursing education and practice; and (2) traineeships for individuals in advanced nursing education programs. The program prepares registered nurses as nurse faculty, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse administrators, public health nurses and other nurse specialists for advanced practice roles. Within the allocation, the Committee encourages HRSA to allocate funding at least at the fiscal year 2001 level for nurse anesthetist education. Nurse education, practice and retention The Committee provides $37,291,000 for nurse education, practice and retention, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The nurse education, practice and retention program is a broad authority with targeted purposes under three priority areas--education, practice and retention--in response to the growing nursing shortage. Nursing workforce diversity The Committee provides $16,107,000 for nursing workforce diversity, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program provides grants and contracts to schools of nursing and other eligible entities to meet the costs of special projects to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities, by providing student scholarships or stipends, pre- entry preparation, and retention activities. The program also contributes to the basic preparation of disadvantaged and minority nurses for leadership positions within the nursing and health care community. Loan repayment and scholarship program The Committee provides $31,055,000 for the nurse loan repayment and scholarship program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program offers student loan repayment to nurses or scholarships to nursing students in exchange for an agreement to serve not less than two years at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. The Committee recognizes that registered nurses who participate in the loan repayment and scholarship program repay their loans and scholarships by working in health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses, serving many of the Nation's underserved populations. The Committee believes that HRSA should consider allowing graduate educated nurses to repay their service commitment by working as a nurse faculty in a school of nursing. Comprehensive geriatric nurse education The Committee provides $3,392,000 for comprehensive geriatric nurse education, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The comprehensive geriatric education program supports grants for (1) providing training to individuals who will provide geriatric care for the elderly; (2) develop and disseminate curricula relating to the treatment of the health care problems of elderly individuals; (3) train faculty members in geriatrics; or (4) provide continuing education to individuals who provide geriatric care. Nursing faculty loan program The Committee provides $4,773,000 for the nursing faculty loan program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The nursing faculty loan program supports the development of a student loan fund in schools of nursing to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty. Students may receive loans up to $30,000 per year for a maximum of 5 years. The program has a cancellation provision for up to 85 percent of the loan for recipients working full- time as nursing faculty for a period of 4 years. Children's hospitals graduate medical education payment program The Committee provides $300,000,000 for the children's hospitals graduate medical education payment program, which is $3,000,0000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $201,000,000 above the budget request. The program provides support for graduate medical education training in children's teaching hospitals that have a separate Medicare provider number (``free-standing'' children's hospitals). The funding in this program is intended to make the level of Federal Graduate Medical Education support more consistent with other teaching hospitals, including children's hospitals which share provider numbers with other teaching hospitals. Payments are determined by formula, based on a national per-resident amount. Payments support training of resident physicians as defined by Medicare in both ambulatory and inpatient settings. The Committee believes this program is vital to restoring the reimbursement inequity faced by pediatric hospitals, which provide very high quality care to children with difficult and expensive conditions. National practitioner data bank The Committee does not provide funding for the national practitioner data bank for fiscal year 2007, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 appropriations and the budget request. The Committee recommendation and the budget request assume that the data bank will be self-supporting, with collections of $15,700,000 in user fees. The national data bank receives, stores, and disseminates information on paid medical malpractice judgments and settlements, sanctions taken by Boards of Medical Examiners, losses of membership in professional societies, and certain professional review actions taken by health care entities. Insurance companies, State licensure boards and authorities, and other health care entities and professional societies are required to report information to the data bank within 30 days of each action. The coverage of the data bank includes dentists and physicians, and, with respect to malpractice settlements and judgments, other categories of licensed health professionals. Hospitals are required to search the data bank when a health care provider applies for employment and once every two years thereafter. State licensing boards, other health care entities, licensing authorities, and professional societies also have access to the data bank. Traditional bill language is included to ensure that user fees are collected to cover the full costs of the data bank operations. Health care integrity and protection data bank The Committee does not provide funding for the health care integrity and protection data bank (HIPDB) for fiscal year 2007. The Committee recommendation and the budget request assume that the data bank will be self-supporting, with collections of $4,000,000 in user fees. HIPDB receives, stores, and disseminates information on final adverse actions taken against health care providers, suppliers, and practitioners, health care related civil judgments and criminal convictions. This information is collected from and made available to Government agencies and health plans. Maternal and child health block grant The Committee provides $700,000,000 for the maternal and child health (MCH) block grant, which is $7,000,000 above both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The MCH block grant provides funds to States to meet a broad range of basic and enabling health services, including personal health services; general, population-wide health services, such as screening; family support services; and integrated systems of care. The authorizing statute provides that, up to a funding level of $600,000,000, 85 percent of the funds are distributed to the States, with 15 percent of the funds set aside for special projects of regional and national significance (SPRANS). When the appropriation exceeds $600,000,000, 12.75 percent of the amount over $600,000,000 is directed to the Community Integrated Service Systems set-aside program. The remaining 87.25 percent is distributed by the same 85/15 percent allocation as in the basic block grant formula. The Committee has included bill language identifying $117,428,000 for the SPRANS set-aside. Within the total, the Committee urges HRSA to provide the highest possible funding level to continue and enhance the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LENDs) programs. These programs are designed to improve the health status of infants, children and adolescents with or at risk for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families. This is accomplished through the interdisciplinary training of professionals for leadership roles in the provision of health and related care, continuing education, technical assistance, research and consultation. The programs focus on the special health care needs of children with a wide range of neurodevelopmental, metabolic and genetic disorders. Additional funding would help these programs initiate or expand their work in the area of Down Syndrome, autism, and genetics counseling. Within the total, $5,000,000 is provided in SPRANS to help states develop well integrated, quality oral health programs through grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. The Committee further encourages HRSA to assist states through partnerships with national associations and foundations to focus on state based early interventions to prevent early childhood caries. As linkages continue to be made between disease transmissibility and maternal behaviors, and poor birth outcomes and poor periodontal health, further program attention is warranted to avoid the need for more costly care. Within the total, the Committee provides $3,000,000 within the SPRANS set-aside to continue epilepsy demonstration programs. These programs are designed to improve access to health and other services regarding seizures and to encourage early detection and treatment in children and others residing in medically underserved and rural areas. Of the amount provided, the Committee recommends that up to thirty percent be used to continue to fund the development and testing of a national public health awareness campaign to increase seizure recognition and improve access to care among minorities and underserved populations. The Committee is pleased that HRSA has partnered with a national organization whose mission is to improve the lives of children and adults affected by seizure through research, education, advocacy and service. In addition, the Committee provides $3,000,000 within the SPRANS set-aside to continue the newborn screening for heritable disorders demonstrations begun several years ago. Newborn screening is used for early identification of infants affected by certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal or functional conditions for which there are effective treatment or intervention. Screening detects disorders in newborns that, left untreated, can cause death, disability, mental retardation and other serious illnesses. The Committee commends HRSA for convening the Secretary's advisory committee on heritable disorders and genetic diseases in newborns and children to make national recommendations to standardize newborn screening programs in the US; and for funding the regional genetic service and newborn screening collaboratives to address the maldistribution of genetic services and resources to bring services closer to local communities. However, the Committee is aware that wide disparities continue to exist in the number of conditions screened for in each state. The Committee believes that parents and healthcare providers responsible for the care of newborns should be able to provide the best chance at a healthy start on life, and therefore, strongly urges HRSA to include as a requirement for funding a provision that parents be informed in writing of the availability of additional tests that may not be required under state law. The Committee intends that within the total for the SPRANS set-aside, $1,500,000 will be used to develop model demonstration programs to develop a national data source by which States can report State-specific rates and improve the screening, detection, and treatment of vision problems that would otherwise result in delayed learning and education in children. The Committee encourages HRSA to work in partnership with a national voluntary health organization with expertise in children's vision screening and established certified vision screening training programs. Of the funds appropriated for the SPRANS set-aside, the Committee includes $4,000,000 to support the continuation and enhancement of the locally-based newborn screening follow-up and community-based sickle cell disease outreach and supportive service initiative. The Committee reiterates its long-standing support for the continuation of funding that the MCH block grant has provided to comprehensive thalassemia treatment centers under the SPRANS program. The Committee strongly encourages HRSA to continue this program and to coordinate with the relevant voluntary organizations. The Committee urges HRSA to maintain its funding support through the SPRANS set-aside of the network of hemophilia treatment centers, which provide comprehensive disease management services to persons with bleeding and clotting disorders. The Committee recognizes the contributions of the longstanding Provider's Partnership program and encourages HRSA to continue its funding. The Partnership includes a series of state-level projects initiated to address female psychosocial issues through integration of medical care with psychosocial services. Such partnerships enhance service integration, minimize demands on individual providers, and facilitate movement between providers and agencies to create comprehensive care. Sickle cell anemia demonstration program The Committee provides $2,178,000 for the sickle cell anemia demonstration program, which is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. This program was created to develop systemic mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease. Traumatic brain injury The Committee provides $8,910,000 for the traumatic brain injury (TBI) program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The TBI program funds the development and implementation of statewide systems to ensure access to care including prehospital care, emergency department care, hospital care, rehabilitation, transitional services, rehabilitation, education and employment, and long-term community support. Grants also go to State protection and advocacy systems. Healthy Start The Committee provides $101,518,000 for Healthy Start, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Healthy Start provides grants to select communities with high rates of infant mortality to help them identify, plan, and implement a diverse range of community- driven strategies that can successfully reduce disparities in perinatal health that contribute to the Nation's high infant mortality rate. Since 1990, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau has worked in cooperative agreement to run the National Fetal Infant Mortality Review (NFIMR) program. NFIMR provides training and assistance to enhance cooperative partnerships among local community health professionals, public health officers, community advocates and consumers to reduce infant mortality. The goal is to improve local services and resources for women, infants and families, to remove barriers to care, and to ensure culturally appropriate, family friendly services. Such efforts are crucial to understanding and addressing infant health disparities in communities at highest risk. The Committee encourages HRSA to continue to use Healthy Start funds to support the NFIMR project. Universal newborn hearing screening The Committee provides $10,000,000 for the universal newborn hearing screening program, which is $199,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The program provides competitive grants to States for universal newborn hearing screening by means of physiologic testing prior to hospital discharge, audiologic evaluation by three months of age, and entry into a program of early intervention by six months of age. Emergency medical services for children The Committee provides $19,800,000 for the emergency medical services for children (EMSC) program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. Grants are provided to States and territories to improve existing emergency medical services systems and to schools of medicine to develop and evaluate improved procedures and protocols for treating children. Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs The Committee provides $2,107,713,000 for Ryan White HIV/ AIDS programs, which is $70,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $25,000,000 less than the budget request. The bill also makes available $25,000,000 in program evaluation funding under section 241 of the Public Health Service for special projects of national significance. Within the total provided, the Committee provides no less than the funds provided in fiscal year 2006 for Ryan White HIV/AIDS activities that are targeted to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disproportionate impact upon communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The Committee is aware that over 30 percent of HIV-infected persons in the United States are also chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic hepatitis C infection may lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, and is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the U.S. In addition, chronic hepatitis C disease progresses more rapidly in HIV- infected persons, and end stage liver disease resulting from chronic hepatitis C infection is now a leading cause of death for people with HIV/AIDS. The Committee encourages HRSA to provide guidance to CARE Act grantees to encourage them to proactively address HCV care and treatment among their HIV/HCV co-infected patient populations, and encourages State AIDS Assistance Programs to provide coverage of therapies approved by the FDA for the treatment of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Emergency assistance The Committee provides $603,993,000 for the Part A, emergency assistance program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These funds provide grants to metropolitan areas with very high numbers of HIV/AIDS cases for outpatient and ambulatory health and social support services. Half of the amount appropriated is allocated by formula and half is allocated to eligible areas demonstrating additional need through a competitive grant process. Comprehensive care programs The Committee provides $1,190,518,000 for Part B, comprehensive care programs, which is $70,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The funds provide formula grants to States for the operation of HIV service delivery consortia in the localities most heavily affected, for the provision of home and community- based care, for continuation of health insurance coverage for infected persons, and for purchase of therapeutic drugs. The Committee includes bill language identifying $789,546,000 specifically to support State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee is aware of the success HIV therapies have had on prolonging and enhancing the quality of life for those infected with HIV/AIDS. As the infected population lives longer and becomes increasingly resistant to current treatment regimens, there is a growing need to focus on access to newer therapies for treatment-experienced or ``later stage'' patients. The Committee encourages HRSA and state ADAPs to prioritize coverage of treatments for later stage patients so that there is parity of access to effective treatments for patients across the HIV disease spectrum. Early intervention program The Committee provides $193,622,000 for Part C, the early intervention services program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $25,000,000 less than the budget request. Funds are used for discretionary grants to community health centers, family planning agencies, comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic and treatment centers, Federally- qualified health centers, county and municipal health departments and other non-profit community-based programs that provide comprehensive primary care services to populations with or at risk for HIV disease. The grantees provide testing, risk reduction counseling, transmission prevention, oral health, nutritional and mental health services, and clinical care. Optional services include case management, outreach, and eligibility assistance. Children, youth, women, and families The Committee provides $71,794,000 for Part D, children, youth, women, and families programs, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. HIV- infected children, youth and women and affected family members have multiple, complex medical, economic and social service needs which often require more intensive care coordination, intensive case management, child and respite care, and direct service delivery to engage and maintain adolescents and mothers in care. Funds support innovative and unique strategies and models to organize, arrange for, and deliver comprehensive services through integration into ongoing systems of care. AIDS dental services The Committee provides $13,086,000 for AIDS dental services, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program includes two components: the dental reimbursement program, which reimburses dental education programs for non-reimbursed costs incurred in providing care, and the community-based dental partnership, which increases access to oral health services and provider training in community settings. Education and training centers The Committee provides $34,700,000 for AIDS education and training centers (AETCs), which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The centers train health care personnel who care for AIDS patients and develop model education programs. Organ transplantation The Committee provides $23,049,000 for organ transplantation activities, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program supports the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients; the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which matches organ donors with potential recipients; and grants and contracts with public and private organizations to promote and improve organ donation. The Committee is pleased with the progress of the transplantation collaborative project to implement best practices in the various organ procurement organizations and donor hospitals across the country. This program is credited with increasing the rate of organ donation by 10.8 percent in 2004 and by an additional 6.6 percent in 2005. The Committee urges that funding be provided to the next phase of the transplantation collaborative, which will help increase the number of organs donated per individual donor. The Committee is also pleased that HRSA has awarded a grant to reimburse for travel and subsistence expenses for individuals traveling to transplantation centers for the purpose of organ donation. The Committee urges that a careful evaluation process be encompassed in this effort to learn its impact on the rate of organ donation and organ evaluation resulting in transplantation. The Committee notes that there are now twenty states with first-person consent laws, which when combined with state registries, have proven to be a powerful factor in increasing the rate of donation. The Committee commends HRSA for its leadership in promoting increased organ and tissue donations across the nation and encourages the Division of Transplantation to expand its partnership with the pulmonary hypertension community in this important area. National cord blood inventory The Committee concurs with the budget request and does not provide additional funding for the national cord blood inventory program. The fiscal year 2006 appropriation provided an additional $3,960,000 for this program. The Committee is very supportive of this program, but notes that from the funds provided in fiscal years 2004 through 2006, more than $22,000,000 remains available for obligation. The purpose of this program is to provide funds to cord blood banks to build an inventory of the highest quality cord blood units for transplantation. Cell transplantation program The Committee provides $25,162,000 for the cell transplantation program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $2,475,000 above the budget request. The C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, signed into law on December 20, 2005, is the successor to the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Office of pharmacy affairs The Committee provides $2,970,000 for the office of pharmacy affairs, the same level as the budget request. The funding for this new budget request within HRSA will help resolve identified deficiencies in the 340B drug pricing program and is intended to make major improvements in program operations. The Committee is concerned about barriers to safety net pharmacies contracting with the Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and the subsequent impact on low income Medicare beneficiaries' participation. The Committee urges the office of pharmacy affairs to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to assess safety net participation in Part D networks and expand assistance to assure that safety net pharmacies may participate on fair and relevant terms. The Committee is aware of legislation that would track and analyze the expenditures that safety net pharmacies make on behalf of their low income Medicare patients which do not count towards beneficiaries' true out-of-pocket expenditures, and supports the goal of ensuring low-income Medicare beneficiaries have continued access to prescription drugs through the Medicare program. Poison control centers The Committee provides $23,068,000 for poison control centers, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $9,900,000 above the budget request. These funds support a grant program for poison control centers. In addition, funds are used to maintain a national toll-free number and to implement a media campaign to advertise that number, as well as to support the development of uniform patient management guidelines and the improvement of data collection. Rural outreach grants The Committee provides $40,000,000 for rural outreach grants, which is $1,115,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $29,635,000 above the budget request. The program administers grant programs to deliver and improve rural health care services to the approximately 54,000,000 Americans living in rural areas. Rural health research The Committee provides $9,000,000 for rural health research, which is $263,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This activity supports several rural health research centers and the Secretary's rural health advisory committee. Rural hospital flexibility grants The Committee provides $40,000,000 for rural hospital flexibility grants, which is $23,538,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. The program is comprised of two components: (1) flexibility grants to States to assist small, at risk rural hospitals that wish to convert to Critical Access Hospitals and receive cost-based payments from Medicare and (2) small rural hospital improvement grants that provide modest amounts to hospitals to assist them in automation and compliance with confidentiality requirements. The Committee concurs with the budget request and does not include funding for the Delta health initiative. The $25,000,000 that was provided in fiscal year 2006 was intended to be a one-time project. Rural and community access to emergency devices The Committee provides $1,500,000 for the rural access to emergency devices and the public access defibrillation demonstration program, which is $15,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level. Funding for this program was not included in the budget request. The program assists both urban and rural communities in increasing survivability from sudden cardiac arrest by providing funding for the purchase, placement, and training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). State offices of rural health The Committee provides $8,400,000 for State offices of rural health, which is $259,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The State office of rural health program creates a focal point for rural health within each of the fifty States. In each State, the office collects and disseminates information on rural health, coordinates rural health resources and activities, provides technical assistance to rural providers and communities, and helps communities recruit and retain health professionals. Denali Commission The Committee concurs with the budget request and has not included funding for the Denali Commission. The fiscal year 2006 funding level is $39,283,000. Family planning The Committee provides $283,103,000 for the family planning program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program provides grants to public and private non-profit agencies to support a range of family planning and reproductive services, as well as related preventive health services such as patient education and counseling, breast and cervical cancer examinations, STD and HIV prevention education, counseling and testing and referral, and pregnancy diagnosis and counseling. The program also supports training for providers, an information and education program, and a research program which focuses on family planning service delivery improvements. The bill continues to include language making clear that these funds shall not be expended for abortions, that all pregnancy counseling shall be nondirective, and that these funds shall not be used to promote public opposition to or support of any legislative proposal or candidate for public office. Healthcare-related facilities and other programs The Committee includes bill language specifying $248,146,000 for healthcare-related facilities and other programs. No funding was included in the budget request or in the fiscal year 2006 appropriation for this activity. This program provides funds for construction and renovation, including equipment, of healthcare and other facilities, directed rural health projects, telehealth grants, health professions training, and other health-related activities. These funds are to be used for the following projects and in the following amounts: 16th Street Community Health Center, Milwaukee, WI for facilities and equipment............................ $75,000 Access Community Health Network, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Adams County Hospital, West Union, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Adventist HealthCare, Rockville, MD for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Aims Community College, Greeley, CO for equipment for career training in the health professions........... 150,000 Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH for equipment for an ambulatory medical record system............. 200,000 Alabama Elk River Development Agency, Elkmont, AL for facilities and equipment for the Limestone Community Care Medical Clinic................................. 150,000 Alamo Community College, Floresville, TX for facilities and equipment for nursing education................. 300,000 Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Alleghany Memorial Hospital, Sparta, NC for an electronic medical records system................... 200,000 Allegheny Mountains Community Blood Center, State College, PA for a blood mobile...................... 150,000 Alliance for NanoHealth, Houston, TX for facilities and equipment........................................... 1,200,000 AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment for a clinic in Boyle Heights............................................. 500,000 AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment for a clinic in El Monte... 300,000 American Oncologic Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore, for facilities and equipment for the American Russian Cancer Alliance..................................... 500,000 Amite County Medical Services, Inc., Liberty, MS for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD for facilities and equipment for health professions education........................................... 500,000 Antietam Healthcare Foundation, Hagerstown, MD for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Arcadia Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, CA for facilities and equipment....................................... 1,000,000 Arizona Dental Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ to provide dental services to low-income residents of Arizona.. 100,000 Arnold Palmer Hospital, Orlando, FL for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Ashland County Oral Health Services, Inc., Ashland, OH for facilities...................................... 50,000 Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau, WI for facilities and equipment........................................... 1,200,000 Atchison Hospital, Atchison, KS for equipment........... 150,000 Atlantic Health Systems, Florham Park, NJ for a universal electronic health records system.......... 1,000,000 AtlantiCare Behavioral Health, Egg Harbor Township, NJ for facilities and equipment........................ 150,000 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL for facilities and equipment for its Center for Communicative Disorders 75,000 Aultman Health Foundation, Canton, OH for equipment for the Aultman Hospice Center.......................... 700,000 Autism Center of Virginia, Richmond, VA for equipment... 275,000 Avera St. Anthony Hospital, O'Neill, NE for electronic health record interoperability...................... 125,000 Avis Goodwin Community Health Center, Somersworth, NH for facilities and equipment........................ 300,000 Avista Adventist Hospital, Louisville, CO for an electronic medical record system.................... 300,000 Backus Children's Hospital at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Bacon County Health Services, Alma, GA for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Bad River Tribe, Odanah, WI for facilities and equipment for health services................................. 750,000 Baltimore Medical Systems, Baltimore, MD for facilities and equipment for a new health center in Southeast Baltimore........................................... 400,000 Baltimore Pediatric HIV Program, Baltimore, MD for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 Baptist Child and Family Services, San Antonio, TX for a Unified Community Response Center concept........... 500,000 Baptist Health Care, Pensacola, FL for facilities and equipment for the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, FL.................................................. 650,000 Baptist Health Medical Center, Heber Springs, AR for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Barnert Hospital, Paterson, NJ for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Barre Family Health Center, Barre, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 300,000 Barry University, Miami Shore, FL for facilities and equipment for the Institute for Community and Minority Health..................................... 150,000 BayCare Health System, Clearwater, FL for a medical information system initiative....................... 500,000 Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort, SC for equipment for the Keyserling Cancer Center.................... 300,000 Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI for facilities and equipment........................................... 300,000 Becker College, Worcester, MA for nursing education programs............................................ 100,000 Bellevue Hospital and Bellevue Senior Neighborhood Corporation, Bellevue, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Beloit Regional Hospice, Beloit, WI for computerization of medical records.................................. 100,000 Benedictine Hospital, Kingston, NY for information technology.......................................... 250,000 Benefis Healthcare, Great Falls, MT for equipment....... 200,000 Berea Health Ministry, Berea, KY for facilities and equipment........................................... 50,000 Bleckley Memorial Hospital, Cochran, GA for facilities and equipment....................................... 54,000 Bloomsburg Hospital, Bloomsburg, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, TN for equipment for the Breast Health Center........................ 150,000 Blue Ridge Health System, Inc., Arrington, VA for telehealth services................................. 75,000 Boone Hospital Center, Columbia, MO for facilities and equipment for mobile screening...................... 410,000 Boscobel Area Health Care, Boscobel, WI for facilities and equipment....................................... 455,000 Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA for facilities and equipment for the J. Joseph Moakley Medical Services Building............................................ 800,000 Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA for facilities and equipment for research and treatment related to amyloidosis.............................. 200,000 Boys and Girls Home of Nebraska, Inc., South Sioux City, NE for facilities and equipment for the Children's Residential Treatment Center........................ 250,000 Boys' Village, Smithfield, OH for facilities............ 200,000 Brackenridge Hospital, Austin, TX for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Bradford Regional Medical Center, Bradford, PA for equipment........................................... 100,000 Bradley University, Peoria, IL for facilities and equipment for the Collaborative Health and Education Center.............................................. 500,000 Brandywine YMCA, Coatesville, PA for therapy/ rehabilitation facilities and equipment............. 50,000 Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership, Langhorne, PA for the Improving Access to Health Care for Low- Income Residents of Bucks County project............ 350,000 Buntain School of Nursing, Northwest University, Kirkland, WA for facilities and equipment........... 185,000 Bureau County Community Health Clinic, Princeton, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Burke Medical Center, Waynesboro, GA for a PACS system for radiology services.............................. 400,000 Byrd Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL for the purchase of SELDI and BIOPLEX equipment for identifying biomarkers.............................. 150,000 California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 800,000 California State University--San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA for equipment for the nursing and health science education program at the Palm Desert Campus.............................................. 500,000 California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA for equipment for the Regional Clinical Simulation Technology Laboratory.................... 240,000 California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology, San Diego, CA, for equipment........................................... 150,000 Canonsburg General Hospital, Canonsburg, PA for an information technology upgrade...................... 200,000 Carbon Medical Service Association, East Carbon, UT for facilities and equipment............................ 75,000 Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI to expand community-based nursing services in connection with its nursing education program....................... 90,000 Carilion Health System, Roanoke, VA for equipment for the Smart Operating Room............................ 300,000 Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC for facilities and equipment for its Neuromuscular/ALS-MDA Center.. 300,000 Carroll College, Helena, MT for facilities and equipment for the Department of Nursing Simulated Patient Care Lab................................................. 230,000 Carroll County Hospital, Carrollton, KY for facilities and equipment....................................... 500,000 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH for the National Center for Regenerative Medicine........... 1,000,000 Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH for equipment... 250,000 Cedar Riverside People's Center, Minneapolis, MN for facilities and equipment and conversion to an electronic medical records system................... 525,000 Centenary College, Hackettstown, NJ for facilities and equipment for the Nurse Training Program............ 100,000 Central Carolina Technical College, Sumter, SC for facilities and equipment for a health sciences center.............................................. 500,000 Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VA for dental hygienist development........................ 250,000 Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center, Plattsburgh, NY for facilities and equipment........ 200,000 Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital, Greenville, ME for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment and faculty salaries and support................................ 400,000 Charlotte County, Port Charlotte, FL for facilities and equipment for a Regional Health Services Complex.... 300,000 Cherry Street Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe, IL for facilities and equipment at the Center for Seed Conservation and Medicinal Plant Research............................ 400,000 Chicago Family Health Center, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 375,000 Children's Home of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Children's Hospital and Health System, Wauwatosa, WI for facilities and equipment............................ 950,000 Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Health System, Norfolk, VA for a pediatric outpatient mobile MRI unit located in Chesapeake, VA........... 100,000 Children's Health Fund, New York, NY for facilities and equipment for the Dallas Children's Health Project.. 200,000 Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, CA for an electronic medical records system................ 370,000 Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA for facilities and equipment for the Center for Pediatric Bioethics...................... 465,000 Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA for a pediatric nursing residency program................. 200,000 Children's Hospital of Illinois, Peoria, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA for health information technology....................... 300,000 Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Health System, Norfolk, VA for facilities equipment in the Princess Anne Pediatric Medical Office Building in Virginia Beach...................................... 1,000,000 Children's Hospital, Denver, CO for an electronic medical records system.............................. 300,000 Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA for the development of the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics..... 100,000 Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL for a medical records project..................................... 225,000 Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 CHOC at Mission, Mission Viejo, CA for Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patient Monitors...... 400,000 Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff, NJ for medical records system upgrades............................. 250,000 CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio, TX for facilities and equipment........................ 350,000 Citizens for Quality Sickle Cell Care, Inc., New Britain, CT for facilities and equipment............ 100,000 City of Austin, TX for facilities and equipment for community health centers............................ 185,000 City of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT for facilities and equipment for the Health and Social Service Center.. 200,000 City of Charlotte, NC for facilities and equipment for the Advanced Local Emergency Response Team (ALERT).. 200,000 City of Dubuque, IA for facilities and equipment for the development of a federally qualified community health center....................................... 300,000 City of Gladstone, MO for emergency medical equipment... 136,000 City of Hueytown, AL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Citizen Center for Health and Wellness... 200,000 City of Pembroke Pines, FL for facilities and equipment for a medical facility at the Howard C. Forman Human Services Campus..................................... 150,000 City of Perris, CA for hospital equipment............... 400,000 City of Stockton, CA for facilities and equipment for the Airport Way Community and Health Center......... 150,000 Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR for facilities and equipment for health professions training............................................ 485,000 Clarion Healthcare System, Clarion, PA for technology upgrades............................................ 100,000 Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH for facilities for the Medical Institutes Pavilion...... 500,000 Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH for equipment. 200,000 Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, Coffeyville, KS for facilities and equipment............................ 750,000 Coles County Council on Aging, Mattoon, IL for facilities and equipment for the LifeSpan Senior Center.............................................. 250,000 College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN for a rural health information technology project............... 600,000 Collier County, FL for facilities and equipment for the Florida Health Care Center.......................... 100,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO for a combined PET and CT scanner......................... 300,000 Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Moultrie, GA for facilities and equipment............................ 75,000 Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson, NY for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Columbus Children's Research Institute, Columbus, OH for facilities and equipment............................ 1,750,000 Community Blood and Tissue Center, Dayton, OH for an electronic data format.............................. 100,000 Community Dental Care Foundation, Wausau, WI for dental education and dental services for children.......... 100,000 Community Dental, Albuquerque, NM for facilities and equipment........................................... 700,000 Community Health Care Services Foundation, East Greenbush, NY for expansion of telemedicine services 100,000 Community Health Care, Rock Island, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 75,000 Community Health Care, Tacoma, WA for facilities and equipment........................................... 750,000 Community Health Center of the Berkshires, Great Barrington, MA for facilities and equipment......... 75,000 Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region, Castleton, VT for facilities and equipment.......... 150,000 Community Health Improvement Center, Decatur, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Community Health Improvement Center, Decatur, IL for facilities and equipment for the Frances Nelson Community Health Center............................. 100,000 Community Health Integrated Partnership, Glen Burnie, MD for an electronic patient record system............. 600,000 Community Hospital and Wellness Centers, Bryan, OH for equipment and technology............................ 100,000 Community Medical Center, Missoula, MT for the Western Montana Telehealth Network.......................... 500,000 Community Medical Centers, Stockton, CA for facilities and equipment for the Gleason House Homeless Medical Clinic.............................................. 100,000 Community New Start, Inc., Austin, TX for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Comprehensive Community Action, Cranston, RI for facilities and equipment for dental care............ 250,000 Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT for health information technology and telemedicine equipment............... 330,000 Convergent Knowledge Solutions, LLC, Weston, FL for rural healthcare delivery in Alaska................. 150,000 Cook Children's Medical Center, Ft. Worth, TX for equipment........................................... 2,300,000 Cooper Green Hospital, Birmingham, AL for health information technology.............................. 200,000 Cooperative Education Service Agency No. 11, Turtle Lake, WI for dental services........................ 350,000 Coos County Family Health Services, Berlin, NH for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Costilla County, San Luis, CO for facilities and equipment for a county health services facility..... 75,000 County of Peoria, Peoria, IL for facilities and equipment for the Bel-Wood Nursing Home............. 200,000 County of San Mateo, CA for facilities and equipment for the San Mateo Medical Center........................ 450,000 Covenant Health System, Lubbock, TX for equipment....... 100,000 Creighton University, Omaha, NE for facilities and equipment for the Boyne School of Dental Science building............................................ 250,000 Creighton University, Omaha, NE for facilities and equipment for the Center for Bioterrorism Response.. 250,000 Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, Springfield, MO for equipment........................................... 200,000 Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, NY for an electronic medication administration system.................... 550,000 Crozer-Keystone Health System, Springfield, PA for facilities and equipment for the Crozer-Chester Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center, Chester, PA......................................... 250,000 Crumley House Rehabilitation Center, Limestone, TN for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville, TN for facilities and equipment....................................... 350,000 Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam, CT for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Browns Mills, NJ for facilities and equipment at the Women's Cardiovascular Wellness Center...................... 100,000 Deckerville Community Hospital, Deckerville, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Defiance Regional Medical Center, Fremont, OH for the Breast Cancer Detection Technology project.......... 100,000 Delaware Technical and Community College, Dover, DE for facilities and equipment for the health and sciences education building at the Stanton Campus............ 250,000 Deschutes County, Bend, OR for the Family Access Network 250,000 Dorminy Medical Center, Fitzgerald, GA for facilities and equipment....................................... 125,000 Du Bois Regional Medical Center, Du Bois, PA for a Regional Health Information Organization............ 300,000 DuPage County Convalescent Center, Wheaton, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 East Carolina University Metabolic Institute, Greenville, NC for facilities and equipment......... 250,000 East Jefferson General Hospital, Metaire, LA for an electronic medical records project.................. 300,000 East Orange General Hospital, East Orange, NJ for facilities and equipment............................ 175,000 East Pasco Medical Center, Zephyrhills, FL for equipment 250,000 East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Knoxville, TN for a Picture Archiving and Communications System......... 350,000 Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester, CT for facilities and equipment for the Rockville General Hospital............................................ 200,000 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL for the nursing program..................................... 150,000 Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA for the Annenberg Pavilion.................................. 350,000 El Proyecto del Barrio, Arleta, CA for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Emergency Medicine Learning and Resource Center, Orlando, FL for facilities and equipment............ 500,000 Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Endless Mountains Health Systems, Montrose, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, NJ for facilities and equipment............................ 275,000 Enterprise Valley Medical Clinic, Enterprise, UT for facilities and equipment............................ 30,000 Ephrata Community Hospital, Ephrata, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, NY for a telemedicine project................................ 100,000 Erie Family Health Center, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 350,000 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Waltham, MA for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Excela Health Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, Greensburg, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center Foundation, Lafayette, CO for an electronic medical record system.............................................. 250,000 Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Family Health Center of Southern Oklahoma, Tishomingo, OK for facilities and equipment..................... 150,000 Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck, Kilmarnock, VA for equipment........................ 150,000 Family Medicine Center, Anchorage, AK for the Alaska Family Practice Residency program................... 300,000 Family Medicine Spokane, Spokane, WA for the Rural Training Assistance program......................... 150,000 Family Service and Community Mental Health Center, McHenry, IL for information technology.............. 200,000 Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Fisher-Titus Medical Center, Norwalk, OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 100,000 Fleming County Hospital, Flemingsburg, KY to purchase and implement a PACS/Teleradiology system........... 100,000 Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL for facilities and equipment for the Center for Caring to Reduce Health Disparities........................ 300,000 Florida Dialogue on Cancer, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL for database enhancement.................. 300,000 Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, Orlando, FL for facilities and equipment........................ 250,000 Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL for facilities and equipment for the Autism Treatment and Research Center................................. 3,000,000 Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL for equipment for the Nursing Program Laboratory...................... 300,000 Fort Hudson Health System, Fort Edward, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 110,000 Foundation for Comprehensive Community Care, West Palm Beach, FL for facilities and equipment.............. 300,000 Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Freeman Health System, Joplin, MO for facilities and equipment for a facility in McDonald County......... 1,000,000 Fremont Memorial Hospital, Fremont, OH for the electronic health records and equipment project..... 100,000 Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, Lake Success, NY for facilities and equipment for the Southwest Texas Eye Care Collaborative.......... 500,000 Fulton County Medical Center, McConnellsburg, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 Gardner Family Health Network, San Jose, CA for facilities and equipment for the Gardner South County Health Center................................ 225,000 Gaston College, Dallas, NC for equipment for the Health Education Institute................................. 300,000 Gateway Community Health Center, Laredo, TX for equipment........................................... 1,000,000 Gateway to Care, Houston, TX for health information technology initiatives, including training.......... 200,000 Geisinger Health System Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, PA for facilities and equipment for the PACE Center in Nanticoke, PA....................................... 300,000 Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA for equipment..... 500,000 Genesis Healthcare System, Zanesville, OH for facilities and equipment for mobile intensive care............. 300,000 George Washington University, Washington, DC for the Cancer Institute.................................... 150,000 Gerber Memorial Health Services, Fremont, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Gibson General Hospital, Princeton, IN for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Glen Rose Medical Center, Glen Rose, TX for facilities and equipment....................................... 700,000 Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 Goodwill Columbus, Columbus, OH for facilities and equipment for the Health and Wellness Center........ 200,000 Grady Health System, Atlanta, GA for facilities and equipment........................................... 550,000 Grandview Hospital, Dayton, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Graysville, AL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Citizen Center............................... 25,000 Great Basin College, Elko, NV for facilities and equipment for the Great Basin Center for Rural Health Education and Services....................... 300,000 Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, New Bedford, MA for facilities and equipment............ 400,000 Green River Medical Clinic, Green River, UT for facilities and equipment............................ 45,000 Greene County Health Care, Snow Hill NC for facilities and equipment for the James D. Bernstein Community Healthcare Center in Greenville..................... 250,000 Greene County, MO for medical services provided in the Greene County Jail through a partnership with the Jordan Valley Community Health Center............... 330,000 Griffin Hospital, Derby CT for facilities and equipment. 500,000 Grossmont Hospital Foundation, La Mesa, CA for equipment 100,000 Grundy County Health Department, Grundy County, IL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Citizen Support Center...................................... 125,000 Guam Memorial Hospital, Tamuning, GU for improvements to hospital information systems........................ 300,000 Gulf Coast Health Center, Port Arthur, TX for facilities and equipment for a new community health center in Beaumont, TX........................................ 200,000 Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, ME for facilities and equipment for biomedical research.... 250,000 Gundersen Lutheran, Decorah, IA for a remote fetal monitoring system for patients in rural Northeast Iowa................................................ 350,000 Habersham County Medical Center, Demorset, GA for equipment........................................... 200,000 Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Hackettstown, NJ for facilities and equipment........................ 250,000 Halifax Regional Health System, South Boston, VA for an information technology upgrade...................... 300,000 Hamilton Community Health Network, Flint, MI for health information technology improvements................. 400,000 Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX for facilities and equipment for a diabetes care program 250,000 Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX for facilities and equipment for cardiac monitoring..... 295,000 Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX for facilities and equipment for the Ask Your Nurse telephone advice and triage system.................. 100,000 Harris County, Katy, TX for facilities and equipment for the Caring Hearts Seniors Community Center.......... 350,000 Harris Methodist Erath County Hospital, Stephenville, TX for facilities and equipment........................ 150,000 Harrisburg Area Community College, York, PA for facilities and equipment for the Health Careers Center.............................................. 350,000 Harrison Community Hospital, Cadiz, OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 75,000 Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton, WA for health information technology.............................. 100,000 Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana, KY to purchase and implement a PACS/Teleradiology system........... 200,000 Hatzoloh EMS, Monsey, NY for facilities and equipment... 250,000 HAWC Community Health Center, Reno, NV for facilities and equipment in Stead, NV.......................... 200,000 Haywood Regional Medical Center, Clyde, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Health Center, Plainfield, VT for rural healthcare services............................................ 75,000 Health Delivery, Inc., Saginaw, MI for facilities and equipment........................................... 175,000 HealthCare Connection, Inc., Cincinnati, OH for an electronic medical and dental records system........ 250,000 HealthHUB, South Royalton, VT, for facilities, equipment and operating costs for a school-based dental clinic in Tunbridge, VT.................................... 100,000 HealthNet, Indianapolis, IN for facilities and equipment 250,000 Heartland Community Health Clinic, Peoria, IL for equipment........................................... 300,000 Hektoen Institute for Medical Research, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment for a health clinic........ 350,000 Henderson County Hospital Corporation, Hendersonville, NC for facilities and equipment at Pardee Hospital.. 500,000 Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI for equipment for the Manufacturing Principles Applied to Health (MPATH) initiative in West Bloomfield, MI........... 350,000 Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Valencia, CA for facilities and equipment....................................... 1,000,000 Hernando County Health Department, Brooksville, FL for facilities and equipment............................ 450,000 Herrick Memorial Hospital, Adrian, MI for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Hi-Desert Memorial Healthcare District, Joshua Tree, CA for equipment for the Mobile Medical Clinic......... 300,000 Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Holy Family Hospital Telehealth Program, Spokane, WA for equipment........................................... 100,000 Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ for facilities and equipment........................................... 275,000 Home Nursing Agency, Altoona, PA for a telehealth program............................................. 100,000 Home Sweet Home Ministries, Bloomington, IL for facilities and equipment for the residential treatment program................................... 150,000 Homecare Workers Training Center, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Hood River County, Hood River, OR for facilities and equipment for the Cascade Locks Integrated Health Care Facility, Cascade Locks, OR.................... 150,000 Hoots Memorial Hospital, Yadkinville, NC for technology upgrades............................................ 300,000 Hospice of Knox County, Mt. Vernon, OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 50,000 Hospice of McDowell County, Inc., Marion, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Hospice of Metro Denver, Denver, CO for the Life Quality Institute........................................... 100,000 Hospice of North Central Ohio, Ashland, OH for equipment for the Hospice Inpatient Center.................... 100,000 Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH for equipment........................................... 225,000 House of Mercy, Des Moines, IA for facilities and equipment related to substance abuse treatment...... 200,000 Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins, GA for facilities and equipment....................................... 50,000 Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Glen Falls, NY for health information system technology equipment for the Warrensburg Health Center, Warrensburg, NY...... 300,000 Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY for the Weekend Nursing Program............................. 572,000 Hudson Valley Hospital, Courtlandt Manor, NY to construct a cancer care center...................... 750,000 Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL for facilities and equipment for biomedical research 450,000 Humphreys County Memorial Hospital, Belzoni, MS for facilities and equipment............................ 450,000 Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ for equipment.. 200,000 Hunter's Hope Foundation, Orchard Park, NY for equipment for the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute....... 250,000 Huron Hospital, East Cleveland, OH for facilities....... 500,000 Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing, Boise, ID for the Idaho Nursing Workforce Center...................... 300,000 Idaho Caring Foundation for Children, Boise, ID for the Dental Project for Low-income, Uninsured Children... 300,000 Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Illinois Primary Health Care Association, Springfield, IL for electronic medical records systems........... 300,000 Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Indiana University Center for Bone Cancer Research, Indianapolis, IN for facilities..................... 150,000 Indiana University School of Medicine, Gary, IN for facilities and equipment for the Northwest Indiana Health Research Institute........................... 750,000 Inland Behavioral and Health Services, San Bernardino, CA for facilities and equipment for the Banning Family Health Center, Banning, CA................... 750,000 INOVA Health System, Falls Church, VA for facilities and equipment for the Claude Moore Health Education Center.............................................. 250,000 Institute for Research and Rehabilitation, Houston, TX for equipment....................................... 200,000 INTEGRIS Health Systems, Oklahoma City, OK for equipment at rural hospitals.................................. 400,000 Iowa Chronic Care Consortium, Des Moines, IA for the Improving the Health Status of Rural Iowans through Prevention health monitoring program................ 150,000 Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Resident Home, Watseka, IL for facilities and equipment..................... 150,000 Ittawamba Community College, Fulton, MS for facilities and equipment for the Allied Health Center.......... 500,000 Jackson Community College, Jackson, MI for equipment.... 200,000 Jackson Health System, Miami, FL for a mobile health van 100,000 Jackson Health System, Miami, FL for information technology infrastructure upgrades.................. 250,000 James D. Bernstein Community Health Center, Greenville, NC for facilities and equipment..................... 100,000 Jasper Memorial Hospital, Monticello, GA for facilities and equipment....................................... 50,000 Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center, Fayette, MS for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 Jefferson County Health Center, Monticello, FL for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA for an electronic medical record initiative................ 100,000 Jersey Shore Hospital, Jersey Shore, PA for technology upgrades............................................ 200,000 John Muir Health System, Walnut Creek, CA for the Regional Specialty Examination Network telemedicine initiative.......................................... 250,000 Johnson Memorial Hospital, Stafford Springs, CT for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Springfield, MO for facilities and equipment........................ 750,000 JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX for facilities and equipment........................................... 750,000 Jupiter Medical Center, Jupiter, FL for equipment....... 500,000 JWCH Institute, Bell Gardens, CA for facilities and equipment for the Bell Gardens Health Center........ 200,000 Kaweah Delta Health Care District, Visalia, CA for facilities and equipment for the Kaweah Delta Community Hospital.................................. 100,000 Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD for facilities and equipment....................................... 600,000 Kent State University's Ashtabula Campus, Ashtabula, OH for facilities for the Health and Science Center.... 500,000 Kern Valley Healthcare District, Lake Isabella, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission, Coshocton, OH for a dental health protection program provided through a mobile dental unit............... 75,000 Knox Community Hospital, Mt. Vernon OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA for facilities and equipment for the Center for Drug Information and Research............................ 300,000 Lakeland Community College, Mentor, OH for a Regional Healthcare Workforce Development Project............ 250,000 Lamoille Community Health Services, Morrisville, VT for rural healthcare services........................... 75,000 Langlade Memorial Hospital, Antigo, WI for the Rural Dental Health Project............................... 200,000 Lawrence Hospital Center: Bronxville, NY for facilities and equipment....................................... 400,000 LBJ Tropical Medical Center, Pago Pago, AS for advanced training of nurses and other health care staff...... 250,000 Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, TN for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 League Against Cancer, Miami, FL for equipment.......... 200,000 Libertae, Inc., Bensalem, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 150,000 Liberty County, Bristol, FL for facilities and equipment for a medical clinic................................ 450,000 Lincoln Community Health Center, Durham, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 240,000 Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 Loretto Hospital, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Loretto, Syracuse, NY for facilities and equipment for their elderly health care and skilled nursing facilities.......................................... 750,000 Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles, CA for health professions education programs........... 400,000 Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 750,000 Louisiana Association for the Blind, Shreveport, LA for facilities and equipment for the Low Vision Center.. 200,000 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA for equipment........................ 450,000 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA to support the Health Literacy Initiative of the Louisiana Interagency Task Force on Health Literacy.................................. 300,000 Lourdes Health System, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingsboro, NJ for equipment... 200,000 Lowell Community Health Center, Lowell, MA for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Lower Bucks Hospital, Bristol, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Loyola University Health System, Maywood, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 225,000 Madison Center, South Bend, IN for facilities and equipment for an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Clinic..................................... 500,000 Madison County Community Health Center, Anderson, IN for an electronic medical records system................ 200,000 Madison County Memorial Hospital, Rexburg, ID for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Madison St. Joseph Health Center, Madisonville, TX for facilities and equipment............................ 165,000 Maine Primary Care Association, Augusta, ME for an electronic medical record project................... 150,000 Malone College, Canton, OH for facilities and equipment. 700,000 Malone Medical Center, Malone, FL for facilities and equipment........................................... 50,000 Manchester College, North Manchester, IN for facilities and equipment for the Health and Physical Recreation Center.............................................. 1,000,000 Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, CT for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, KY for a telemedicine and telehealth program................. 100,000 Marian Community Hospital, Carbondale, PA for patient safety technology upgrades.......................... 250,000 Marietta Senior Health Center, Marietta, GA for facilities and equipment............................ 800,000 Marquette General Hospital, Marquette, MI for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI for dental outreach services to train healthcare professionals.......... 200,000 Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center, Marshalltown, IA for equipment.................................... 320,000 Martinsburg City Hospital, Martinsburg, WV for electronic medical records technology............... 200,000 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Baton Rouge, LA for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine, OH for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Mary Scott Nursing Home, Dayton, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Mason County Health Department, Maysville, KY for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA for telehealth and pharmacy training programs at its Worcester campus.................... 300,000 Mattawa Community Medical Center, Mattawa, WA for facilities and equipment............................ 100,000 Maury Regional Hospital, Columbia, TN for facilities and equipment........................................... 450,000 Mayaguez Medical Center, Mayaguez, PR for equipment..... 200,000 Medina General Hospital, Medina, OH for expansion of its Emergency Department................................ 1,000,000 Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN for facilities and equipment....................................... 400,000 Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Houston, TX for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Mendocino Coast District Hospital, Fort Bragg, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Mendocino Community Health Clinic, Ukiah, California for facilities and equipment for the Lakeside Health Center.............................................. 300,000 Mercer County Hospital, Aledo, IL for facilities and equipment........................................... 100,000 Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, NY for facilities and equipment 300,000 Mercy Hospital, Miami, FL for facilities and equipment.. 350,000 Mercy Jeanette Hospital, Jeanette, PA for patient monitoring and wireless telecommunications technology.......................................... 200,000 Mercy Medical Center, Canton, OH for facilities......... 700,000 Mercy Medical Center, Redding, CA for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 150,000 Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City, IA for electronic medical records upgrades................. 150,000 Mercy Memorial Hospital System, Monroe, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 Mescalero Apache Tribe, Mescalero, NM for equipment..... 400,000 Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC for facilities and equipment for training physician assistants......... 250,000 Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX for equipment........... 400,000 Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX for pharmacy-related information technology.............................. 300,000 Metroplex Hospital, Killeen, TX for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA for facilities and equipment....................................... 100,000 Miami Dade College, Miami, FL for facilities and equipment for a mobile health unit.................. 350,000 Mid Valley Hospital, Peckville, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Middlesex Community College, Lowell, MA for facilities and equipment for training nurses and other health professionals....................................... 250,000 Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute, New Paltz, NY for electronic medical record systems................... 150,000 Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ for a rural postgraduate educational program at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center............................. 400,000 Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 450,000 Mission Community Hospital, Panorama City, CA for facilities and equipment for its San Fernando Community Campus for Health and Education........... 100,000 Mission Hospitals, Asheville, NC for facilities and equipment........................................... 1,250,000 Missouri Delta Medical Center, Sikeston, MO for equipment........................................... 1,000,000 Mobile Infirmary Health System, Mobile, AL for facilities and equipment for the North Baldwin Infirmary........................................... 100,000 Modoc County, Alturas, CA for equipment for the Modoc Medical Center...................................... 350,000 Monongahela Valley Hospital, Monongahela, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Monroe County Hospital, Forsyth, GA for facilities and equipment........................................... 45,000 Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Kilmichael, MS for facilities and equipment for Kilmichael Hospital 100,000 Montgomery County, Rockville, MD for facilities and equipment for the Montgomery Cares health care program............................................. 350,000 Morehead State University, Morehead, KY for rural outreach............................................ 500,000 Morris Heights Health Center, Bronx, NY for facilities and equipment....................................... 150,000 Morton Hospital, Taunton, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, PA for equipment and technology............................ 300,000 Mount Union College, Alliance, OH for facilities........ 700,000 Mount Vernon Hospital, Mount Vernon, NY for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA for facilities and equipment for nursing education...... 650,000 Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City, TN for facilities and equipment for the Children's Hospital at the Johnson City Medical Center.................. 350,000 Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Auburn, WA for facilities and equipment for the Health and Wellness Center........ 100,000 Municipality of Camuy, PR for medical equipment for the Quebrada Health Center.............................. 125,000 Municipality of Ponce, PR for facilities and equipment for the Autism Center............................... 225,000 National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC for telemedicine and health information technology initiatives......................................... 500,000 Nebraska Hospital Association, Lincoln, NE for the Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network............... 400,000 Nevada State College, Henderson, NV for facilities and equipment for a School Based Health Center.......... 400,000 Nevada State College, Henderson, NV for the Nursing Faculty Enhancement Program......................... 500,000 New Hampshire Community Technical College System, Concord, NH for facilities and equipment for nursing education programs.................................. 500,000 New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY for health information technology for the Upper Manhattan Health Initiative................... 350,000 New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY for telemetry technology................................ 750,000 Newport Hospital, Newport, RI for health care information technology.............................. 650,000 Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Niagara Falls, NY for facilities and equipment........................ 250,000 Nicholas County Hospital, Carlisle, KY for an electronic medical records system.............................. 300,000 Norman Regional Hospital, Norman, OK for health information technology equipment and upgrades....... 250,000 North Central Community Medicine Foundation, Rock Hill, SC for an electronic medical records system in partnership with Sandhills Medical Foundation....... 100,000 North Dakota State University, College of Pharmacy, Fargo, ND for a telepharmacy project................ 350,000 North General Hospital, New York, NY for facilities and equipment........................................... 300,000 North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY for facilities and equipment for the Ambulatory Surgery Center........................... 450,000 North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY for facilities and equipment for Zucker Hillside Hospital................................... 300,000 NorthEast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Cleveland, OH for an electronic health records system.......... 250,000 Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy, Rootstown, OH for facilities... 500,000 Northeastern Technology Center for Individuals with Disabilities, Clifton Park, NY for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Northern Dutchess Hospital, Rhinebeck, NY for health care information technology......................... 200,000 Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, Jasper, AL for facilities and equipment............................ 190,000 Northwest Community Health Care, Pascoag, RI for facilities and equipment in Foster, RI.............. 300,000 Northwest Health Center, Burillville, RI for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown, MD for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID for facilities and equipment for a nursing facility................ 300,000 Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment for Prentice Women's Hospital............................................ 400,000 Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY for equipment at Kosair Children's Hospital.......................... 300,000 Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, CT for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL for facilities and equipment for the Center for Collaborative Bio-medical Research.................. 500,000 Nurses for Newborns Foundation, St. Louis, MO for program support..................................... 350,000 Nurses for Newborns, Nashville, TN for perinatal services............................................ 150,000 Oakland University School of Nursing, Rochester, MI for facilities and equipment for the Center for Pre- Symptom Healthcare and Societal Health Research..... 300,000 Ocean Beach Hospital, Ilwaco, WA for the Western Washington Rural Health Care Collaborative telepharmacy program................................ 450,000 Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA for the Ochsner Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Program....... 100,000 Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Columbus, OH for the End of Life Resource Center.............. 250,000 Ohio State University, Columbus, OH for facilities and equipment for the Comprehensive Cancer Center....... 700,000 Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH for facilities...... 700,000 Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK for facilities and equipment........................ 750,000 Oklahoma State University Network for Telemedicine and Distance Learning, Tulsa, OK for equipment.......... 200,000 Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK for the Center for Health Science for telemedicine and a distance learning network to rural hospitals and clinics..... 200,000 Olympic Community Action Programs, Port Townsend, WA for facilities and equipment for dental care............ 125,000 Open Cities Health Center, St. Paul, MN for facilities and equipment....................................... 150,000 Orange County, Orlando, FL for Primary Care Access Network Clinics..................................... 500,000 Oregon Coast Community College, Newport, OR for facilities and equipment for health professions education........................................... 100,000 Orrville Hospital Foundation, Dunlap Memorial Hospital, Orrville, OH for equipment.......................... 250,000 Osceola Medical Center, Osceola, WI for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Oswego Health, Oswego, NY for an electronic health records system...................................... 100,000 Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamton, NY for facilities and equipment........................ 350,000 Owens Community College, Toledo, OH for initiatives to improve nurse education and training, in cooperation with the Medical University of Ohio Hospital and other health care institutions...................... 250,000 Pacific Renal Care Foundation, Honolulu, HI for equipment and telemedicine initiatives related to chronic kidney disease.............................. 250,000 Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ for facilities and equipment............................ 275,000 Palmetto Health, Columbia, SC for facilities and equipment for its Children's Hospital............... 450,000 Parkland Health Center, Farmington, MO for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Pattie E. Clay Regional Medical Center, Richmond, KY for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Pedia Manor, Inc., Pipersville, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 30,000 Pee Dee Healthy Start, Florence, SC for programs to improve maternal and infant health.................. 150,000 Penn Foundation, Inc., Sellersville, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 100,000 People, Inc., Williamsville, NY for electronic health records............................................. 350,000 Perry Hospital, Perry, GA for facilities and equipment.. 50,000 Person Memorial Hospital, Roxboro, NC for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA for facilities and equipment for a laboratory on the Lawrenceville, GA campus.......... 200,000 Piedmont Access to Health Services, Danville, VA for an electronic medical records system................... 100,000 Piedmont Technical College, Greenwood, SC for equipment. 400,000 Pima Community Access Program, Tucson, AZ for a Regional Health Information Organization..................... 500,000 Pinelas County Human Services Department, Clearwater, FL for the mobile medical unit......................... 200,000 Pioneer Center of McHenry County, McHenry, IL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Residence Center for Adults with Disabilities................. 200,000 Placer County, Auburn, CA for facilities and equipment for the Children's Health Center and Emergency Shelter............................................. 800,000 Portage Community Outreach Center, Portage, MI for facilities and equipment for the Family Health Clinic.............................................. 80,000 Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID for the cardiac and vascular services center........................ 400,000 Pottstown Area Center, Pottstown, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Powell County Medical Center, Deer Lodge, MT for equipment........................................... 150,000 Powell Hospital District, Powell, WY for electronic information technology.............................. 250,000 PrairieStar Health Center, Hutchinson, KS for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 Prescott Hospice House, Prescott, AZ for facilities and equipment........................................... 50,000 Preston Memorial Hospital, Kingwood, WV for facilities and equipment....................................... 330,000 Primary Care Development Corp., New York, NY for a primary care emergency preparedness initiative...... 200,000 Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Mission Hills, CA for facilities and equipment........................ 200,000 PULSE of New York, Wantagh, NY for the reduction of medical errors through increased patient safety education........................................... 70,000 Putnam Hospital Center, Carmel, NY for construction of an oncology center.................................. 400,000 Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Quincy Valley Medical Center, Quincy, WA for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ for nursing laboratory equipment........................................... 200,000 Rapid City Community Health Center, Rapid City, SD for facilities and equipment............................ 600,000 Reading Hospital School of Nursing, West Reading, PA for facilities and equipment............................ 373,000 Regional Responses Network, Sterling, CO for facilities and equipment for the alcohol and substance abuse detox/residential treatment facility................ 200,000 Regis College,Weston, MA for facilities and equipment for nursing education............................... 100,000 Ridges Hospital, Burnsville, MN for an ambulatory electronic medical record system.................... 200,000 Rio Arriba County, Espanola, NM for facilities and equipment for health services....................... 350,000 Riverside County Regional Medical Center, Moreno Valley, CA for facilities and equipment..................... 400,000 Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee, IL for equipment.... 150,000 Rocking Horse Children's Health Center, Springfield, OH for facilities and equipment........................ 400,000 Roseland Christian Health Ministries, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment for a health center in Dolton, IL.......................................... 200,000 Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY for facilities and equipment for cancer treatment in collaboration with WCA Hospital in Jamestown, NY.... 450,000 RUSH Initiative, Birmingham, AL for school-based health care for rural children............................. 350,000 Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Rush-Copley Medical Center, Aurora, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 500,000 Rutherford Hospital, Inc., Rutherfordton, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Saint Clare's Hospital, Denville, NJ for facilities and equipment........................................... 750,000 Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL for equipment for the Nursing Skills Laboratory in Orland Park........ 275,000 Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Kansas City, MO for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 San Joaquin County, French Camp, CA for an electronic health record system................................ 375,000 Sandoval County, Bernalillo, NM for medical facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Orange, CA for an intensive care telemedicine and information technology project.................................. 250,000 Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Springs, NY for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan, Okemos, MI for an integrated school health network............. 100,000 Scotland Memorial Hospital, Laurinburg, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale, AZ for an electronic medical records system.............................. 500,000 Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, Staten Island, NY for equipment............................ 300,000 Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA for facilities and equipment....................................... 500,000 Serenity House of Volusia Inc., Daytona Beach, FL for facilities and equipment for a health-focused treatment facility.................................. 200,000 Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA for facilities and equipment for a biotechnology lab................... 500,000 Sierra County Health and Human Services, Loyalton, CA for medical technology improvements................. 60,000 Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grass Valley, CA for an electronic health record system... 390,000 Singing River Hospital System, Gautier, MS for facilities and equipment............................ 550,000 Sistersville General Hospital, Sistersville, WV for computer system upgrades............................ 145,000 Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, WA for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro, PA for equipment....................................... 200,000 Somerset County Board of Commissioners, Somerset, PA for a medical records system............................ 250,000 South of Market Health Center, San Francisco, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 750,000 South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 550,000 Southampton Hospital, Southampton, NY for facilities and equipment........................................... 400,000 Southdale Hospital, Edina, MN for equipment............. 250,000 Southeast Cancer Network, Dothan, AL for equipment for the Mobile Mammography Unit......................... 300,000 Southeast Community College, Cumberland, KY for facilities and equipment for an allied health training center..................................... 500,000 Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, IA for facilities and equipment for the health care education program................................... 250,000 Southern Ohio Health Services Network, Milford, OH for information technology equipment.................... 200,000 Spectrum Health United Memorial, Greenville, MI for an electronic health record system..................... 150,000 Spokane County Medical Society Foundation, Spokane, WA for Project Access.................................. 250,000 St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers, Michigan City, IN for facilities and equipment........................ 300,000 St. Anthony's Health Center, Alton, IL for community health center operations............................ 300,000 St. Bernard Parish, LA for facilities and equipment for primary health care................................. 500,000 St. Bernardine Medical Center, San Bernardino, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 St. Catharine College, St. Catharine, KY for equipment for the St. Catharine Allied Health and Sciences Education Project................................... 200,000 St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, Smithtown, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 St. Charles Community Health Center, Inc., St. Charles Parish, LA for equipment............................ 150,000 St. Clair Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead, KY for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 St. Clare Health Care Foundation, Baraboo, WI for facilities and equipment for a mobile health clinic. 350,000 St. Francis Foundation, Wilmington, DE to support the Tiny Steps Program, St. Clare Van, and Center of Hope................................................ 150,000 St. Francis Health Center, Topeka, KS for equipment..... 250,000 St. Francis Healthcare System, Honolulu, HI for a telemedicine demonstration project.................. 300,000 St. Francis Hospital, Escanaba, MI for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 St. Francis Hospital, Mooresville, IN for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, NJ for facilities and equipment....................................... 350,000 St. James Hospital and Health Centers, Chicago Heights, IL for facilities and equipment..................... 400,000 St. James Parish Hospital, Lutcher, LA for facilities and equipment....................................... 300,000 St. John's North Shores Hospital, Harrison Township, MI for facilities and equipment........................ 340,000 St. Joseph of the Pines, Southern Pines, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, IN for a health information technology system................ 1,000,000 St. Joseph's Hospital, Buckhannon, WV for facilities and equipment........................................... 800,000 St. Josephs Hospital, Nashua, NH for an electronic medical records system.............................. 150,000 St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ for facilities and equipment for its mobile maternity outreach program. 150,000 St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 St. Landry Parish Rural Health Network, Opelousas, LA for the Community Enrichment Outreach Programs...... 250,000 St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall, NY for construction of a cancer center..................... 600,000 St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Boise, ID for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 St. Mary Medical Center, Apple Valley, CA for the electronic intensive care unit...................... 500,000 St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, Pueblo, CO for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 St. Mary's Health Care, Grand Rapids, MI for an automated record system............................. 100,000 St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, Grand Junction, CO for facilities and equipment for the Saccomanno Education Center.................................... 425,000 St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 St. Mary's Medical Center North, Knoxville, TN for equipment........................................... 150,000 St. Mary's Medical Center, Galesburg, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 St. Mary's Medical Center, Huntington, WV for facilities and equipment....................................... 600,000 St. Peter's Hospital Foundation, Albany, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, FL for facilities and equipment for the Orthotics and Prosthetics program................................. 1,000,000 St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland OH for facilities and equipment............................ 750,000 St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings, MT for the Center for Healthy Aging Geriatric Fellowship Program.......... 350,000 St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT for facilities and equipment............................ 400,000 Stamford Hospital, Stamford, CT for facilities and equipment........................................... 300,000 Stark State College of Technology, North Canton, OH for facilities and equipment............................ 800,000 State Fair Community College, Sedalia, MO for facilities and equipment for nursing and allied health professions education............................... 650,000 Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 700,000 Staywell Health Center, Inc., Waterbury, CT for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 StemCyte Research Institute, Arcadia, CA for an umbilical cord blood bank........................... 500,000 Stepping Stone School for Exceptional Children, Alma, AR for equipment....................................... 100,000 Stewart-Marchman Center, Inc., Daytona Beach, FL for facilities and equipment for the Florida Regional Residential Addictions Treatment Center............. 150,000 Stonewall Primary Care Clinic, Stonewall, OK for facilities and equipment............................ 360,000 Suburban Hospital Health Care System, Bethesda, MD for health information technology....................... 150,000 Summa Health System, Akron, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 400,000 Susquehanna Health System, Williamsport, PA for an electronic health records system.................... 400,000 Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 SwedishAmerican Health System, Rockford, IL for facilities and equipment for the SwedishAmerican Health System and the Crusader Clinic............... 350,000 Sweetser, Saco, ME for an electronic client record system.............................................. 150,000 Sylvan Grove Hospital, Jackson, GA for facilities and equipment........................................... 47,000 Sylvan Springs, AL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Citizens Center for Health and Wellness...... 30,000 Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Tallahassee, FL for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX for the Center for Rural Nursing............................ 500,000 Tarrant County Infant Mortality Task Force, Fort Worth, TX for updated county reporting and education and outreach activities................................. 50,000 Taylor Regional Hospital, Hawkinsville, GA for facilities and equipment............................ 54,000 Tecumseh YMCA, New Carlisle, OH for facilities and equipment for physical and occupational therapy, wellness programs, and health education............. 500,000 Temple Health and Bioscience Economic Development District, Temple, TX for facilities and equipment... 650,000 Terra State Community College, Fremont, OH for equipment 100,000 Teton Valley Hospital, Driggs, ID for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine, College Station, TX for equipment....................................... 350,000 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX for facilities and equipment for the Center for New and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases............. 300,000 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX for facilities and equipment for the West Texas Rural Health Institute.............................. 1,500,000 Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA for facilities and equipment for its Breast Care Center.............................................. 350,000 Thompson Health Services, Canandaigua, NY for medical technology upgrades................................. 200,000 Thumb Rural Health Network, Port Austin, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Thundermist Health Centers, Woonsocket, RI for health information technology.............................. 500,000 TMC HealthCare, Tucson, AZ for facilities and equipment. 500,000 Town of Argo, AL for facilities and equipment for the Senior Citizen Center for Health and Wellness....... 100,000 Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ for facilities and equipment........................ 750,000 Transylvania Community Hospital, Brevard, NC for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Troy University, Troy, AL for facilities and equipment for the Health and Science Complex.................. 150,000 Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, Tuba City, AZ for facilities and equipment..................... 350,000 Tulare Local Healthcare District, Tulare, CA for a computerized radiography/picture archive communication system................................ 250,000 Twin City Hospital, Dennison, OH for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, PA for upgrades to the emergency department............................ 200,000 UMass Memorial Health Care, Worcester, MA for a high- speed network and Picture Archiving and Communication System................................ 350,000 Union Hospital, Terre Haute, IN for the RuralHousecalls.com program......................... 250,000 Uniontown Hospital, Uniontown, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Washington, PA for facilities and equipment for Your Child's Place....................................... 250,000 Unity Health Center, Shawnee, OK for an electronic medical records program............................. 750,000 Unity Health System, Rochester, NY for facilities and equipment for the Park Ridge Hospital Emergency Center.............................................. 400,000 University Hospitals Health System, Cleveland, OH for facilities.......................................... 300,000 University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ for facilities and equipment........................................... 1,000,000 University of Akron, Akron, OH for the Medina University Campus for facilities............................... 700,000 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL for facilities and equipment for the Autism Center..................... 350,000 University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, AZ for facilities and equipment for the Patient Care Learning Center..................................... 500,000 University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, AR for facilities and equipment for health professions education........................................... 200,000 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR for facilities and equipment............... 200,000 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR for the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System (ANGELS).............. 200,000 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT for facilities and equipment for the dental hygiene clinic......... 200,000 University of California, Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA for facilities and equipment for the medical library and education center................ 690,000 University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment for Comer Children's Hospital............................................ 250,000 University of Colorado, Aurora, CO for facilities and equipment for the Center for Women's Health Research 200,000 University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI for facilities and equipment for dental education and treatment.... 250,000 University of Findlay, Findlay, OH for facilities and equipment for the Actual Learning Environment Response Training (ALERT) Center.................... 300,000 University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL for facilities and equipment for a joint project with Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC..... 400,000 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL for facilities and equipment for a proton beam cancer treatment facility............................................ 300,000 University of Georgia, Athens, GA for facilities and equipment for the Georgia Center for the Prevention of Obesity and Related Disorders.................... 350,000 University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA for equipment for the genetic eye disease lab............................. 250,000 University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA for facilities and equipment for the Midwest Center Public Health Laboratory.......................................... 250,000 University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, KY for facilities and equipment..................... 1,000,000 University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA for an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope.......... 300,000 University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA for facilities and equipment for the Health Science building............................................ 1,000,000 University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL for equipment for the Hope for Vision Inherited Eye Disease project................................. 250,000 University of Miami, Miami, FL for facilities and equipment for the Center for Research in Medical Education........................................... 750,000 University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI for infectious disease laboratory facilities and equipment........................................... 375,000 University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS for equipment for the Obesity Research Center....... 500,000 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 University of North Texas, Denton, TX for facilities and equipment for the Center for Computational Epidemiology........................................ 400,000 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO for facilities and equipment for the National Center for Nursing Education................................... 500,000 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO for the Basic Science Project at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute............................ 150,000 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO for the Maple Tree Project at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute............................ 250,000 University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, Tulsa, OK for facilities and equipment for the Simulation Center............. 200,000 University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for a real time medical electronic data exchange.................... 250,000 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL for the Florida Network for Cancer Clinical Trials.................. 300,000 University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME for facilities and equipment for nursing education...... 150,000 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, TN for a low birth weight study.................................. 500,000 University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX for equipment for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment Initiative.......................................... 150,000 University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX for facilities and equipment for the Lung Institute. 300,000 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX for facilities and equipment for its maternal and child health program in Pasadena.......................... 100,000 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX and University of Texas at Dallas for facilities and equipment for their joint program on sickle cell disease............................................. 175,000 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX for equipment for the Nanotechnology Cancer Center.............................................. 100,000 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX for facilities and equipment for the Center for Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism Research........... 650,000 University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA for a telehealth project related to cancer prevention, education and treatment in Southwest Virginia............................................ 200,000 University of Washington at Bothell, for an initiative to train nursing faculty in partnership with a consortium of colleges.............................. 185,000 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI for facilities and equipment for the Living Health Community Clinic.................................... 100,000 Urologic Research Institute, Wheeling, WV for facilities and equipment....................................... 200,000 Utah Navajo Health System, Montezuma Creek, UT for facilities and equipment............................ 500,000 Uwchlan Ambulance Corps, Chester County, PA for equipment........................................... 500,000 Valley Cooperative Health Care Organization, Hudson, WI for an electronic health record initiative.......... 450,000 Valley Hospice, Steubenville, OH for facilities and equipment for a hospice in Wheeling, WV............. 250,000 Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Valley-Wide Health Systems, Alamosa, CO for facilities and equipment for a primary care and dental facility in Durango.......................................... 150,000 Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI for equipment for the West Michigan Community Bio-Med/Molecular Cooperative......................................... 200,000 Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA for facilities and equipment for the Academic Center for Science, Nursing and Technology.............................. 450,000 Vermont Dental Care Programs, Winooski, VT for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Via Health of Wayne, Newark, NY for facilities and equipment for the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital... 800,000 Village of Columbus, NM for emergency medical ambulance services............................................ 200,000 Vincennes University, Vincennes, IN for equipment for the health information management and nursing labs.. 500,000 Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA for facilities and equipment........... 1,000,000 Virginia Dental Health Foundation, Richmond, VA for medical equipment................................... 125,000 Virtua Health, Marlton, NJ for facilities and equipment. 300,000 Visiting Nurse Association Healthcare Partners of Ohio, Cleveland, OH for equipment for the VNA CareWatch program in Northwest Ohio........................... 300,000 Visiting Nurse Association of Manchester and Southern New Hampshire, Manchester, NH for equipment......... 150,000 VNA-Hospice of Southern Carroll County and Vicinity, Wolfeboro, NH for the establishment of a Southern Carroll County VNA Point of Service program......... 150,000 Wake County, Raleigh NC for facilities and equipment for a mental health facility............................ 240,000 WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC for health information technology.............................. 140,000 Walsh University, North Canton, OH for facilities....... 700,000 Warren County Primary Care Center, Bowling Green, KY for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Washington County, Plymouth, NC for facilities and equipment for the Washington County Hospital........ 300,000 Washington Hospital, Washington, PA for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 Washington State University, Pullman, WA for facilities and equipment for the Nursing School building....... 150,000 Waterbury Hospital Health Center, Waterbury, CT for a clinical information system......................... 150,000 Wayne Medical Center, Waynesboro, TN for the Picture Archiving System.................................... 275,000 Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 250,000 Wayne Memorial Hospital, Jesup, GA for facilities and equipment........................................... 500,000 Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster, NH for facilities and equipment at the Weeks Medical Regional Dental Care Center, Whitefield, NH.............................. 300,000 Wentworth Douglas Hospital, Dover, NH for an electronic medical record program.............................. 250,000 West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, LA for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 West Shore Medical Center, Manistee, MI for facilities and equipment....................................... 175,000 West Side Community Health Services, St. Paul, MN for health information technology....................... 75,000 WestCare California, Fresno, CA for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 WestCare Health System, Sylva, NC for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI for facilities and equipment for smart nanosensor research............................................ 300,000 Western Wayne Family Health Center, Dearborn, MI for facilities and equipment............................ 250,000 Wetzel County Hospital, New Martinsville, WV for facilities and equipment............................ 175,000 Whidden Memorial Hospital, Everett, MA for facilities and equipment....................................... 350,000 White County Memorial Hospital, Monticello, IN for facilities and equipment............................ 300,000 White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA for facilities and equipment............................ 1,000,000 White Plains Hospital Center, White Plains, NY for facilities and equipment............................ 450,000 White River Health System, Batesville, AR for facilities and equipment for a clinic in Cherokee Village...... 250,000 Wichita State University, Wichita, KS for facilities and equipment for the Center for BioMEMS and Biodevices. 200,000 William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital, Hammonton, NJ for an integrated hospital information system........... 200,000 William Backus Hospital, Norwich, CT for facilities and equipment........................................... 250,000 Wind River Community Health Center, Riverton, WY for facilities and equipment............................ 200,000 Windham Hospital, Windham, CT for facilities and equipment........................................... 155,000 Wing Memorial Hospital, Palmer, MA for facilities and equipment........................................... 450,000 Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah, IA for equipment.... 400,000 Wolfson Children's Hospital, Jacksonville, FL for facilities and equipment............................ 350,000 Women's Health Services, Santa Fe, NM for facilities and equipment........................................... 200,000 Women's Choice Pregnancy Clinic, Whiteriver, AZ and Hope Maternity House, Show Low, AZ for facilities and equipment for the Hope House Maternity Home......... 50,000 Woodhull Hospital, Brooklyn, NY for a training program in radiologic technology............................ 375,000 World Impact Good Samartian Clinic, Wichita, KS for facilities and equipment............................ 150,000 Wyoming Community Hospital Foundation, Warsaw, NY for facilities and equipment for the Wyoming County Community Hospital and Nursing Facility............. 300,000 Wyoming Health Resources Network, Inc., Cheyenne, WY for recruitment and retention of health care providers in Wyoming.......................................... 200,000 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT for facilities and equipment for an ovarian cancer prevention and early detection program.............. 400,000 YMCA of Central Stark County, Canton, OH for facilities. 750,000 YMCA of York and York County, York, PA for facilities and equipment....................................... 100,000 Youth Crisis Center, Jacksonville, FL for facilities and equipment........................................... 350,000 Youth For Tomorrow, Bristow, VA for facilities.......... 100,000 Bioterrorism hospital grants to States The Committee provides $486,606,000 for bioterrorism hospital grants to States, which is $8,394,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. Within this total, $474,210,000 is provided for hospital preparedness grants and $12,396,000 is provided for the training and curriculum development program. Within the funding provided, the Committee does not include funding for a targeted mass casualty earmark requested by the Administration. Telehealth The Committee provides $10,000,000 for telehealth, which is $3,181,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The telehealth program works with and supports communities in their efforts to develop cost-effective uses of telehealth technologies. These technologies bring health services to isolated populations and health-related education to the practitioners who serve them. The Committee encourages HRSA, when awarding grants for telehealth resource centers, to ensure that all types of eligible communities, including urban medically underserved communities, are considered and to provide technical assistance to those grantees that are in eligible communities, but are not successful in the grant competition. Program management The Committee provides $141,071,000 for the cost of Federal staff and related activities to coordinate, direct, and manage the programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is $3,461,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The Committee expects HRSA to use no more than one percent of the funds allocated for projects for agency administrative expenses. HEALTH EDUCATION ASSISTANCE LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT The Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL) program insures loans provided by non-Federal lenders to students in health professions schools. Under the accounting rules established in the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, one account is maintained to pay the obligations arising from loans guaranteed prior to fiscal year 1992. A second account pays obligations and collects income from premiums on loans guaranteed in fiscal year 1992 and beyond. Each annual cohort of loans is independently tracked in this account. The authority for this program expired in fiscal year 1999. Fiscal year 1998 was the last year in which loans were obligated to previous borrowers under the HEAL authority. The Committee provides $1,000,000 to liquidate obligations from loans guaranteed prior to 1992, which is $3,000,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as budget request. The Committee provides $2,887,000 for HEAL program management, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND The Committee makes available the release of $66,366,000 from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund in fiscal year 2007, which is $1,830,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program provides a system of compensation for individuals with vaccine-associated injuries or deaths. Funds for claims from vaccines administered on or after October 1, 1988 are generated by a per-dose excise tax on the sale of selected prescribed vaccines. Revenues raised by this tax are maintained in a Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. Trust funds made available in the bill will support the liability costs of vaccines administered after September 30, 1988. They will also support the $3,564,000 in costs incurred by the agency in the operation of the program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention DISEASE CONTROL, RESEARCH, AND TRAINING The Committee provides a program level total of $6,173,368,000 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is $82,182,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $74,316,000 above the budget request. Of the funds provided, $99,865,000 shall be derived from evaluation set-aside funds available under Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act, which is $165,235,000 below both the fiscal year 2006 and requested set-aside. The CDC assists state and local health authorities and other non-governmental health-related organizations to understand, control, and reduce disease and other health problems. The activities of CDC focus on several major priorities, including providing core public health functions, responding to urgent public health threats, monitoring the Nation's health using scientific methods, building the Nation's public health infrastructure, promoting health throughout each life-stage, and providing leadership in the implementation of nationwide prevention strategies to encourage responsible behavior and adoption of lifestyles that are conducive to good health. The Committee considers the table accompanying this report and the numbers identified in the paragraphs that follow to be determinative of the CDC budget. Funds should be apportioned and allocated accordingly, and any changes in funding are subject to the normal reprogramming and notification procedures. Infectious diseases The Committee provides a program level of $1,841,637,000 for infectious diseases, which is $148,420,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $55,953,000 above the budget request. Of the funds provided, $12,794,000 shall be derived from evaluation set-aside funds available under Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act, as proposed in the budget request. Infectious diseases control The Committee provides $225,938,000 for infectious diseases control, which is $830,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $19,408,000 less than the budget request. This program supports national surveillance of infectious diseases, the development of new or improved prevention and control methods and techniques, the acceleration of the general application of accepted prevention technologies, and strengthening of the capability to respond to outbreaks of new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Hepatitis.--The Committee has included $17,670,000 to support activities of the Viral Hepatitis Division and to implement the National Hepatitis C Prevention Strategy. This funding level is the same as provided in fiscal year 2006 and is $177,000 more than the budget request. The Committee is concerned that more than 75 percent of the 4,000,000 people with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition and urges CDC to support a campaign of public announcements that will highlight the need for appropriate screening and medical follow up for target populations. The Committee also encourages the Division of Viral Hepatitis to collaborate with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to implement improved HCV screening programs for HIV-infected individuals served by HRSA programs. The Committee encourages the Division of Viral Hepatitis to develop and implement a plan for prevention and medical management of hepatitis B, including strategies for expanded vaccination, preventive education, surveillance and early detection. Pandemic influenza.--The Committee does not provide $34,700,000 in funding requested by the Administration for pandemic influenza activities in the infectious disease control program in this appropriation. The Committee has provided $200,000,000 through fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations for CDC activities related to preparing for the potential for an influenza pandemic. A second emergency supplemental appropriation for pandemic influenza is pending. West Nile virus.--The Committee intends that of the funds provided for infectious disease control, no less than the funds provided in fiscal year 2006 for the West Nile virus program should be provided in fiscal year 2007. Emerging infectious diseases.--The Committee provides $101,623,000 to support CDC's emerging infectious diseases activities, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $4,853,000 above the budget request. Community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).--The Committee is concerned about the explosion in virulence and prevalence of MRSA strains in the United States. Compounding this problem is a fundamental shift from primarily hospital-based transmission to community-based transmission of MRSA. The spread of CA-MRSA through perfectly healthy community members with no hospital contact concerns the Committee. Within the funds provided, the Committee encourages CDC to conduct a strong, extramural research program in MRSA epidemiology and pathophysiology. The Committee encourages CDC to maximize this MRSA research through continued support for entities with established MRSA research programs. HIV/AIDS, STD and TB prevention The Committee provides $1,001,122,000 for HIV/AIDS, STD and TB prevention, which is $54,545,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $31,847,000 below the request. Within the total, $706,316,000 is for HIV/AIDS programs, which is $55,198,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $33,263,000 below the budget request. The HIV/AIDS programs support HIV research, surveillance, epidemiologic and laboratory studies, and prevention activities. CDC provides funds to state and local health departments to develop and implement integrated community prevention plans. The Committee supports the domestic HIV/AIDS initiative proposed in the budget request and provides $60,000,000 for the testing component of the initiative within CDC. Within the total, $157,383,000 is for the STD program, which is $653,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $454,000 more than the budget request. The STD program awards grants to state and local health departments and other nonprofit entities to support a wide variety of public health activities to prevent and treat STDs. CDC directly conducts special investigations, surveillance and epidemiologic research. Within the total, $137,423,000 is for the tuberculosis (TB) program. The TB program provides grants to states and large cities for a broad range of tuberculosis control activities. In addition, the CDC supports state and local laboratories and conducts research, epidemiological investigations, and education and training seminars. Infertility Prevention.--The Committee is aware that chlamydia is the most frequently reported disease in the United States and is the number one cause of infertility in the country. From 1987 through 2004 the reported rate of chlamydial infection in women increased from 78.5 cases to 485.0 cases per 100,000. There are an estimated 3,000,000 new infections each year. The nation spends an estimated $2,400,000,000 in direct and indirect costs for chlamydial infections each year. The Committee is aware that where it has been established, CDC's infertility prevention program has reduced chlamydia rates by 66 percent and decreased treatment costs by over 80 percent. The Committee encourages CDC to expand the infertility screening program. Minority HIV/AIDS initiative.--Within the total provided, not less than the fiscal year 2006 amount is provided for fiscal year 2007 for activities that are targeted to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disparate impact on communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM).--Mycobacteria are environmental organisms found in both water and soil that can cause substantial respiratory damage. The Committee is aware of the increasing incidence of NTM pulmonary infections in women, particularly involving rapidly growing mycobacteria, an inherently resistant subspecies. The Committee encourages CDC to work towards a better understanding of NTM and enhancing diagnostics and treatment and promoting education of health care providers. Further, the Committee encourages CDC to dedicate efforts to organize, coordinate and implement an NTM program to evaluate prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities. Sexually transmitted infections.--The Committee is pleased that CDC has funded research aimed at assessing the extent to which medical students and physicians are familiar with and practice screening and counseling tailored to individual patients. Despite widespread condom social marketing for the past twenty years, 40,000 new HIV infections are reported every year and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at unprecedented levels. Significant deficits exist in the current sexual health medical education, and many members of the public at risk for STIs are unaware of their need to be screened. To address these problems the Committee urges CDC to: (1) promote evidence-based medical school curriculum guidelines for sexual health that will promote risk avoidance and non-condom-related risk reduction; and (2) harness the ever-growing power of the Internet to develop innovative and attractive strategies in a manner that promotes risk avoidance and non-condom-related risk reduction that will efficiently educate the public about their STI risks. Syphilis elimination.--The Committee is aware that progress in controlling syphilis has been substantial as a result of focused efforts in targeted populations. The Committee recognizes the urgency of controlling syphilis because of the impact of this STD on the spread of HIV infection and on infant health. The Committee is concerned that syphilis demonstrates the continuance of racial disparities in health and recommends CDC provide resources to expand the syphilis control program. Tuberculosis.--The Committee urges the CDC to accelerate TB control and elimination through the Intensified Support and Activities to Accelerate Control (ISAAC), an initiative targeting TB along the U.S./Mexico Border, genotyping all culture positive cases, and expanding clinical trials for the diagnosis and treatment of TB. Immunization The Committee provides a program level of $614,577,000 for immunization, which is $94,705,000 over the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $107,208,000 above the current law budget request. Of the amount provided, $12,794,000 is to be derived from section 241 evaluation set-aside funds, as provided in fiscal year 2006 and as proposed in the request. In addition, the current Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is expected to provide $2,006,445,000 in vaccine purchases and distribution support in fiscal year 2007, for a total of $2,621,022,000 for immunization activities in fiscal year 2007. Immunization project grants are awarded to states and local agencies for planning, developing, and conducting childhood immunization programs including enhancement of the vaccine delivery infrastructure. CDC directly maintains a stockpile of vaccines, supports consolidated purchase of vaccines for state and local health agencies, and conducts surveillance, investigations, and research into the safety and efficacy of new and presently used vaccines. The Committee notes that there are other Federal programs that provide immunizations to children, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and community health centers. Within the total, the Committee includes $327,000,000 for vaccine purchase grants, which is $63,977,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $94,544,000 above the budget request. Also within the total, $200,000,000 is for state operations/infrastructure grants, which is $6,160,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $7,520,000 above the budget request. The Committee is aware that prior to 2000 and the introduction of new vaccines, such as the pneumococcal vaccine, the 317 immunization program was adequately providing vaccines to children traditionally dependent on the public sector for support, but who were not eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. It is the Committee's expectation that the additional funding included above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation will allow eligible children to receive the full recommended vaccine schedule and that there will be a significant increase in the total number of children served by the program. The Committee directs CDC to provide a report by February 1, 2007, that provides information on how much funding would be needed in fiscal year 2008 to cover the same relative proportion of eligible children, adolescents and adults under the section 317 program as was provided in previous years. The report should include information on the cost of adding each new vaccine recommended for routine vaccination of children and adolescents by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices since 1999, and annual data on state coverage rates for new vaccines. The report should address the barriers and time lag related to implementation of new vaccines, including data on two-tiered states that are unable to offer all recommended vaccines to all children. The report should also include five- year historical data on section 317 operations infrastructure funding for childhood, adolescent and adult immunization programs, and include information on the ongoing and emerging needs to support provider and public education on new vaccines, investigate disease outbreaks, identify and address barriers to immunization, and other activities relative to the current funding level. Finally, the report should include ten-year historical data on the percentage of childhood, adolescent and adult immunization covered by funding source. The Committee understands that five states have enacted legislation banning the administration of annual flu vaccine to children and pregnant women if it contains more than trace amounts of mercury. Similar legislation is pending in 16 states. The effective date for most of the existing bans, affecting more than 4,000,000 children and nearly 1,000,000 pregnant women, is July 2006. The Committee directs CDC to issue a report that: (1) includes information on the ability of these fives states to meet these mandates for the 2006-2007 flu season; (2) outlines specific actions CDC has taken to encourage manufacturers to increase the supply of mercury-free (trace amounts) flu vaccine to help states meet the requirements for the 2007-2008 flu season; and (3) provides a timeline by which CDC will fulfill the goal established in July 1999 to remove mercury from all routine childhood immunizations, including influenza vaccine. Within the total, $19,800,000 is to fund states to increase demand for annual influenza vaccine as proposed in the budget request. The Committee provides this funding to increase vaccine demand in order to stimulate vaccine manufacturers to produce additional vaccine, thereby increasing vaccine production capacity. Also within the total, the Committee includes $22,500,000 for vaccine safety activities, which is $4,997,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,110,000 above the budget request. The Committee recognizes the importance of directing additional funding toward vaccine safety research, specifically funding to develop better screening methods for children at risk for serious adverse reactions. The Committee recommendation includes $5,000,000 above the request for the CDC to expand funding for vaccine safety research, particularly with respect to investigator initiated, peer reviewed, extramural research. Furthermore, the Committee urges that this funding be used for non-epidemiology research, to better understand risk factors for serious adverse reactions, to develop screening tools to eliminate from vaccination those children at greater risk for such reactions, and to develop effective treatments and interventions for children suffering severe adverse reactions. Immunization safety.--The Committee is concerned that CDC has failed to implement the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report: Vaccine Safety Research, Data Access and Public Trust. In fiscal year 2006, this Committee expressed particular interest in seeing CDC move forward with the IOM recommendations that the CDC: (1) establish an independent oversight board to review CDC's vaccine safety research agenda, study protocols, and changes in study protocols, and (2) initiate conversations with managed care organizations involved in the vaccine safety datalink (VSD) to ensure that independent researchers have access to all VSD data, particularly post-2000 data through the National Center for Health Statistics. The Committee expects the CDC to implement these provisions immediately. Meningococcal disease.--Meningococcal disease is one of the few diseases that can be fatal or severely debilitating to an otherwise healthy individual within a matter of hours of initial onset. While its early symptoms are easily mistaken for influenza, the consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment include loss of hearing, limb loss, brain damage and death, yet meningococcal disease is vaccine preventable in most cases. The Committee is aware of the recent improvements in the meningitis vaccine and of CDC's efforts to increase the availability and focus of information on meningococcal disease and ways to prevent it so that the general public will be better educated on the symptoms and prevention methods. The Committee encourages CDC to improve meningococcal education and adolescent immunization programs, including giving consideration to partnering with relevant professional and voluntary health associations to ensure that all families, especially those with adolescents and young adults, are effectively educated on this disease, vaccine availability, and all methods of prevention. Health promotion The Committee provides $964,466,000 for health promotion, which is $1,040,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $35,258,000 above the budget request. Chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and genomics The Committee provides $846,744,000 for chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and genomics, which is $8,080,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $28,017,000 more than the budget request. Chronic diseases have had a profound human and economic toll on our nation. More than 1,700,000 Americans die of a chronic disease each year. The programs funded by CDC provide support for state and community programs, surveillance, prevention research, evaluation, and health promotion. Within the total provided, the Committee includes the following amounts for chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and genomics activities: $53,000,000 for heart disease and stroke programs, which is $8,531,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $9,112,000 above the budget request; $69,000,000 for diabetes programs, which is $5,881,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $6,580,000 above the budget request; $307,536,000 for cancer prevention and control programs, which is $377,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $2,846,000 more than the budget request; $22,441,000 for arthritis and other chronic diseases programs, which is $26,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $8,684,000 more than the budget request (included within this total is $7,684,000 for epilepsy programs and $1,000,000 for the national lupus patient registry); $102,253,000 for tobacco programs, which is $2,546,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $432,000 below the budget request; $41,477,000 for nutrition, physical activity and obesity programs, which is $43,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $25,727,000 for health promotion, which is $1,716,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,567,000 more than the budget request (included within this total is $1,633,000 for Alzheimer's disease programs and $1,782,000 for chronic kidney disease programs); $55,820,000 for school health programs, which is $372,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $44,009,000 for the safe motherhood/infant health programs, which is $283,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $11,022,000 for oral health programs, which is $660,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $29,700,000 for prevention centers, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $494,000 more than the budget request; $43,857,000 for Steps to a Healthier U.S., which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,398,000 less than the budget request; $34,259,000 for REACH, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $317,000 more than the budget request, and; $6,643,000 for genomics, which is $309,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $247,000 more than the budget request. Alzheimer's disease and healthy aging.--Studies have found lifestyle measures taken to improve physical health may also help protect brain health and lower risks of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Epidemiological research reveals that individuals taking anti-inflammatory drugs to treat conditions such as arthritis have a lower-than-expected occurrence of Alzheimer's; other studies appear to link known risk factors for diabetes and heart disease to risk factors for Alzheimer's and dementia. In light of this evidence, two years ago the Committee launched a CDC brain health initiative to promote greater public awareness and communication, specific public health interventions and more prevention research. In light of the continuing threat Alzheimer's presents to a growing number of Americans, the Committee recommends that CDC continue this important initiative. Blindness.--The Committee commends CDC for its partnership with the nation's leading voluntary health association dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, to improve education and early detection of potentially blinding eye diseases and encourages CDC to continue this partnership. Despite the fact that half of all blindness can be prevented through education, early detection and treatment, it is estimated that the number of blind and visually impaired people will double by 2030 if nothing is done to curb vision problems. Breast and cervical cancer early detection.--The Committee recognizes that the national breast and cervical cancer early detection program (NBCCEDP) administered by CDC is an indispensable health program in helping underserved women gain access to screening programs for early detection of breast and cervical cancers. The NBCCEDP has served over 2,500,000 women; provided 5,800,000 screening examinations, including more than 2,800,000 mammograms; and diagnosed more than 22,000 breast cancers, 76,000 precancerous cervical lesions and 1,500 cervical cancers. Early detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancers greatly increase a woman's odds of conquering these diseases. Cancer survivorship.--The Committee strongly supports the ongoing partnership between CDC and the cancer survivorship resource center to address the needs of the approximately 10,000,000 cancer survivors living with, through, and beyond cancer. The national cancer survivorship resource center serves as a national resource for cancer patients, survivors, and their family and friends. The Committee is especially supportive of efforts to provide comprehensive services to cancer patients and survivors through multiple partnerships, which in turn provide individuals the one stop resource they need and deserve. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).--COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the only one of the top ten causes of death that is on the increase. The Committee urges CDC to expand its data collection efforts on COPD. Specifically, the Committee encourages CDC to include questions in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the National Health Interview Study and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey that asks about COPD by name. Colorectal cancer.--Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. When colorectal cancer is detected and treated early, survival is greatly enhanced. The Committee is pleased with the leadership of CDC's national colorectal cancer roundtable in promoting the availability and advisability of screening to both health care providers and the general public. The Committee encourages CDC to continue to expand its partnerships with state health departments, professional and patient organizations, and private industry to combat this devastating disease. Diabetes.--Diabetes is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and costs the nation over $132,000,000,000 in direct and indirect costs. Approximately 14,600,000 Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6,200,000 people are undiagnosed and therefore untreated. The incidence of the disease in America has increased approximately 14 percent in the last two years alone, and over 1,300,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year. The collateral health effects of diabetes can be devastating, often causing heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, amputations of the leg, foot, and toe, as well as deaths related to flu and pneumonia. Known preventive measures can reduce the impact of diabetes, but these preventions are not currently practiced universally. As a result, public awareness campaigns must be promoted to reach the general population so that at-risk individuals are encouraged to take appropriate measures to identify the stage of their diabetes and take action to prevent or slow the progression of their disease. A goal of the CDC is to increase the percentage of individuals with diabetes who receive annual eye and foot exams, and at least two A1C measures per year. It is estimated that maintaining a certain blood glucose level (A1C target of seven or below) would reduce complications of diabetes and achieve direct medical cost savings of $35,000,000,000 and indirect cost savings of $50,000,000,000 over 10 years. The Committee encourages CDC to consider establishing national public-private partnerships to leverage Federal resources with private-sector contributions to expand the National Diabetes Education Program and establish a new public awareness campaign to encourage individuals with diabetes to be tested and know their A1C levels so that they can take appropriate action to control their condition. Epilepsy.--The Committee supports the CDC epilepsy program, which is making valuable progress in research, epidemiology and surveillance, early detection, improved treatment, public education and expansion of interventions to support people with epilepsy and their families in their communities. Despite this progress, the Committee acknowledges that significant work must be done to improve the quality of care for individuals with epilepsy. The Committee applauds CDC's partnership with the epilepsy community in developing and implementing the recommendations of Living Well with Epilepsy II. The Committee is pleased with the activities to train first-responders, educators, school nurses, and other health care professionals with the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of seizures. The Committee provides funding to continue efforts to expand public health activities on behalf of persons with epilepsy. Genomics.--The coming era of personalized medicine has broad applicability for the field of public health. The Committee urges CDC to conduct and sponsor public health genomics research and develop appropriate programs to identify people at risk for disease and early death. CDC is further urged to use genomic information to provide targeted and personalized interventions that will prevent disease, disability, and death, and may ultimately save public resources. Gynecologic cancer education and awareness program.--The Committee is encouraged by the progress that has been made by CDC, in coordination with the Office of Women's Health, to initiate a national education campaign on gynecologic cancers, working with qualified nonprofit private sector entities. The Committee strongly urges the continuation and expansion of this program, given that early detection can mean the difference between a 25 percent five-year survival rate and an 80 percent five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. The Committee also encourages CDC to conduct an examination of the coordination of HHS' current activities to educate women on gynecologic cancers. Heart disease and stroke.--The Committee commends CDC for creating a division of heart disease and stroke prevention to consolidate and elevate efforts to prevent and control heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Given that cardiovascular diseases remain the number one killer in every state, the Committee continues to strongly believe that each state should receive funding for basic implementation of a state heart disease and stroke prevention program. Recognizing that many states still need this program, the Committee remains concerned that no new states have been added to this program since 2002. The Committee is aware that CDC is instituting an open competition, allowing non-funded states to apply for this program for the first time since 2002 and requiring all 33 funded states to re-compete for support. The Committee urges CDC to fund additional states for basic program implementation and add additional states to begin program planning for the state heart disease and stroke prevention program, maintain the Paul Coverdell national acute stroke registry, and, initiate the development of a state-based cardiac arrest registry. Inflammatory bowel disease.--It is estimated that up to 1,400,000 people in the United States suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Committee has included funding to continue this important initiative. Kidney disease.--The Committee is pleased with the progress CDC is making to implement the chronic kidney disease program. For fiscal year 2007, the Committee provides no less than the level provided in fiscal year 2006 to continue development and implementation of a public health kidney disease action plan. Obesity.--The multiple factors contributing to the overweight and obesity epidemic took years to develop. Reversing the epidemic will require a long-term, well- coordinated, concerted approach to reach Americans were they live, work, play, and pray. Effective collaboration among the public, voluntary, and private sectors is critical to reshape the social and physical environment of our nation's communities and provide the necessary support, information, tools, and realistic strategies needed to reverse the current obesity trends nationwide. To effectively address this epidemic, the Committee encourages CDC to provide leadership and coordination for the federal government's efforts to address the overweight and obesity epidemic. Oral Health.--The Committee recognizes that to effectively reduce disparities in oral diseases efforts at state and local levels are critical. The Committee has provided funding to strengthen state capacities to target effective interventions, such as additional water fluoridation and school-linked sealant programs, and resources to the underserved, to assess trends in oral diseases, and to evaluate changes in policies and programs to reduce the disease burden. The Committee encourages CDC to advance efforts to reduce the disparities and health burden from oral diseases that are closely linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Primary immunodeficiency diseases.--The Committee has made funds available for CDC to support the national physician education and public awareness campaign for primary immune deficiency syndrome. The campaign has featured public service announcements, physician symposia, publications, and the development of website and educational materials, as well as mailings to physicians, school nurses, daycare centers, and others. This program has been characterized as a model of public-private cooperation. The campaign was expanded to reach the underserved African-American and Hispanic populations in fiscal year 2006. Pulmonary hypertension.--The Committee continues to be interested in pulmonary hypertension (PH), a rare, progressive and fatal disease that predominantly affects women, regardless of age or race. PH causes deadly deterioration of the heart and lungs and is a secondary condition in many other serious disorders such as scleroderma and lupus. Because early detection of PH is critical to a patient's survival and quality of life, the Committee continues to encourage CDC to work in partnership with the pulmonary hypertension community to foster greater awareness of the disease. Sleep disorders.--The Committee continues to be concerned about the prevalence of sleep disorders and recognizes the need for enhanced public and professional awareness on sleep and sleep disorders. The Committee continues to urge CDC to work with other agencies and voluntary health organizations to support and implement a sleep education and public awareness initiative. The Committee also urges CDC to increase support for initiatives connecting sleep to overall health and safety. Birth defects, developmental disabilities, disability and health The Committee provides $117,722,000 for birth defects, developmental disabilities, disability and health, which is $7,040,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $7,241,000 more than the budget request. This program collects, analyzes, and makes available data on the incidence and causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Within the total, the Committee provides the following amounts for birth defects, developmental disabilities, disability, and health activities: $38,525,000 for birth defects and developmental disabilities, which is $134,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $227,000 more than the budget request; $59,996,000 for human development and disability, which is $6,246,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,601,000 above the budget request (included within this total is: $1,782,000 for Tourette syndrome programs; $7,000,000 for early hearing detection and intervention; $8,000,000 for muscular dystrophy programs; $1,717,000 for attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder programs; $6,000,000 for spina bifida programs; and $15,500,000 for autism programs); and, $19,201,000 for hereditary blood disorders, which is $660,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,413,000 more than the budget request (included within this total is $1,944,000 for thallasemia programs). Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.--The Committee is aware that Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) is the major genetic risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cryptogenic liver disease. Early detection allows individuals to engage in preventative health measures and receive appropriate therapies which significantly improve their health status. In addition, utilization of well defined disease management programs significantly reduces exacerbations and health care costs. The Committee encourages CDC to develop a partnership with appropriate patient and professional organizations to actively support Alpha-1 targeted detection efforts that utilize public and professional education regarding obstructive lung disease, both genetic and tobacco related. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).--Current estimates indicate that as many as 7.8 percent of school-age children have AD/HD and more than two-thirds of these children will continue to experience symptoms through adulthood. Only half of all children with AD/HD receive necessary treatment, with lower diagnostic and treatment rates among girls, minorities and children in foster care. The Surgeon General has reported a severe lack of professionals trained to diagnose and treat the condition effectively. The Committee continues to support the national resource center on AD/HD and has provided funding in fiscal year 2007 to continue the activities to respond to the overwhelming demand for information and support services; to better reach special populations in need; to educate health and education professionals on AD/HD; and to enable CDC to continue its population-based research and surveillance, and consider public health intervention opportunities. Autism spectrum disorders.--The Committee is aware of the progress that has been made with the autism programs. The Committee acknowledges the importance of this work by the CDC in the area of autism surveillance and research, and urges this work to continue in a timely manner. As previously highlighted in this report, the Committee includes $15,500,000 for autism activities. Within that amount, $12,800,000 is provided for surveillance and research programs and $2,700,000 is for the autism awareness campaign. Birth defects research and surveillance.--The Committee supports CDC's efforts in the area of birth defects surveillance, research and prevention and encourages CDC to continue the promising research being conducted by the regional centers for birth defects research and prevention and to increase assistance to states to implement community-based birth defects tracking systems, programs to prevent birth defects, and activities to improve access to health services for children with birth defects. Blindness.--The Committee is concerned that people with vision impairment and blindness have a significant unmet need for appropriate public health interventions and information to prevent further impairment and disability. The lack of such appropriate interventions has resulted in people with vision loss having higher rates of depression, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and physical injuries than people without sensory impairments. The Committee urges additional evidence- based research for effective public health interventions, as well as the national dissemination of these interventions through a website and other means accessible to the blind and visually impaired. The Committee urges CDC to launch this initiative and to partner with a national non-profit organization that is recognized for leadership in providing information to persons who are blind or visually impaired, including published resource guides, directories of services for consumers in the field, scholarly journals on blindness and vision loss, assistive technology magazines, and talking books. Cerebral palsy.--The Committee encourages CDC to establish cerebral palsy surveillance and epidemiology sites throughout the United States based on methodology developed in the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Study and the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program. The Committee encourages CDC to build upon the infrastructure established for the autism developmental disability monitoring sites and the centers for autism and developmental disabilities research and epidemiology sites and to establish surveillance and epidemiology centers for cerebral palsy as was done for autism. Cooley's anemia.--The Committee remains pleased with the progress that CDC has made with regard to the establishment of a blood safety surveillance program for Cooley's anemia patients, who are the largest consumers of red blood cells. Six treatment centers throughout the Nation handle the medical monitoring and treatment; a private foundation provides education and awareness, patient recruitment, and other services; and, CDC has created an archive of tested and analyzed blood samples. The Committee urges CDC to utilize this program to enhance the safety of the blood supply while improving the health of Cooley's anemia patients. Down syndrome.--The Committee encourages CDC to continue its research on the secondary and related developmental and mental disorders in individuals with Down syndrome that it began in fiscal year 2005. Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD).--The Committee is pleased that CDC developed and submitted its Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy Strategic Plan to Congress. To ensure the goals of this plan are achieved by the intended deadlines, the Committee provides funding to expand the existing surveillance, epidemiological, and education initiatives and to establish a nationwide DBMD patient registry by July 1, 2007. The Committee believes a nationwide DBMD patient registry will build upon the existing surveillance work and ensure the data gathered are deposited in one centralized repository. Additionally, to help ensure adequate patient data are collected, the Committee strongly urges CDC to expand the muscular dystrophy surveillance tracking and research network by one additional site in 2007. The Committee continues to be pleased with the work being done through the joint public/ private education and outreach cooperative agreement and would encourage that additional funds be used to continue and expand this program. The Committee is pleased that CDC is working with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to establish evidence-driven standards of care for DBMD patients, and encourages both agencies to complete this work by February 1, 2007. Folic acid education campaign.--The Committee is encouraged with the progress made in preventing neural tube defects, but notes that recent research shows only 40 percent of women of childbearing age consume enough folic acid daily. The Committee has provided the same funding level for fiscal year 2007 as was provided in fiscal year 2006 to enhance the national education campaign to increase the number of women taking folic acid daily. Fragile X.--The Committee is encouraged by CDC's efforts related to Fragile X and support for the Fragile X public health program to expand surveillance and epidemiological research of Fragile X. Given the limited resources available, the Committee urges CDC to ensure that the agency's educational and awareness activities under this initiative are not duplicative of current efforts of nationally recognized authorities in the area of Fragile X, but are instead focused on supporting the further dissemination and distribution of existing informational materials. Hemophilia.--The Committee continues to encourage CDC to take steps to ensure that additional patient-based organizations can participate in its hemophilia grant program on an annual basis. The Committee requests that CDC prepare a report on this recommendation by January 1, 2007. In addition, the Committee encourages CDC to sustain support for the hemophilia treatment center network to ensure continued access to comprehensive chronic disease management for people with bleeding and clotting disorders. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).--HHT, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a multi-system vascular genetic disorder producing blood vessel malformations in the brain and lung which may result in stroke, hemorrhage, aneurysm and death. Sudden death or disability may occur in 20 percent of children and adults, but is largely preventable with proper intervention. The Committee encourages CDC to establish, through a joint initiative with the HHT treatment centers, effective evidence-based interventions and treatment to improve outcomes and the quality of life for people living with HHT. Marfan syndrome.--The Committee continues to be interested in Marfan syndrome, a progressive and degenerative genetic disorder which can result in sudden loss of life from aortic aneurysms. Unfortunately, many individuals affected by Marfan syndrome are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until they experience a cardiac complication. Increasing awareness of this life- threatening disease is vital to ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate disease management in patients who are at risk for cardiovascular complications. The Committee encourages CDC to partner with the Marfan syndrome community to increase awareness of the disease among the general public and health care providers. Spina bifida.--The Committee recognizes that spina bifida is the leading permanently disabling birth defect in the U.S. While spina bifida and related neural tube defects are highly preventable through proper nutrition, including appropriate folic acid consumption, and its secondary effects can be mitigated through appropriate and proactive medical care and management, such efforts have not been adequately supported or coordinated to result in significant reductions in these costly conditions. In an effort to continue to improve the quality-of- life for individuals affected by spina bifida and reduce and prevent the occurrence of, and suffering from, this birth defect, the Committee encourages CDC to coordinate with the appropriate health organization to promote the prevention of spina bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected. Within the funds provided for spina bifida, the Committee supports the maintenance and continuation of the national spina bifida clearinghouse and resource center to meet the current and growing demand for information and support services for individuals and families affected by spina bifida. In addition, the Committee supports the Memorandum of Understanding between CDC and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to examine clinical treatment of spina bifida and improve quality of life. The Committee recognizes that the Agent Orange database of health and educational services composes the largest repository of longitudinal treatment information of people with spina bifida and can provide much-needed insight and understanding into the needs of people with spina bifida. The Committee commends CDC and the Department of Veterans Affairs for their collaborative efforts to review and analyze the Agent Orange database to gain better understanding of the treatment, educational, and vocational benefits needs and utilization by people with spina bifida. The Committee encourages the on-going collaboration to analyze this data and requests a report summarizing the analysis of the data, including recommendations based on the analysis as to how to improve treatment and quality-of-life for people with spina bifida. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).--TSC is a genetic disorder that causes uncontrollable tumor growth. Because this disorder can affect multiple organs of the body, it is difficult to diagnose, track and properly treat. The Committee encourages CDC to develop a joint initiative with an appropriate health organization to collect and analyze data from the nationwide network of TSC clinics; support surveillance and epidemiological studies; and to educate health care professionals and teachers who come into contact with TSC patients. Health information and service The Committee provides $226,400,000 for health information and service, which is $3,497,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 program level and $35,274,000 less than the budget request. The Committee does not concur with the budget request that a portion of the funding is to be derived from section 241 evaluation set aside funds to carry out National Center for Health Statistics surveys, Public Health Informatics evaluations, and health marketing evaluations. The Committee, instead, provides a sufficient amount of budget authority to carry out those activities. Health statistics The Committee provides a total of $109,421,000 for health statistics, which is $400,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The health statistics program is responsible for collecting, interpreting, and disseminating data on the health status of the U.S. population and the use of health services. Surveys include the National Vital Statistics System, the National Health Interview Survey, the National Survey of Family Growth, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the National Health Care Survey. Within the total provided, the Committee includes $400,000 to conduct a study of the feasibility of linking food assistance state based program administrative records to the NHANES database. The feasibility test will determine whether such linkages are logistically and technically feasible, the cost of such linkages, and the potential benefits of the linked files. In addition, alternative data collection options for obtaining needed information on food assistance programs and food purchasing knowledge and behaviors should be explored. The Committee requests that CDC prepare a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding this study within 180 days of enactment of this Act. The Committee commends the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for fulfilling its mission as the nation's premiere health statistics agency and for ensuring the credibility and integrity of the data it produces. In particular, the Committee congratulates the agency for its timely release of critical data and encourages it to continue making information, including data from NHANES and the National Health Interview Study, accessible to the public as soon as possible. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).--The Committee is concerned that NTM incidence continues to rise. Mycobacteria are environmental organisms found in both water and soil that cause substantial respiratory damage. The Committee encourages the national center for health statistics to include questions regarding NTM testing in ongoing surveys to gain a better understanding of the epidemiology of this emergent disease. Psoriasis.--The Committee urges NCHS to ensure that any data collected on psoriasis be comprehensive and include the full age range of individuals affected by the disease including children, adolescents, and adults. The Committee is interested in having NCHS collect and report psoriasis incidence and prevalence data that are based on nationwide epidemiological studies. If such data are not currently available, the Committee urges NCHS to undertake a comprehensive epidemiological study with a focus on determining incidence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The Committee urges CDC to consider working with a national psoriasis organization to develop a surveillance program to ascertain and monitor psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis incidence and co-morbidities. Public health informatics The Committee provides a total of $73,738,000 for public health informatics, which is $3,097,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $35,455,000 less than the budget request. Pandemic influenza.--The Committee does not provide $39,600,000 in funding requested by the Administration for pandemic influenza activities in public health informatics in this appropriation. The Committee has provided $200,000,000 through fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations for CDC activities related to preparing for the potential for an influenza pandemic. A second emergency supplemental appropriation for pandemic influenza is pending. Health marketing The Committee provides a total of $43,241,000 for health marketing, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $219,000 less than the budget request. Environmental health and injury prevention The Committee provides $278,000,000 for environmental health and injury prevention, which is $11,021,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,309,000 less than the budget request. Environmental health The Committee provides $139,439,000 for environmental health, which is $10,546,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,656,000 less than the budget request. Asthma.--The Committee is pleased with the work that CDC has done to address the increasing prevalence of asthma. However, the increase in asthma among children remains alarming. The Committee urges CDC to continue to expand its outreach aimed at increasing public awareness of asthma control and prevention strategies, particularly among at-risk populations in underserved communities. To further facilitate this effort, CDC is urged to partner with voluntary health organizations to support program activity consistent with the CDC's efforts to fund community-based interventions that apply effective approaches demonstrated in research projects within the scientific and public health community. Biomonitoring.--The Committee applauds the CDC's biomonitoring efforts and encourages the agency to continue this program and continue to improve its efforts to communicate these results in context. In particular, the CDC's National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals is a significant new exposure tool that provides invaluable information for setting research priorities and for tracking trends in human exposures over time. Accordingly, the Committee continues to support the CDC environmental health laboratory's efforts to provide exposure information about environmental chemicals. However, as CDC has recognized, this information does not by itself suggest harmful effects in humans. In fact, for most chemicals, it is currently difficult to interpret biomonitoring information in a health risk context. Therefore, the Committee encourages CDC to collaborate with federal government and private sector toxicologists, health scientists and laboratory analytical chemists, to facilitate the development of the necessary methods to interpret human biomonitoring concentrations in the context of potential health risks. Childhood lead poisoning prevention.--The Committee commends CDC for its commitment to support the enhanced development of a portable, hand-held lead screening device that holds great promise for increasing childhood screening rates in underserved communities. Further development of this device will help ensure its application in community health settings. Environmental health laboratory.--The Committee recognizes the extraordinary services of CDC's environmental health laboratory to develop new and improved biomonitoring methods to accurately and rapidly assess human exposure to mercury and arsenic, including exposure to the form of mercury in thimerosal, and to improve health risk assessment by expanding studies of the relationship between biomonitoring exposure levels and disease. Landmine survivors.--The Committee commends CDC for its partnership with a private landmine survivors organization that has developed peer support networks for landmine survivors in six mine-affected countries around the world. For fiscal year 2007, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level to expand peer support networks and the number of survivors that are reached in network and non-network countries; strengthen the capacity of medical and rehabilitative care facilities to address the needs of amputees; enhance economic opportunities for survivors; and further CDC programs and research for victims of landmines, civil strife and warfare. National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.--The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network seeks to expand the program to monitor, link, and assess environmental and health data to identify problems and effective solutions that will reduce the burden of chronic and other non-infectious disease in the American population. With health tracking, public health officials can better target preventive services, health care providers can offer better health care, and the public will be able to develop a clear understanding of what is occurring in their communities and how overall health can be improved. A critical component of the program is to ensure that various stakeholders, especially communities, are engaged in the process of developing the state networks and ultimately the network. Therefore, the Committee urges CDC and the State and local programs take actions to include communities and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of the tracking network. Injury prevention and control The Committee provides $138,561,000 for the injury prevention and control program, which is $475,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $347,000 above the budget request. The injury prevention and control program supports intramural research, injury control research centers, extramural research grants, and technical assistance to state and local health departments. Child maltreatment.--The Committee applauds CDC's activities in the areas of child maltreatment. A growing body of research indicates that childhood abuse and neglect may contribute significantly to the development of both acute and chronic health conditions throughout the lifespan, including obesity and heart disease. The Committee encourages CDC to develop a network of consortia that will address research and training, as well as the dissemination of best practices and prevention efforts, on the health harms of child abuse and neglect. Gun control advocacy.--The Committee recommendation maintains bill language prohibiting federal funds from being used to lobby for or against the passage of specific federal, state or local legislation intended to advocate or promote gun control. The Committee understands that CDC's responsibility in this area is primarily data collection and the dissemination of that information and expects that research in this area to be objective and grants to be awarded through an impartial, scientific peer review process. Occupational safety and health The Committee provides $251,000,000 for occupational safety and health, which is $4,272,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $806,000 above the request. Of the amount provided, $87,071,000 is to be derived from section 241 evaluation set-aside funds, as proposed in the budget request. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts applied research, develops criteria for occupational safety and health standards, and provides technical services to government, labor and industry, including training for the prevention of work-related diseases and injuries. This appropriation supports surveillance, health hazard evaluations, intramural and extramural research, instrument and methods development, dissemination, and training grants. The Committee notes that an additional $10,000,000 for research to develop mine safety technology has been provided to NIOSH within a fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations bill. This funding is available through fiscal year 2007. Global health The Committee provides $312,000,000 for global health, which is $1,251,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $69,103,000 below the budget request. Through its Global Health activities, CDC coordinates, cooperates, participates with, and provides consultation to other nations, U.S. agencies, and international organizations to prevent and contain diseases and environmental health problems and to develop and apply health promotion activities. In cooperation with Ministries of Health and other appropriate organizations, CDC tracks and assesses evolving global health issues and identifies and develops activities to apply CDC's technical expertise to be of maximum public health benefit. Within the total, the following amounts are included for global health activities: $121,952,000 for the global AIDS program, which is $692,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $144,398,000 for the global immunization program, which is $638,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $144,000 more than the budget request; $33,259,000 for global disease detection, which is $91,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $8,970,000 for the global malaria program, which is $52,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request, and; $3,421,000 for other global health activities, which is $40,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $69,247,000 less than the budget request. Pandemic influenza.--The Committee does not provide $69,300,000 in funding requested by the Administration for pandemic influenza activities in this appropriation. The Committee has provided $430,000,000 through fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations for CDC activities related to preparing for the potential for an influenza pandemic. Tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS.--The Committee understands that TB is the leading killer of people with AIDS. The Committee strongly urges the CDC to increase its efforts through the global AIDS program and the global disease detection initiative to provide technical assistance and expertise to nations with high incidence of TB-HIV co-infections. Terrorism preparedness and response The Committee provides $1,605,000,000 for terrorism preparedness and response, which is $27,743,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $52,161,000 below the budget request. Within the funds provided: $823,674,000 is for upgrading state and local capacity, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request; $135,628,000 is for upgrading CDC capacity, which is $964,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request; $13,860,000 is for the anthrax research study which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level; $2,970,000 is for the new botulinum toxin research program, the same funding level included in the budget request; $78,868,000 is for the biosurveillance initiative, which is $437,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $23,373,000 less than the budget request, and; $550,000,000 is for the strategic national stockpile, which is $25,300,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $42,648,000 below the budget request. Botulinum neurotoxin research.--The Committee requests that CDC submit a plan to accompany the fiscal year 2008 President's budget request to Congress to participate and share in the development of advanced in-vitro and cell-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays for the detection and classification of botulinum neurotoxins being developed by the United States Army's Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. The plan should identify how the Army program can be leveraged to meet CDC requirements and how CDC will participate in co-development of the assay. Pandemic influenza.--The Committee does not provide $24,800,000 in funding requested by the Administration for pandemic influenza activities within the terrorism programs in this appropriation. The Committee has provided $200,000,000 through fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations for CDC activities related to preparing for the potential for an influenza pandemic. A second emergency supplemental appropriation for pandemic influenza is pending. Strategic national stockpile.--The Committee recognizes that, in the wake of the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005, CDC is considering how to reconfigure the strategic national stockpile to fulfill a broader disaster response mission. Psychotropic medications such as anti-psychotic, anti-depressant and anti- seizure medications are widely prescribed and critical to the quality of life of those who take them. Moreover, the sudden deprivation of these drugs, particularly in the wake of trauma and stress of a disaster, can create major mental illness management challenges for emergency responders, diverting crucial resources and impeding recovery. For these reasons, the Committee strongly encourages the CDC to include psychotropic medications in a reconfigured strategic national stockpile. Public health research The Committee provides $31,000,000 for public health research, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee does not provide these funds through the section 241 evaluation set-aside funds as proposed in the budget request, but instead provides these funds through budget authority. Through this activity, CDC supports high-quality public health research that studies the best methods for making the transition from research to practice. Funds support research that is proposed by experienced investigators working with communities, health practitioners, and policymakers to address local priority health concerns. Public health improvement and leadership The Committee provides $207,165,000 for public health improvement and leadership, which is $17,342,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $17,000,000 above the budget request. This activity supports several cross-cutting areas within CDC. Included is the CDC's leadership and management function, which funds the CDC office of the director, coordinating centers, and each constituent center and office. The public health improvement and leadership line item also supports the CDC's public health workforce and career development efforts, the director's discretionary fund, and Congressional projects. The Committee is pleased that CDC has continued to support the cooperative program with an association representing minority health professions and urges continued expansion of this activity, including sponsorship of public health and biomedical symposiums aimed at increasing career opportunities for minority students. The Committee includes the following projects and activities and in the following amounts for fiscal year 2007: 1490 Enterprises, Inc Buffalo, NY for a program to improve physical activity and nutrition among senior citizens............................................ 100,000 Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA for breast and cervical cancer outreach, education and screening programs for medically underserved populations...... 125,000 Adler Aphasia Center, Maywood, NJ for a program to improve communication and other life skills for people with aphasia................................. 200,000 Alameda County Public Health Department, Office of AIDS Administration, Oakland, CA for an HIV/AIDS prevention and testing initiative................... 250,000 American Cities Foundation, Philadelphia, PA for community health outreach and education programs.... 250,000 American Foundation for the Blind, Dallas, TX for the Center on Vision Loss............................... 250,000 Arkansas Alliance of YMCAs, Warren, AR for programs in the cities of Pine Bluff, Warren, and Hot Springs to reduce childhood obesity............................ 250,000 Barnes-Kasson County Hospital, Susquehanna, PA for Obstetrics Education and related programs........... 200,000 Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX for epidemiological research and educational outreach related to childhood cancer in cooperation with the Vanie E. Cook Jr. Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic in McAllen, TX............................... 450,000 Bayside Community Center, San Diego, CA for its STEPS health education and outreach program for senior citizens............................................ 100,000 Boys & Girls Club of Delaware County, Jay, OK for equipment and operating expenses for programs to improve diet, physical activity and emotional health 300,000 California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, CA for programs aimed at preventing obesity and promoting health in children.................................. 250,000 Capital Breast Care Center, Washington, DC for education, screening and counseling related to breast cancer....................................... 175,000 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA for the Poison Control Center...................................... 250,000 Christiana Care Women First Community Center of Excellence, Wilmington, DE to link healthcare providers and consumers to better serve gender and ethnic differences in health........................ 200,000 City of Dana Point, CA for the Doheny State Park Beach Epidemiological Study............................... 600,000 Columbus Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH for activities at the Injury Research Center..................................... 250,000 Community College Foundation, Sacramento, CA for the ePassport foster child health and education data tracking program.................................... 200,000 Community Hospital Telehealth Consortium, Lake Charles, LA for technology upgrades.......................... 250,000 County of Marin, San Rafael, CA for research and analysis related to breast cancer incidence and mortality in the county............................. 300,000 CREATE Foundation, Tupelo, MS to help schools and communities combat childhood obesity in North Mississippi......................................... 500,000 CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation, Bethesda, MD for disease diagnosis, education, and outreach............................................ 200,000 Federation of State Medical Boards, Euless, TX to develop a Physician Data Center..................... 100,000 Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, Lake Success, NY to provide glaucoma screenings and follow-up in the New York metropolitan area......... 350,000 Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, Lake Success, NY to provide glaucoma screenings and follow-up in the U.S. Virgin Islands................ 325,000 Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Atlanta, GA for emergency preparedness activities including volunteer programs and public information. 250,000 Georgia Chapter of the American Lung Association, Smyrna, GA to study the relationship between residential floor coverings and distributive patterns of airborne particulates................... 350,000 Gilda's Club Louisville, Inc., Louisville, KY for psycho-social support services for cancer survivors. 300,000 Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, CA for the Healthy Parks and Healthy Communities project............................................. 100,000 Haitian American Association Against Cancer, Miami, FL for cancer education, outreach, screening and related programs.................................... 200,000 Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles, Monterey, CA for a program to improve nutrition by promoting the accessibility and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools............................... 150,000 Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, New Brunswick, NJ for an HIV/ AIDS counseling and testing program................. 75,000 Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing, MI for health and educational outreach............................ 100,000 International Rett Syndrome Association, Clinton, MD for education and awareness programs regarding Rett syndrome............................................ 200,000 International Species Information System (ISIS), Eagen, MN for the ZIMS project............................. 400,000 James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN for continuation of autism programs at the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center.... 250,000 John B. Amos Cancer Center, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Columbus, GA for cancer education and early detection programs.................................. 350,000 Kids First, Providence, RI for education and technical assistance programs to improve nutrition and physical activity among children.................... 150,000 King County Emergency Management Division, Seattle, WA to support a 24-hour communication and public health notification system................................. 200,000 King County, Seattle, WA for influenza pandemic preparedness........................................ 150,000 Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, Bronx, NY for a nutrition and anti-obesity demonstration program for 6-to 12- year-old children................................... 275,000 La Rabida Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL for education and outreach related to diabetes and sickle cell disease............................................. 300,000 Learning Disabilities Association of Central New York, East Syracuse, NY for mental health, family counseling and other support services............... 100,000 Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY for asthma education, counseling and prevention programs....... 250,000 MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH for the Northeast Ohio Senior Health and Wellness Center................... 100,000 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, for research and education regarding ways of increasing physical activity and fitness among children and adolescents......................................... 110,000 Natividad Medical Center, Salinas, CA for a diabetes care management program............................. 150,000 New Haven Public Schools, New Haven, CT for a PE4Life physical education initiative....................... 150,000 North Shore Health Project, Gloucester, MA for outreach and education on hepatitis C........................ 150,000 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL for the Juvenile Project longitudinal youth study.................... 250,000 Pacoima Beautiful, Pacoima, CA for a program to reduce the impact of environmental health hazards in homes and childcare centers............................... 50,000 Produce for Better Health Foundation, Wilmington, DE for education programs in Cape Girardeau, MO............ 100,000 Provena Mercy Center, Aurora, IL for diabetes education and prevention...................................... 355,000 Providence Health System, Portland, OR for the Oregon Rural and Underserved Cancer Outreach Project....... 250,000 Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Silver Spring, MD for public education and outreach................... 250,000 Queens Pride House, Queens, NY for a health education and awareness campaign focusing on prevention of diseases such as hepatitis A and B and diabetes..... 50,000 S.L.E. Foundation, New York, NY for outreach and education regarding lupus........................... 200,000 San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, San Antonio, TX for further studies and public health outreach regarding environmental health concerns at and near the former Kelly Air Force Base..................... 200,000 Silent Spring Institute, Newton, MA for studies of the impact of environmental pollutants on breast cancer and other disorders................................. 125,000 Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA for the Center on Disability and Health to promote and encourage regular physical activity................. 150,000 South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD for studies related to childhood obesity........................ 125,000 Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats, Atlanta, GA......................................... 500,000 Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX for the Medical Anthropology Program........................ 100,000 St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA for diabetes prevention and management programs......... 200,000 St. John's Well Child & Family Center, Los Angeles, CA for a patient education program to address obesity, diabetes and hypertension........................... 150,000 Sustainable Resources Center, Minneapolis, MN for a lead poisoning screening and education program........... 175,000 Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH for a nutrition demonstration program linked to locally provided foods............................................... 250,000 Union Hospital, Terre Haute, IN for a chronic disease management assessment program....................... 250,000 United Cerebral Palsy Association, Washington, DC for a national public education and outreach initiative... 150,000 University of Texas, Brownsville, TX for studies regarding the health of the Hispanic population in the Rio Grande Valley............................... 250,000 Visiting Nurse Association Healthcare Partners of Ohio, Cleveland, OH for the CareWatch program in Stark, Wayne, Medina and Ashland Counties.................. 100,000 Voorhees College, Denmark, SC, for its Healthy Campus chronic disease prevention research and demonstration program............................... 100,000 WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC for pediatric diabetes education and prevention activities........ 150,000 Wayne County Department of Public Health, Detroit, MI for a lead poisoning assessment, prevention and intervention program................................ 175,000 Wayne County Department of Public Services, Detroit, MI for an Infant Mortality Prevention Program.......... 300,000 West Babylon, NY School District for an anti-obesity initiative.......................................... 200,000 WestCare Foundation, Las Vegas, NV to expand the Batterers Intervention Program in Needles, CA and surrounding communities............................. 350,000 Yale New Haven Health System, New Haven, CT for a specialty center for public health preparedness..... 500,000 Youth Becoming Healthy Project, Albany, GA for programs to improve nutrition and increase physical activity among middle school students........................ 75,000 Preventive health and health services block grant The Committee provides $100,000,000 for the preventive health and health services block grant, which is $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The budget request did not include funding for this program. This block grant provides flexible funds to states by formula for a wide range of public and preventive health activities. The flexibility afforded to the states, allows them to target funds to address chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and stroke, to direct funds to meet challenges of outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as West Nile virus and influenza, and/or to implement prevention and control programs related to injury and abuse. As a result of providing funding for the preventive health and health services block grant rather than eliminating it as requested by the Administration, the Committee does not include bill language requested by the Administration that would authorize states to reallocate up to five percent of the funding they receive in CDC categorical grants for the purposes related to those conducted through the preventive health and health services block grant. Buildings and facilities The Committee provides $29,700,000 for buildings and facilities, which is $128,700,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. These funds support efficient maintenance and operations of new and existing facilities to protect the interest and investment of the government so that deterioration of CDC facilities does not occur again. Business services and support The Committee provides $327,000,000 for business services and support, which is $28,384,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $23,146,000 above the budget request. Some of the activities that are supported through this funding are administrative services and programs, the human resources center, capital planning and investment control, financial management, security and emergency preparedness, and information technology services. It is the Committee's intention that funds provided in business services and support are sufficient to carry out CDC's business functions. The Committee will not support the continuation of programmatic ``tapping'' to achieve additional funding in this area. It is for this reason that the Committee has increased the funding for this program above both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. If additional funding is required for activities that are funded within this budget line, the Committee expects CDC to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to prepare a reprogramming request to be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. Within the amount provided, sufficient funds are provided for data center operations and maintenance and for a data storage hardware capital lease purchase payment. This funding is to further provide for the remote mirroring of information between CDC data centers and recovery sites and to provide heterogeneous connectivity to existing systems in use at CDC in order to ensure the protection, recovery, and availability of critical resources. The funding also will provide for enhanced security-specific technologies and services in concert with critical infrastructure protection requirements. National Institutes of Health The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,250,003,000 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which yields a total program level of $28,258,203,000. This program level is $17,694,000 above the fiscal year 2006 non- emergency appropriation and equal to the request. The Committee recommends a substantial increase in the Office of the Director for activities that benefit multiple institutes and centers (ICs) under the Roadmap initiative, and has recommended corresponding reductions to the budget of each IC as proposed in the budget request. Budget justification materials.--While the Committee appreciates the detailed mechanism tables and pleonastic descriptions of science advances that were submitted as part of each institute, center or office's (IC's) budget justification for fiscal year 2007, the Committee is troubled by the lack of program-level detail displayed for each IC. Therefore, the Committee directs NIH, in its fiscal year 2008 budget submission, to include the following additional information for each IC for which funding is requested: a table showing funding at the program level, including comparisons between the requested level and the two prior fiscal year appropriations; a table depicting major program or activity increases and decreases as compared to the previous fiscal year along with a detailed justification of the reasons for the increases or decreases; and, for each new initiative proposed in fiscal year 2008, the cost and goals of that initiative and a detailed justification of the activities proposed to be undertaken in the initiative (including costs of each major activity). While the Committee does not direct funding to particular diseases and has traditionally provided maximum flexibility to NIH in order to allow it to fund programs and projects in a manner consistent with the state of the science, it is appropriate that the American people and their elected representatives have access to more detailed information regarding the manner in which NIH invests and proposes to invest increasingly scarce taxpayer resources. NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE The Committee recommends $4,753,609,000 for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is $39,747,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NCI conducts and supports basic and applied cancer research in early detection, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. NCI provides training support for research scientists, clinicians and educators, and maintains a national network of cancer centers, clinical cooperative groups, and community clinical oncology programs, along with cancer prevention and control initiatives and outreach programs to rapidly translate basic research findings into clinical practice. American Russian Cancer Alliance (ARCA).--The Committee commends the members of the American Russian Cancer Alliance (ARCA) for their continued pursuit of novel cancer research activities that capitalize on the particular strengths of the respective participating institutions. The Committee specifically recognizes the progress made in the ARCA-sponsored projects in molecular imaging and radioisotope-targeted cancer therapy and diagnosis that effectively utilizes the complementary expertise of the leading Russian nuclear research center and American cancer centers. The ARCA initiatives planned in cancer prevention and the ongoing sponsorship of educational and training activities will continue to bring together ARCA institutional expertise in the pursuit of cutting-edge cancer research. The Committee applauds the considerable commitment of NCI in providing support to the ARCA infrastructure and cancer prevention pilot projects, and in facilitating scientific exchange between the American and Russian partners, including the support of visiting scientists and scientific conferences. The Committee encourages NCI to continue its support of the cancer prevention research initiatives and the educational aspects of the ARCA agenda, including conference support and scientific exchange and training, which promote the Alliance's cancer research activities while concurrently supporting the national interest in developing new, productive avenues for the use of nuclear stockpiles previously earmarked for weapons development. Cancer centers.--The Committee commends NCI on the success of its cancer centers program. Given that minority populations suffer disproportionately from virtually every form of cancer, the Committee encourages NCI to support the establishment of a comprehensive center at a minority institution focused on research, treatment, and prevention of cancer in African American and other minority communities. Cancer metastasis to bone.--A frequent complication of cancer is its spread to bone (bone metastasis), causing severe bone pain and pathologic fractures. The Committee encourages NCI, in collaboration with NIAMS, NIA, and NIDDK to support research to determine mechanisms and to identify, block and treat cancer metastasis to bone. Furthermore, the Committee encourages NCI to expand research on osteosarcoma to improve survival and quality of life and to prevent metastatic osteosarcoma in children and teenagers who develop this cancer. Community cancer centers.--The Committee commends NCI for its foresight in developing the community cancer centers program, which is a direct mechanism to translate the most promising advances in cancer treatment from major medical research institutions to community hospitals around the country. The Committee request a report by September 30, 2007 regarding the feasibility of expanding this pilot program. Gynecologic cancers.--Today, in the United States, one woman will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer every seven minutes. That is almost 200 per day and 80,000 in a given year. Furthermore, almost 30,000 women die from a gynecologic cancer each year. Existing NCI funding for SPOREs, program projects, the Early Detection Network, and investigator initiated grants has accelerated basic, molecular-based research discoveries for gynecologic cancers. Recent progress combined with the need for further innovation makes this group of cancers an important focus under NCI's broader ``roadmap'' initiatives. The Committee encourages NCI to give priority to gynecologic cancers under its Nanotechnology Plan (CNPlan), its Oncology Biomarker Qualifications Initiative (QBQI), and its Cancer Genomics Atlas Project (TCGA), jointly conducted with the National Human Genome Research Institute. This inclusion will allow laboratory discoveries to be translated into clinical applications at the bedside causing a decrease in the mortality rates for women with gynecologic cancer. Gynecologic oncology clinical trials.--Organized in 1970, the Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials Cooperative Group (GOG) has conducted over 300 clinical trials involving almost 100,000 patients. With over 550 manuscripts in peer reviewed literature, the GOG is recognized as the leader in the development of new therapies for women with gynecologic cancer. The Committee encourages NCI to support translational research involving biologic prognosticators and therapeutic effects of chemotherapy to speed the development and delivery of new cancer treatments to women with gynecologic cancers. Liver cancer.--The Committee is pleased that NCI has issued program announcements requesting research projects on hepatocellular carcinoma. The Committee remains concerned, however, with the increasing incidence of primary liver cancer, and the small number of effective treatments, which is in sharp contrast to many other forms of cancer where the incidence is declining and the treatment options are rapidly increasing. The Committee encourages NCI to continue to support the NIDDK sponsored HALT-C clinical trial, which has particular relevance to the NCI mission. NCI is further encouraged to collaborate with the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering on the development of improved early liver cancer diagnostic techniques. Lung cancer.--The Committee remains concerned that the five year survival rate for lung cancer is only 15 percent, thirty- five years after the passage of the National Cancer Act. The Committee recognizes that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women--accounting for nearly one in every three deaths. The Committee encourages the National Cancer Institute to work with CDC, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to coordinate federal efforts on lung cancer in areas including research, early and late state diagnosis, treatment, and disease management, with goal of increasing five-year survival rates and, ultimately, curing lung cancer. Neurofibromatosis (NF).--The committee is pleased that NCI conducted clinical trials of NF patients and encourages it to continue its commitment to NF research. Recognizing NF's connection to many of the most common forms of cancer, the Committee encourages NCI to strengthen its NF research portfolio in such areas as further development of animal models, natural history studies, genetic and drug screening, therapeutic experimentation, and pre-clinical and clinical trials. The Committee further encourages NCI to apply existing cancer drugs to NF patients in clinical trials both extramurally and intramurally, and to develop new drugs for NF that could then apply to the general population because of NF's connection to many forms of human cancer. The Committee encourages NCI to continue to coordinate its efforts with other NIH institutes and government agencies. Specialized Programs for Research Excellence (SPOREs).--The Committee has long supported NCI's Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs), and encourages NCI to provide support for the important work done by SPOREs at a level as close to the amount provided in fiscal year 2004 as possible, and in the current form, until such time as the Translational Research Working Group concludes its evaluation and provides recommendations to support translational research more effectively. NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE The Committee recommends $2,901,012,000 for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is $20,745,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides leadership for a national research program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood, in transfusion medicine, and in sleep disorders through support of basic, clinical, and population-based and health education research. Bleeding and clotting disorders.--The Committee commends NHLBI for its commitment to research in bleeding and clotting disorders and encourages the institute to continue these efforts focusing on improved and novel therapies for these disorders and maintaining its collaborative relationship with the scientific and medical research community. Bone marrow diseases.--The Committee encourages NHLBI and NCI to collaborate on a comprehensive study of the prevalence of bone marrow diseases in Asian countries. A better understanding of the disproportionate prevalence among Asians may lead to new scientific breakthroughs identifying the causes and cures for aplastic anemia and other bone marrow diseases. Cardiovascular disease and women.--The Committee remains concerned that as the population ages, cardiovascular disease will reach pandemic proportions, and that women will continue to be affected at high rates. Therefore, the Committee encourages the institute to place a high priority on heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in women by increasing resources to stimulate, strengthen, and intensify its investment in basic, clinical, translational, and trans- institute cardiovascular disease research through all available mechanisms. Despite new therapies, the Committee continues to believe that more research is needed to understand better the causes of these diseases in women, develop more effective treatments and cures, and prevent cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases.--The Committee continues to encourage the institute to place a high priority on research for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, including strengthening its research portfolio through all available mechanisms into the causes, cure, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Cooley's anemia.--The Committee remains supportive of the focused research effort that is being undertaken by the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network, which is comprised of the leading research institutions in the field of thalassemia, or Cooley's anemia. The Committee believes that this network is just beginning to meet its promise and encourages NHLBI to continue supporting this research. In addition, the Committee commends NHLBI for convening a meeting with regard to gene therapy and encourages the institute to move much more aggressively in pursuing a research agenda that will lead to a cure at the earliest possible time. Cystic fibrosis.--The Committee encourages NHLBI to increase support for research aimed at understanding the precise mechanisms by which small molecules correct protein misfolding and mistrafficking relevant to lung diseases. Understanding the mechanisms of correction of protein folding and trafficking may contribute to NIH-supported efforts to identify additional ways to affect positively these cellular processes. Also, such investigator-initiated grant proposals could augment current efforts by NIDDK to use screening methods to identify promising molecules to address protein misfolding. The Committee also encourages the NHLBI to continue to explore opportunities to support clinical research networks to accelerate therapeutic development. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).--The Committee remains very interested in efforts to find a cure for LAM, a progressive and often fatal lung disease of women with no effective treatment. The Committee understands that recent scientific findings have presented new treatment approaches for clinical testing, and that expermental trials with the drug sirolimus have begun. The Committee encourages the NHLBI to explore opportunities for funding clinical treatment trials through both intramural and extramural means and to use all available mechanisms as appropriate, including support of state-of-the-science symposia, request for applications, and facilitating access to human tissues, to stimulate a broad range of clinical and basic LAM research. Marfan syndrome.--Marfan syndrome is a life threatening disorder characterized by aortic aneurysms, painful orthopedic issues, pulmonary issues and ocular manifestations. The Committee commends NHLBI's Pediatric Heart Network for its support of a clinical trial to test a potential new drug therapy for Marfan syndrome. The Committee encourages NHLBI to continue to build on the exciting new advances made in this field to prolong life and dramatically improve the quality of life for people affected with this disorder through all available mechanisms. National COPD education and prevention program.--The Committee is pleased that NHLBI held a preliminary workshop to formulate strategies towards implementing a National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Education and Prevention Program. Since COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, the Committee encourages NHLBI to continue its education efforts to bring advances in medical care to the public. Early identification of those at-risk for or who have COPD is essential in the effort to stem the growth of the population with COPD. The Committee encourages NHLBI to continue its efforts in this area, working with national lung organizations to develop a national education campaign for providers and the public about COPD. Neurofibromatosis (NF).--Significant advances continue to be made in research on NF's implications with heart disease and, in particular, its involvement with hypertension and congenital heart disease that together affect over 50 million Americans. The Committee applauds NHLBI for its involvement with NF research and with NF patient advocacy groups and encourages the institute to continue its NF research portfolio in light of the significant implications for the general population. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).--Mycobacteria are environmental organisms found in both water and soil that can cause significant respiratory damage. The Committee is aware of the increasing incidence of NTM pulmonary infections in women, particularly involving rapidly growing mycobacteria, an inherently resistant subspecies. The Committee encourages NHLBI to collaborate with NIAID and other institutes on research that will lead to a better understanding of NTM, enhanced diagnostics and treatment and appropriate education of health care providers. Outcomes research in cardiovascular diseases.--The Committee commends NHLBI for convening a Working Group on Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and for subsequently publishing a report identifying priority areas for research, including developing national surveillance of cardiovascular care and outcomes, promoting patient-centered care, translating best practice into clinical practice, involving patients in care, and placing the cost of interventions in the context of their real-world effectiveness. The Committee encourages the institute to fund the priority areas highlighted in the report to enhance the prevention and treatment of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Preventing weight gain in young adults.--The Committee is concerned about the ever increasing obesity rates and resulting chronic disease burden. Given the typical increase in weight throughout adulthood, evidence suggests that reducing the obesity epidemic will require significant attention to preventing progressive weight gain starting in early adulthood. Yet, little is known about the best methods to achieve weight management in this population. The Committee encourages NHLBI to develop and test innovative practical, cost-effective ways for preventing weight gain in young adults to reduce heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Pulmonary hypertension.--The Committee continues to view pulmonary hypertension research as a high priority and encourages NHLBI to support three to four Specialized Centers of Clinically Orientated Research (SCCOR) in pulmonary hypertension in fiscal year 2007. Sleep disorders.--The Committee is pleased that public and professional awareness on sleep will be a component of NHLBI's strategic planning process and encourages the institute to engage voluntary organizations throughout this process. The Committee continues to encourage the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research to partner with other federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as voluntary health organizations to implement a sleep education and public awareness initiative using the roundtable model that has been successful for other institutes and Public Health Service agencies. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH The Committee recommends $386,095,000 for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), which is $3,241,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--The mission of NIDCR is to improve the Nation's oral, dental and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information. NIDCR accomplishes its mission by performing and supporting basic and clinical research; conducting and funding research training and career development programs to ensure an adequate number of talented, well-prepared and diverse investigators; coordinating and assisting relevant research and research-related activities among all sectors of the research community; and promoting the timely transfer of knowledge gained from research and its implications for health to the public, health professionals, researchers, and policy-makers. Saliva.--The Committee is aware that research on saliva has progressed rapidly and holds the potential to be an inexpensive non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection of breast cancer, osteoporosis, hepatitis, HIV, and Sjogren's disease. The Committee encourages NIDCR to work cooperatively with NCI and other appropriate institutes in pursuing research initiatives on the development of saliva as a diagnostic tool. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES The Committee recommends $1,694,298,000 for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which is $10,627,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. In addition, $150,000,000 in mandatory funds are available for juvenile diabetes research at NIDDK. Mission.--NIDDK supports research in three major disease categories: diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases and nutrition; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. NIDDK supports a coordinated program of fundamental and clinical research and demonstration projects relating to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases within these categories. The Institute also supports efforts to transfer the knowledge gained from its research program to health professionals, patients, and the general public. Action plan for liver disease research.--The Committee is pleased that the NIH Director approved a trans-NIH action plan for liver disease research in December 2005. The Committee applauds the NIDDK-led efforts to evaluate and critique progress being made in each of the sixteen research areas identified by the plan. The Committee looks forward to being kept informed as to the progress being made to implement the goals of the plan and continuing efforts by NIH to establish priorities within the framework of each individual research area and among the sixteen areas as a whole. Acute liver failure.--The Committee applauds the leadership of NIDDK to convene a meeting in December 2006 meeting to address the important issue of acute liver failure. The Committee encourages that attendance at the December 2006 meeting be broad enough to determine what improvements can be made in the U.S. based on best practices in other countries. Biliary atresia.--The Committee is pleased that the number of Biliary Atresia Research Network Centers has increased from 9 to 10 and that NIDDK, in conjunction with HRSA, will conduct a newborn screening conference in September 2006. This conference will permit a review and evaluation of best practices in other countries around the world. The Committee looks forward to being informed as to the results of the conference. Cooley's anemia.--The Committee continues to support the high quality research being conducted by NIDDK on such issues as iron chelation, non-invasive iron measurement, fetal hemoglobin, and other topics critical to improving the lives of Cooley's anemia patients. The development of a less burdensome means of iron chelation is urgently needed. In addition, the Committee encourages NIDDK to continue to work closely with NIBIB to develop and perfect non-invasive means of measuring iron. Cystic fibrosis.--The Committee commends NIDDK for awarding two new Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translational Centers. These new awards will facilitate better communication and collaboration at these centers on basic and clinical research to develop and test new therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF). The Committee also commends NIDDK for issuing a program announcement entitled, ``Targeting Diseases Caused by Protein Misfolding or Misprocessing.'' Awards for this research will greatly assist in the identification of products through screening that can correct the basic protein defect in cystic fibrosis (CF) and that may be developed as new CF treatments. The Committee encourages NIDDK to continue its support of CF research efforts, including protein misfolding, and to collaborate with other institutes to support research to further examine the agents that show promise in treating CF. The Committee also encourages NIDDK to continue to explore opportunities to support clinical research networks to accelerate therapeutic development. Digestive diseases.--Diseases of the digestive system continue to affect more than one-half of all Americans at some time in their lives. Serious disorders such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, hemochromatosis, celiac disease, and hepatitis take a tremendous toll in terms of human suffering, mortality, and economic burden. The Committee commends NIDDK on the success of its Digestive Disease Centers program in addressing a wide range of disorders that result in tremendous human suffering and economic cost. The Committee continues to encourage NIDDK to expand this important program with an increased emphasis on irritable bowel syndrome. Drug induced liver injury.--The Committee is aware of increased incidence of drug induced liver injury and encourages additional research focused on identifying the cause of this drug induced morbidity and recommendations for prevention. End stage renal disease (ESRD).--The Committee is concerned about the significant differences among minority groups in the incidence and prevalence of patients suffering from ESRD. The U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) reports that incidence rates for African-Americans for hemodialysis are more than quadruple that for white Americans, and rates for Native Americans and Hispanic-Americans are more than double those for white Americans; while transplant rates are highest in non-Hispanics. The Committee encourages NIDDK to take steps to ensure adequate inclusion of minority ESRD patients in the Comprehensive Dialysis Study and other relevant research so that such trends can be understood for their impact on these populations. Fatty liver disease.--The Committee notes that there is an emerging, obesity-related chronic liver disease that may affect as many as one in four adults and a significant number of obese children. This diagnosis encompasses a spectrum of severity with many cases evolving into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and, ultimately, cirrhosis. NASH-related liver disease has already become an important indicator for liver transplantation, and in the absence of better treatments, the need for NASH-related liver transplantation will increase significantly over time. The Committee is pleased that NIDDK is funding a fatty liver disease clinical trial that includes both adult and pediatric populations, and that NIH has generated a significant increase in highly competitive science and research focused on fatty liver disease. Glomerular disease research.--The Committee continues to be pleased with the work of NIDDK in the area of glomerular disease research, particularly as it relates to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The Committee commends NIDDK for conducting the recent Glomerular Disease Workshop in January of 2005, and encourages NIDDK to issue a specific program announcement or other appropriate mechanism to ensure the initiation of grant proposals, training positions, and other activities to expand the NIDDK portfolio in this important area of research. The Committee requests a report on progress made in this area by August 1, 2007. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.--The Committee also is aware of wide geographic and ethnic variances in rates of hemodialysis, both center-based and home hemodialysis, as well as peritoneal dialysis, for patients suffering from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The Committee understands that a large clinical trial involving hemodialysis is underway and encourages NIDDK to expand its research in this area to include peritoneal dialysis, or to develop a similar review for peritoneal dialysis that examines medical outcomes, quality of life, and clinical improvements for ESRD patients who choose this important and well-established therapy. Hemophilia and hepatitis C (HCV).--The Committee understands that hepatitis C continues to have a devastating impact on the hemophilia population, with nearly half of all persons with hemophilia having contracted HCV, and many of these individuals co-infected with HIV. The Committee encourages NIDDK to convene a panel of experts and develop a research agenda that would address issues related to co- infection and the progression of liver disease in this population. Hepatitis B.--The Committee is aware that there are currently 1.25 million Americans chronically infected with hepatitis B, a disease that disproportionately affects Asian Americans. The Committee applauds the leadership of NIDDK in conducting an experts' conference in April 2006, and is aware that a significant number of new research opportunities have been identified. The Committee encourages continued research for hepatitis B. The Committee also encourages that a focus be placed on identifying best practices for treatment of hepatitis B and supports efforts to reduce the disproportionately high annual treatment costs. Additionally, the Committee encourages NIDDK to collaborate with CDC to develop a document to reach at-risk populations for intensive public health screening, outreach and testing campaigns. Incontinence.--Many otherwise healthy, active individuals suffer from incontinence. Fecal incontinence, also called bowel incontinence, affects people of all ages and is associated with a wide variety of causes. The Committee is pleased that NIDDK is collaborating with NICHD and the Office of Medical Applications of Research on the incontinence state-of-the- science conference. Inflammatory bowel disease.--The Committee has been encouraged in recent years by discoveries related to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These extremely complex disorders represent a major cause of morbidity from intestinal illness. The Committee commends NIDDK for its strong leadership in this area and continues to encourage the institute to increase funding for research focused on; (1) the cellular, molecular and genetic structure of IBD, (2) identification of the genes that determine susceptibility or resistance to IBD in various patient subgroups, and (3) translation of basic research findings into patient clinical trails as outlined in the research agenda developed by the scientific community entitled, ``Challenges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.'' The Committee also encourages NIDDK to continue to strengthen its partnership with the IBD community and increase support for its successful Digestive Disease Centers program with an emphasis on IBD. Finally, the Committee is aware that IBD manifests itself differently in children than it does in adults, highlighting the importance of pediatric-focused research if improved diagnostic and treatment tools are to be available. The scientific priorities identified by patients, physicians and professional societies include growth failure and bone disease; identification of the genes responsible for early onset IBD; and the relationship between children's immune system and IBD onset and treatment. As a next step, the Committee encourages NIDDK to conduct focused conferences on these priorities and develop research initiatives that will lead to a better understanding of the unique issues in pediatric IBD. Interstitial cystitis (IC).--Research on interstitial cystitis is still in its infancy and while there has been important progress in this area in the last decade, there is still very little known about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. The Committee encourages NIDDK to place emphasis on IC-specific funding in order to focus on the basic science of IC and to attract and sustain research in the field. The Committee is concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding the definition of IC. While the Committee recognizes that this is a complex challenge, NIDDK is encouraged to develop a research definition of IC to clarify the investigative questions and ensure that the research results are comparable and therefore, more meaningful. The Committee is concerned that studies of interstitial cystitis epidemiology are hamstrung by a lack of clarity and leadership in this area. The Committee is pleased that NIDDK worked closely with the IC Community to sponsor an international scientific symposium on IC. The Committee is also encouraged by NIDDK's efforts to elevate awareness of IC among providers and encourages NIDDK to work more closely with the interstitial cystitis patient community and CDC to utilize its resources and expertise effectively. Irritable bowel syndrome.--The Committee is pleased that NIDDK is formulating an action plan for digestive diseases through the National Commission on Digestive Diseases and that irritable bowel syndrome or IBS will be included. The Committee encourages NIDDK to expedite this plan. Living donor transplantation.--The Committee notes that approximately 9% of liver transplants in the adult population and 35% in the pediatric population are made possible due to living donations. Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS).--The Committee is gratified by NIDDK's efforts to enhance research on MPS disorders. The Committee appreciates NIDDK's leadership and outreach to NIAMS in the interest of improving collaborative bone and joint disease research in MPS disorders. Research focused on the underlying pathophysiology of bone and joint lesions, the gene mutations and substrates that are stored, and potential therapeutic approaches continue to be of significant interest of the Committee. The Committee commends NIDDK on its accessibility to the affected community as well as its collaborations with NINDS, NICHD, NCRR, and ORD in advancing broad-based MPS-related research. Pediatric kidney disease.--Kidney disease is a major cause of illness and death in infants, children and adolescents. The increasing awareness that many diseases like diabetes and hypertension that lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end- stage renal disease (ESRD) in adults begin in childhood, demands that strategies to prevent kidney disease must begin early in life. The Committee recognizes the urgent need to better understand the pathogenesis of these conditions, and encourages NIDDK to continue to support research focused on the identification and study of genes and gene mutations that cause and increase the risk of progressive kidney disease. In addition, translational research aimed at clarifying the mechanisms underlying the genesis and evolution of kidney injury will help create targeted interventions to prevent, identify, and treat kideny disease in children. Specifically, the Committee recommends that emphasis be placed on research to determine how obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension contribute to the evolution of CKD, and what interventions may limit cardiovascular morbidity in patients with these disease. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD).--The Committee is pleased to learn that NIH-supported PKD research and partnerships with private organizations have rapidly led to multiple clinical drug trials in humans and to interdisciplinary blood pressure and heart studies to validate the advantage in slowing PKD disease progression. The Committee is encouraged that new innovative therapies may soon be developed to slow or reverse the progression of PKD. The Committee also recognizes the crucial role federal research funds played leading to the recent publication of data that improves measurement of disease progression and that dramatically reduces the number of patients needed to obtain valid results from clinical trials. The Committee recognizes the significant benefits emanating from the PKD Centers of Excellence in promoting interdisciplinary scientific research and developing alternative animal models and encourages NIDDK to support the efforts of the PKD Centers to the maximum extent possible. The Committee also encourages NIDDK to pursue fulfillment of the PKD Strategic Plan and long-range planning to facilitate PKD clinical trials and multidisciplinary research. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE The Committee recommends $1,524,750,000 for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which is $10,007,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NINDS supports and conducts basic and clinical neurological research and research training to increase understanding of the brain and improve the prevention and treatment of neurological and neuromuscular disorders. The NINDS mission encompasses over 600 disorders, including stroke, head and spinal cord injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Alzheimer's disease.--Research supported by NINDS continues to play an integral role in widening the scientific base of knowledge about Alzheimer's disease. In a study supported jointly by NINDS, NIA and the Alzheimer's Association, scientists found that administering lithium to genetically engineered mice reduced the accumulation of an abnormal protein that contributes to the degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's disease. Further research will determine whether lithium could also reduce neuronal degeneration if administered before any significant structural abnormalities occur in neurons. The Committee encourages NINDS to continue to assign a high priority to its Alzheimer's research portfolio, and to continue to work closely with NIA and other institutes. Down syndrome.--As a follow-up to its successful Down syndrome workshop to address research priorities relating to the synaptic structure and function of neuronal circuits, NINDS is encouraged to issue program announcements related to its workshop findings. Specifically, the Committee encourages NINDS to support investigations relating to the genetic and cellular basis for abnormalities in the structure and function of neuronal circuits in both developing and mature nervous systems. NINDS is also encouraged to work with the Office of the Director, OPASI, and other institutes to develop a strategic plan for Down syndrome research and to coordinate all Down syndrome research within NIH. In anticipation of future clinical trials that will seek to measure accurately cognitive improvement in individuals with Down syndrome, the Committee further encourages NINDS to develop better measurement standards and a common data base that can be used generally for such trials. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).--The Committee is pleased that the Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee (MDCC) has approved the Action Plan for the Muscular Dystrophies. While the Committee is glad a comprehensive final plan has been issued, there remain concerns that the plan does not adequately clarify which agencies are tasked with primary and secondary responsibilities for achieving each of the 76 research objectives. The Committee requests that the MDCC identify, by February 1, 2007, the agencies and organizations with primary and secondary responsibilities for each thematic grouping of research objectives in the Action Plan for the Muscular Dystrophies. The Committee requests that NIH's annual report to Congress, authorized in the MD Care Act, include information detailing the NIH's current DMD research goals, the progress made toward goals, the total amount of money invested toward the goals, and projected spending on DMD research for the present and future fiscal year. The Committee encourages NINDS to partner with NIAMS and NHLBI to provide the funding needed to adequately support the research agenda at each of the six Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers. Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD) translational research.--The Committee is advised that NIH is working toward prioritizing opportunities for DBMD translational research projects and plans to convene a workshop examining DBMD translational opportunities later this year. The Committee is pleased with this development and requests that NIH--through NINDS, the MDCC, and the other relevant institutes--develop specific measurable milestones, including a timeline, needed to establish a DBMD Translational Research Initiative (TRI). This information should be included in the annual report to Congress authorized by the MD Care Act. The Committee encourages NIH to include representatives from the six MD Centers of Excellence in the process for establishing the DBMD TRI. Dystonia.--The Committee continues to support the expansion of research and treatment developments regarding dystonia. The Committee is pleased with progress made in expanding the dystonia research portfolio resulting from the joint dystonia research program announcement and understands that eleven new grants have been funded as a result of this initiative. The Committee commends NINDS on its sponsorship of the scientific workshop on dystonia planned for June 2006, and looks forward to initiatives based on this activity. Epilepsy.--Epilepsy remains a major, unsolved public health problem affecting the lives of millions of Americans and their families. The Committee encourages intensified efforts by the Institute to produce breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment, and eventual cure of epilepsy. The Committee applauds the development of benchmarks for epilepsy research resulting from the ``Curing Epilepsy: Focus on the Future'' conference held in March, 2000 and encourages the institute to address important research issues raised at the ``Living Well with Epilepsy II'' conference held in July, 2003. The Committee further encourages NINDS to continue to carry out its benchmark priorities, to develop plans and goals for the anti-epileptic drug development program, and to report to the Committee on its activities to further these important areas of research. Hypoglycemia.--Hypoglycemia or extremely low blood sugar is especially difficult to manage in young children with type 1 diabetes but can quickly result in serious consequences such as cognitive impairment, nerve damage, seizure, coma, or death. NINDS is encouraged to foster research on understanding the biology of the brain and nervous system under conditions of low glucose, devising better glucose management technologies that reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, and develop new agents to protect patients from hypoglycemia-related nerve damage. Neurofibromatosis (NF).--Advances in NF research have linked NF to cancer, brain tumors, learning disabilities, memory loss and heart disease. The Committee encourages NINDS to expand its NF clinical, pre-clinical and basic research portfolios and to continue its efforts to accelerate the process of translational research. The Committee commends NINDS for its leadership role in NF research and in coordinating efforts with other institutes and government agencies engaged in NF research. The Committee encourages NINDS to continue its efforts in the creation, implementation and funding of NF pre- clinical and clinical trials infrastructures, including NF centers, translational research, genetic and drug screening, training of new NF researchers, and clinical trials using existing and new drugs on NF patients. The Committee encourages NINDS to continue to coordinate its efforts with other appropriate institutes at NIH as well as other government agencies. Parkinson's disease.--The Committee supports the innovative multidisciplinary research and training concerning Parkinson's disease provided by the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Centers of Excellence. The Committee encourages NINDS to require that the Udall Centers include a significant clinical/translational component, in addition to ongoing basic research. The Committee encourages the Director to provide funding expeditiously at the conclusion of the neuroprotection trials (NET-PD) for phase III clinical trials of all the neuroprotection compounds that survive futility testing. The Committee requests that the Director report on funding for phase III trials three-months after the conclusion of each of the NET-PD trials. The Committee recognizes that continuation of promising research is an integral part of the strategic plan for future investments in Parkinson's research. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).--SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers. The Committee understands that the severity of the disease, its relatively high incidence, and the possibility of imminent treatments have led NINDS to execute the SMA Therapeutics Development Program. The Committee commends NINDS for this initiative and encourages NINDS to continue the project mission of identifying and completing preclinical research and development of drug candidate therapeutics for SMA in the coming year. More importantly, the Committee encourages NINDS to begin planning and budgeting for the necessary next stages of drug development. The Committee requests that NINDS provide a progress report on all aspects of SMA research by April 30, 2007. Stroke.--The Committee continues to place a high priority on stroke research and encourages NINDS to allocate resources to basic, clinical and translational research into stroke. The Committee encourages NINDS to continue implementing the long- range strategic plan for stroke research and to continue efforts to improve stroke diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. Traumatic brain injury (TBI).--The Committee encourages NINDS to build upon basic and translational research in brain injury rehabilitation at the National Center on Medical Rehabilitation and Research (NCMRR). NCMRR has awarded grants to eight bench science research centers and a data center to establish the cooperative multi-center traumatic brain injury clinical trials network. The Committee encourages NINDS to participate in supporting these centers and to support training grants for TBI researchers. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES The Committee recommends $4,270,496,000 for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is $112,805,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $125,000,000 below the budget request. The Committee recommendation does not include bill language requested by the Administration to permit the transfer of $100,000,000 to the global AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria fund. Instead, the Committee has recommended an increase of $130,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation for HRSA and CDC domestic HIV/ AIDS programs, and has provided $121,952,000 for global HIV/ AIDS activities at CDC. In addition, the Committee recommendation does not include bill language that would provide $25,000,000 for the construction of extramural facilities for research on infectious agents and countermeasures. The Committee understands that these funds are intended to support new facilities rather than completion of laboratories that are already partially constructed. Therefore, the Committee has provided the requested $25,000,000 to the National Center for Research Resources for open competition among all institutions rather than a competition specifically aimed at infectious agents. Mission.--NIAID supports and conducts basic and clinical research and research training programs in infectious diseases caused by, or associated with, disorders of the immune system. NIAID supported research includes research on AIDS, asthma and allergies, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, tropical diseases, and emerging microbes. The goals of NIAID research are to understand disease pathogenesis better, to improve disease diagnosis, to develop new and improved drugs to treat diseases, and to develop new and improved vaccines to prevent disease, many of which significantly affect public health. Asthma.--The Committee is pleased with NIAID's leadership regarding asthma research and management. The Committee encourages NIAID to continue to improve its focus and effort on asthma management, especially as it relates to children. The Committee also encourages NIAID to continue to support asthma prevention, treatment, and research activities. Coinfection research.--The Committee is concerned that there is growing evidence of liver toxicity of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in those with decompensated liver disease awaiting liver transplantation. There also appears to be an emerging problem of liver cancer in co- infected patients (HCV and/or HBV with HIV). The Committee encourages NIAID to initiate research initiatives in both of these areas. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine development.--The Committee is pleased to learn that phase I of a small hepatitis vaccine human trial has been successfully completed and that phase II regarding efficacy is underway. The Committee expects to be kept informed on progress regarding the development of this vaccine and its potential application for intervening in the development of chronic disease among the population currently infected with the hepatitis C virus. The Committee is concerned with preliminary information that this vaccine candidate may not be universally effective against all genotypes of hepatitis C and therefore encourages the simultaneous development of other vaccine candidates against hepatitis C vaccine. Implementation of the transplantation research action plan.--The Committee is pleased that NIAID convened an experts conference and developed a five-year transplantation research action plan identifying the most urgently needed research to facilitate and increase in the success of organ transplantation. The Committee encourages an annual review of progress made in the various research areas identified by the plan with recommendations and appropriate follow up to enhance progress in promising, but low yielding areas of research specifically as they relate to organ donation, organ evaluation and organ transplantation. Inflammatory bowel disease.--The Committee continues to note with interest a scientific research agenda for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease) entitled ``Challenges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).'' This report identifies strong linkages between the functions of the immune system and IBD. The Committee encourages the Institute to focus on: (1) the immunology of IBD and (2) the interaction of genetics and environmental factors in the development of the disease. Living donor transplantation.--The Committee recognizes that the transplantation of organs, tissues, and cells is a powerful mode of treatment for dozens of life-threatening diseases affecting millions of Americans. The Committee encourages NIAID's basic and clinical research programs in transplantation to focus efforts on the study of living donor transplantation to enhance success rates by reducing morbidity and mortality. Additionally the Committee requests to be informed on the institute's plans to initiate a cohort study to assess the health outcomes of living donors not only following the period immediately after the donation but for the quality of life implications for decades post donation. Meningococcal disease-serogroup B immunization research.-- Although the Committee recognizes that meningococcal disease is vaccine-preventable in most cases, approximately 30 percent of the deaths and disabilities from this bacterial infection are attributed to serogroup B, which is not vaccine-preventable. The Committee encourages NIAID to increase specific research efforts to develop an effective, low-cost vaccine against serogroup B that will help protect infants and adolescents in the near term. Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI).--NIAID is the lead agency for research into bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Recently, the survival rate for severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) from related HLA-identical donors has resulted in a survival rate of over 90%. Unfortunately for most patients, there are no HLA identical donors. Alternative approaches using HLA-matched unrelated donors and HLA- mismatched related donors have produced very promising results. These new approaches have been designed to eliminate graft versus host disease, and other complications. The Committee encourages NIAID to develop therapeutic approaches to treating SCID patients who require BMT. Advancements in BMT will benefit not only children with SCID, but persons with many other diseases (such as cancer, lupus, and HIV/AIDS) who rely on this therapy. Tuberculosis (TB).--The Committee is pleased with NIAID's efforts to develop an effective TB vaccine, and encourages expansion of work on this important initiative. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES The Committee recommends $1,923,481,000 for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which is $12,137,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIGMS supports research and research training in the basic biomedical sciences. Institute grantees, working in such fields as cell biology, biophysics, genetics, developmental biology, pharmacology, physiology, biological chemistry, bioinformatics, and computational biology study normal biological processes to better understand what goes wrong when disease occurs. In this way, NIGMS supports the new knowledge, theories, and technologies that can then be applied to the disease-targeted studies supported by other NIH components. NIGMS-supported basic research advances also find applications in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The Institute's training programs help provide the scientists needed by industry and academia. NIGMS also has programs to increase the diversity of the biomedical workforce. Cystic fibrosis (CF).--The Committee encourages NIGMS to support methods for the creation of tools and reagents and advances in techniques for precision monitoring of folding and trafficking events and to encourage sharing of resulting data, especially in area of protein folding or imaging. These tools will support ongoing research efforts by other NIH institutes to screen molecules that may affect improper protein folding and trafficking, as well as efforts to develop therapies to correct this defect for CF and other diseases. Minority scientist training programs.--The Committee continues to be pleased with the quality of NIGMS's training programs, particularly those that have a special focus on increasing the number of minority scientists such as the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) programs. The Committee encourages NIGMS to continue to support these important initiatives, and is particularly pleased that NIGMS has supported biomedical career opportunity programs for high school and undergraduate college students in conjunction with historically black health professions schools. The Committee encourages continued, long-term support of this program. national institute of child health and human development The Committee recommends $1,257,418,000 for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), which is $7,351,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--The NICHD conducts and supports laboratory and clinical research on the reproductive, developmental, and behavioral processes that determine and maintain the health and well-being of children, adults, families and populations. In addition, research in medical rehabilitation is supported. National Children's Study.--The Committee is very disappointed to see that the proposed elimination of funding for the National Children's Study is mentioned only in passing under the ``Items of Significant Interest'' section and nowhere else in the entirety of NIH's fiscal year 2007 justification material. The lack of discussion related to this significant termination, which has enjoyed bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, highlights a serious shortcoming in the justification materials--one the Committee expects will be remedied in the fiscal year 2008 submission and beyond. As a result, the Committee has included bill language directing NICHD to dedicate $69,000,000 from within funds provided to continue the National Children's Study, including funding all Vanguard Centers and any other activities that were planned for fiscal year 2007. If NIH wishes to request that Congress discontinue the study in future fiscal years, the Committee directs that a complete justification of the reasons for terminating the study accompany the budget request, rather than one sentence tucked away in response to prior year report language. Autism spectrum disorders.--The Committee is aware of research into the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders and of NICHD's support for the High Risk Baby Sibling Autism Research Project (Baby SIBS) on the incidence of autism among children in the same families. Accordingly, the Committee encourages the Institute to enhance its support for the Baby SIBS project, and encourages the NICHD to enhance its work with and support for similar public-private partnerships. The Committee also encourages the Institute to enhance its autism research portfolio on gene-environment interactions. Best practices for planned vaginal birth.--The committee commends the NIH state-of-the-science panel for its work on cesarean section by maternal request, and notes that this panel called for ``increased research devoted to strategies to predict and influence the likelihood of successful vaginal birth, particularly in the first pregnancy'' and for future studies to ``determine whether there are modifiable factors in the management of labor that can decrease maternal and neonatal complications.'' Therefore the Committee encourages NICHD to develop a prospective study to compare optimal best practices for planned vaginal birth, measuring a broad range of physical and mental health outcomes appropriate to the sample size, including breastfeeding, attachment and other dimensions of the mother-baby relationship, secondary fertility, and the process and outcomes of subsequent pregnancies; and to support translational research to identify effective ways to bring best vaginal birth practices for healthy low-risk mothers into practice. The Committee further encourages NICHD to include the full range of health professionals involved with maternity care (midwives, obstetricians, family physicians, pediatricians, nurses, doulas) and social scientists in planning, implementation and reporting of this research. Demographic research.--The Committee commends NICHD for its impressive demographic research portfolio. Demographic research is essential for understanding the health, socioeconomic, and geographic implications of the rapidly changing U.S. population. The Committee encourages the Institute to invest in its demographic training programs to prepare the next generation of social scientists. Further, the Committee encourages the Institute, in a partnership with other Federal agencies, to continue supporting critical, accessible databases. Data from these resources and other studies supported by the NICHD Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch are key to informing programs and policies aimed at improving the health and productivity of the American people. Down syndrome.--NICHD is encouraged to partner with NINDS and other agencies to define additional mouse models needed to link important structural and functional abnormalities that underlie cognitive difficulties to the actions of specific genes and gene pathways. Drug safety for children.--The Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring that drugs are safe and effective for use by children. The Committee supports continued implementation of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act of 2002, which supports the pediatric testing of off-patent drugs, as well as on-patent drugs not being studied through existing mechanisms. In implementing this provision, NICHD should continue to act as coordinator for all other institutes within NIH for which pediatric pharmacological drug research may have therapeutic relevance, and in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration, develop study requests designed to yield improved pediatric labeling. In preparation for reauthorization of BPCA in 2007, the Committee requests NICHD to provide a report on the implementation process instituted, including the process for prioritizing drug studies; the number of pediatric studies supported to date both through the Research Fund and through the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH); the contributions of the individual NIH institutes to the studies; the estimated cost of each ongoing or proposed study; the nature and type of studies proposed or undertaken including whether any studies are comparative; the number of study requests referred to the FNIH after being declined by drug manufacturers and whether the number declined is increasing or decreasing annually; the estimated completion date of all proposed or ongoing studies; the patent status of the drugs studied; the number of drugs remaining on the priority list; and the key ethical, scientific, intellectual property, and operational issues that have arisen in the implementation of the program. Epilepsy.--Epilepsy often begins in childhood and can have potentially devastating effects. Even in its mildest forms, epilepsy can modify brain development and have lifelong effects on cognitive processes, employment and other quality of life measures. Recurring seizures are also common for children with autism, brain tumors, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, tuberous sclerosis and a variety of genetic syndromes and may dramatically add to the burden of these disorders. The Committee encourages the Institute to actively participate in the NINDS 2007 ``Curing Epilepsy'' conference to fully develop a research agenda related to epilepsy and children. Mental retardation/developmental disabilities research centers (MR/DDRC).--The Committee recognizes the outstanding contributions of MR/DDRCs toward understanding why child development goes awry, discovering ways to prevent developmental disabilities, and discovering treatments and interventions to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families. The Committee is particularly pleased with the MR/DDRC contributions in the areas of autism, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome and other genetic and environmentally induced disorders. These centers have greatly improved our understanding of the causes of developmental disabilities. However, the Committee is concerned that the MR/ DDRC Centers do not have sufficient resources to sustain the progress made in this critical area. The Committee encourages NICHD to provide sufficient resources to the MR/DDRCs to maintain the level of support available for the fourteen centers that were in the network during 2005. Near-term births.--The Committee has learned that the preterm birth rate is now over 12 percent of all live births, and of these 75 percent are near term births. It is estimated that this group encompasses 40 percent of neonatal ICU admissions. These infants are at risk for sepsis, pneumonia, feeding difficulties, white matter damage, seizures, apnea, and remain at risk for higher morbidities in early infancy. The Committee encourages NICHD to support research in this area. Neurofibromatosis (NF).--Learning disabilities occur with high frequency in children with NF and in approximately five percent of the entire world's population. The Committee encourages NICHD to expand its NF research portfolio through all suitable mechanisms, including RFAs and clinical trials. The Committee further encourages NICHD to coordinate its efforts with other NIH institutes and government agencies. Obstetric systematic reviews.--The Committee applauds NICHD's efforts supporting the Neonatal Cochrane Review Group since 1995 that not only provides a substantial scientific resource but also allows the community access to these reviews via the NICHD website. These reviews are a valuable resource, providing the most comprehensive and timely review of clinical topics. The Committee encourages NICHD to provide a similar service to the obstetrical community by supporting obstetric systematic reviews and providing them free of cost to the general public, a critical gap in the medical community. Preterm birth.--The Committee commends NICHD for its commitment to reducing the incidence of premature birth and its consequences through its longstanding support for the Maternal- Fetal Medicine Unit and the Neonatal Research Network, as well as the new Genomics and Proteomics Network for Premature Birth Research. The Committee is pleased that NICHD is one of the sponsors of an Institute of Medicine study to define and address the health related and economic consequences of premature birth and looks forward to publication of the recommendations. The Committee encourages NICHD to expand its research on the causes of preterm labor and delivery and improving the care and treatment of preterm and low birthweight infants, to work with the Office of the NIH Director to develop a strategic plan for research, and to coordinate its research with other institutes. Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI).--The Committee is pleased with NICHD's dedication of financial and personnel resources to physician education and public awareness programs. The Committee is encouraged by the institute's commitment to develop newborn screening procedures for PI, particularly various forms of SCID, utilizing microarray technologies. The Committee encourages NICHD to move ahead with this initiative in partnership with the Foundation, other NIH institutes and private industry. Pulmonary rehabilitation.--Pulmonary rehabilitation has been increasingly recognized as an important treatment option for the many patients with disabling chronic lung diseases, like COPD. The Committee encourages the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research to expand research opportunities in this area. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).--SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers, and is the most prevalent genetic motor neuron disease. The severity of the disease, its relatively high incidence, and the possibility of imminent treatments led NINDS to initiate the innovative SMA project. The Committee encourages NICHD to continue to formulate a plan for expanding its work and funding for SMA research. Specifically, the Committee encourages NICHD to coordinate funding with NINDS to ensure increased participation of investigators in SMA and developmental neurobiology relevant to SMA. Further, the Committee encourages NICHD to take the lead on developing a cross-institute working group comprised of NICHD, NINDS and NIGMS to study broader questions of care and the role of exercise and nutrition on SMA and other neuromuscular disease. Stillbirth.--The Committee applauds NICHD's efforts in addressing stillbirth, a major public health issue. The Committee is aware that NICHD cooperative network has initiated a pilot study with the overall study using a standard protocol planned to start this year, and encourages NICHD to continue to support this effort. national eye institute The Committee recommends $661,358,000 for the National Eye Institute (NEI), which is $5,398,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NEI conducts and supports basic and clinical research, research training, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and needs of individuals who are visually-impaired or blind. In addition, NEI is responsible for the dissemination of information, specifically public and professional education programs aimed at the prevention of blindness. Diabetic eye disease.--The Committee applauds NEI for the collaborative efforts of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network to test innovative treatment for diabetic eye disease. The Institute is encouraged to expand and extend the network by increasing the number of clinical trials with new drugs and therapeutics that can reverse or prevent diabetic retinopathy. national institute of environmental health sciences The Committee recommends $637,323,000 for the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), which is $3,809,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--The mission of NIEHS is to prevent disease and improve human health by using environmental sciences to understand human biology and disease. This mission is achieved through conducting and supporting disease-oriented biomedical research (basic, integrative, clinical, and epidemiologic), enhancing research capacity in environmental health sciences, prevention and intervention strategies, and communication with researchers, public health and health care providers, and the public. Asthma.--Given the link between environmental factors and the onset of asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis, the Committee encourages NIEHS to further develop research initiatives to understand the environmental and genetic risk factors for predisposing some individuals to and in controlling the severity of these lung diseases. Autism spectrum disorders.--The Committee is aware of the important research into the genetic and environmental basis of autism spectrum disorders. Accordingly, the Committee encourages the Institute to expand its support and funding for gene-environment interaction research in autism, and encourages the institute to expand its work with and support for similar public-private partnerships. Mercury.--In order to properly research gaps in the area of mercury exposure and brain chemistry, and given recent hearings on mercury exposure and relationships between autism and Alzheimer's disease and mercury exposure, NIEHS is encouraged to pursue studies of how inorganic mercury and organic mercury compounds (including ethyl, methyl, and other forms of mercury from all sources) are processed in the bodies of children and adults. NIEHS is also encouraged to support studies of the toxic effects of inorganic mercury and organic mercury compounds on the nervous systems of young children, adults, and the elderly and methods of properly removing mercury and mercury-containing compounds from the brains of affected humans. National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Methods/Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (NICEATM/ ICCVAM).--The Committee commends the NICEATM/ICCVAM for its leadership role in the assessment of new, revised and alternative scientifically validated methods for the federal government. The Committee also commends the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for finalizing its ``Roadmap to Achieve the NTP Vision, A Toxicology Program for the 21st Century'', which commits to ``develop and validate improved testing methods and, where feasible, ensure that they reduce, refine or replace the use of animals'' as one of its top four goals. The Committee requests that the NICEATM/ICCVAM, in partnership with the relevant federal agency program offices and the NTP, build on the NTP Roadmap to create a five-year plan to research, develop, translate and validate new and revised non-animal and other alternative assays for integration of relevant and reliable methods into the federal agency testing programs. In this five-year plan the Committee expects that federal agency program offices will identify areas of high priority for new and revised non-animal and alternative assays or batteries of those assays to create a path forward for the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal tests, when this is scientifically valid and appropriate. The Committee requests the plan by November 15, 2007. Furthermore, the Committee expects that the cost of assembling this plan will not reduce the NICEATM/ICCVAM funding base. Parkinson's disease (PD).--The Committee commends the NIEHS on the work of its Collaborative Centers for Parkinson's Disease Environmental Research (CCPDER) Consortium Program to foster multidisciplinary research approaches to discover gene- environment interactions in PD. The Committee encourages NIEHS to work in conjunction with other NIH institutes and CDC, as necessary, to investigate and submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, on the incidence of Parkinson's disease, including age, occupation, and geographic population clusters, and related environmental factors relating to the disease. The Committee requests the report by June 30, 2007. Toxic exposure and brain development.--Notwithstanding the Institute of Medicine May 2004 report on autism, the Committee believes it is important to develop a more complete understanding of the impact that toxic exposures may have on brain development. There is a convergence of findings from tissue culture studies, animal models, and clinical studies of immune dysfunction in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that suggests a biological link between genetic sensitivity and damage to developing brains from certain toxins. It is important that NIH continue this research to better understand the impact that exposures to mercury (including thimerosal) and other toxins have on brain development. A more complete understanding of the impact of these exposures through research, including animal models, will help to develop more effective interventions. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING The Committee recommends $1,039,828,000 for the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which is $6,803,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIA supports and conducts biomedical, social and behavioral research, training, and health information dissemination with respect to the aging process and the diseases and other special problems and needs of older Americans. Alzheimer's disease.--The Committee continues to regard Alzheimer's disease as a high research priority for the Institute, which is encouraged to enhance its investment in Alzheimer's disease research, placing special emphasis on expediting the translation of research findings into effective treatments and prevention strategies for at-risk individuals. Bone strength.--The Committee has learned that although bone mineral density has been a useful predictor of susceptibility to fracture, other properties of the skeleton contribute to bone strength, including exercise and mechanisms of biomineralization. However, little is understood as to how these properties assist in the maintenance of bone strength. The Committee encourages NIA, in collaboration with NIAMS, NIBIB, NICHD, and NHLB to support research that will achieve identification of these parameters and lead to better prediction for prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone loss due to kidney disease, and heart attacks due to hardening of the arteries. Demographic and economic research.--The Committee commends NIA for supporting exceptional demographic and economic research on the implications of population aging. The Committee encourages the Institute to continue supporting the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)--an important resource policymakers rely on to help inform potential changes to the Social Security and Medicare programs. The Committee applauds the Institute for proactively reviewing its data collection activities and looks forward to learning more about the outcome of this review and how the future of major surveys, such as the HRS and the National Long-Term Care Survey, may be affected. Down syndrome.--The Committee commends NIA for its support of studies to examine the cellular, molecular and genetic bases for age-related neuropathological and cognitive abnormalities in people with Down syndrome. The Committee encourages NIA to further examine these abnormalities and to devise new methods for diagnosing and treating them. Given that all people with Down syndrome develop the neuropathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, and that many or most go on to suffer dementia, NIA is further encouraged to consider how studies of the Down syndrome population might enhance the ability to understand, diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. Edward R. Roybal Research Centers on Applied Genontology.-- The Committee supports the Edward R. Roybal Research Centers on Applied Gerontology, which are designed to move promising social and behavioral basic research findings out of the laboratory and into programs, practices, and policies that will improve the lives of older people and the capacity of society to adapt to societal aging. The Committee encourages NIA to expand the numbers of centers, to develop new topics for research especially in the area of diversity and ethnic and minority communities, and to provide opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary research between the Roybal Centers and other program initiatives such as the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) and the Demographic Centers. Epilepsy.--Epidemiologic studies now show that the incidence of epilepsy increases in old age, often in association with stroke, cardiovascular disease, brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease. The Committee encourages NIA, working with NINDS, to carry out research to better understand why epilepsy frequently develops in association with diseases of the elderly and to develop therapies to prevent the occurrence of epilepsy in the elderly and diminish its consequences. The Committee also encourages NIA to actively participate in NINDS 2007 ``Curing Epilepsy'' conference to further develop a research agenda related to epilepsy and the elderly. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES The Committee recommends $504,533,000 for the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), which is $3,399,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIAMS conducts and supports basic and clinical research and research training, and the dissemination of health information on the more than 100 forms of arthritis; osteoporosis and other bone diseases; muscle biology and muscle diseases; orthopedic disorders, such as back pain and sports injuries; and numerous skin diseases. Burden of skin diseases.--The Committee notes the relationship between the recent Burden of Skin Diseases report and the September 2002 workshop on the burden of skin diseases sponsored by NIAMS. The committee continues to encourage NIAMS to expand the research portfolio on skin disease and develop partnerships with the skin disease research community to address the recognized challenges and future research endeavors. Congenic and genetic disease of bone.--The Committee is aware that thousands of children and adolescents nationwide suffer from musculoskeletal disorders and malformations. Diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, fibrous dysplasia, osteopetrosis, and Paget's disease are caused by poorly understood genetic mutations. In Paget's disease, underlying genetic defects can also be exacerbated by environmental factors. The Committee encourages NIAMS and NICHD to support research focusing on mechanisms of preventing fractures and improving bone quality and correcting malformations, on innovations in surgical and non-surgical approaches to treatment, on physical factors that affect growth, and on genetic defects that cause bone disease. Lupus.--The Committee is aware that despite numerous important research advances, few new therapies are available to patients with lupus. Treatment with steroids, anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressive medications may be palliative but these medications have numerous side effects and may become less effective over time. Advances in the identification of lupus susceptibility genes and biomarkers make it imperative that a sustained effort be made to translate these research advances into clinically relevant treatments. The Committee encourages the Institute to develop focused programs designed to move research advances beyond the laboratory. Marfan syndrome.--The Committee commends NIAMS and its collaborative efforts with other institutes to provide vital research on Marfan syndrome, a life-threatening, progressive and degenerative genetic disorder which is characterized by aortic aneurysms, orthopedic disabilities and ocular manifestations. Management of the syndrome by complicated aortic surgery is extending the life span of many. However, it has introduced a new generation of people with debilitating painful orthopedic issues such as early-onset arthritis, back pain and headaches due to dural ectasia and joint, leg and foot pain. Basic, translational and clinical research including the natural history of skeletal problems in this area is needed to investigate the underlying causes of these manifestations and to investigate therapeutic choices. This research is essential to improve the quality of life of those suffering from Marfan syndrome. The Committee encourages NIAMS to support research in this area through all available mechanisms, as appropriate. Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS).--The Committee encourages the NIAMS to support and work collaboratively with NIDDK in an effort to achieve a greater understanding of bone and joint lesions in MPS disorders. The Committee supports meaningful NIAMS involvement with other institutes in research that specifically addresses the underlying pathophysiology of bone and joint lesions, the gene mutations and substrates that are stored, and potential therapeutic approaches to treating these debilitating aspects of MPS and related disorders. The Committee encourages NIAMS to work with participating NIH institutes and the MPS academic and patient advocate community to support and focus efforts in this area of study that can be particularly beneficial to patients. Osteoporosis.--The Committee is aware that osteoporosis is becoming widespread in all ages of our population. The Committee encourages NIAMS to collaborate with other institutes to support research into the pathophysiology of bone loss in varied populations and in targeted therapies to improve bone density and bone quality according to the etiology of osteoporosis. Furthermore, the Committee encourages research to identify patients at risk for fracture who do not meet current criteria for osteoporosis, as well as to study the effects of available and developing osteoporosis treatments on the reduction of fracture risk in these patients. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS The Committee recommends $391,556,000 for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which is $1,902,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIDCD funds and conducts research in human communication. Included in its program areas are research and research training in the normal and disordered mechanisms of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language. The Institute addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders. In addition, NIDCD is actively involved in health promotion and disease prevention, dissemination of research results, and supports efforts to create devices that substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication functions. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NURSING RESEARCH The Committee recommends $136,550,000 for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), which is $792,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NINR supports and conducts scientific research and research training to reduce the burden of illness and disability; improve health-related quality of life; and establish better approaches to promote health and prevent disease. Behavioral research.--The Committee recognizes the importance of behavioral research in preventing and treating disease. While understanding the biological basis of disease is essential, behavioral factors have a critical influence on the onset, course, and duration of disease and in the successful management of many disease conditions. The Committee encourages NINR to support behavioral research, including research that examines the interactions of biological and behavioral factors and their effect on treatment and prevention. Eliminating health disparities.--Health disparities, whether in race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, continue to be of concern to the Committee. Reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities is a critical priority for all areas of healthcare research. The Committee encourages NINR to fund research into the causes of health disparities and into new ways to overcome such disparities. Developing new nurse scientists from underserved populations will prove valuable for encouraging new health disparities research. End of life research.--The Committee recognizes that improving the care of terminally ill patients and their loved ones at the end of life is an urgent public health need, especially in view of the increasing numbers of older Americans; and that additional research is needed in improving palliative care, improving patient/clinician communication, and reducing caregiver burden. The Committee appreciates NINR's leadership in promoting end-of-life research and encourages the institute's continued focus in this area. Research training.--Increasing the number of new nurse scientists is critical for advancing nursing research, especially in light of the ongoing nursing shortage. Innovative strategies for recruiting and training new researchers are needed. The Committee encourages NINR to support training programs that will develop the next generation of nurse scientists, especially those with multidisciplinary research skills and those from underserved populations. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM The Committee recommends $433,318,000 for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is $2,612,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIAAA supports research to generate new knowledge to answer crucial questions about why people drink; why some individuals are vulnerable to alcohol dependence or alcohol- related diseases and others are not; the relationship of genetic and environmental factors involved in alcoholism; the mechanisms whereby alcohol produces its disabling effects, including organ damage; how to prevent alcohol abuse and associated damage, especially in the underage population; and how alcoholism treatment can be improved. NIAAA addresses these questions through a program of biomedical, behavioral, and epidemiologic research on alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and related problems. Underage drinking.--The Committee is aware of new NIAAA- funded research findings suggesting that exposure to alcohol advertising increases the likelihood that young people will drink and drink heavily. The Committee encourages NIAAA to engage in additional study of alcohol advertising issues as an underage drinking prevention research priority, and encourages this research to include data on youth brand and beverage preferences. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE The Committee recommends $994,829,000 for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is $5,200,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIDA-supported science addresses questions about drug abuse and addiction, which range from its causes and consequences to its prevention and treatment. NIDA research explores how drugs of abuse affect the brain and behavior and develops effective prevention and treatment strategies; the Institute works to ensure the transfer of scientific data to policy makers, practitioners, and the public. Adolescent brain development.--The Committee notes neuroimaging research by NIDA and others showing that the human brain does not fully develop until about age 25. This adds to the rationale for referring to addiction as a ``developmental disease.'' The Committee encourages NIDA to continue its emphasis on adolescent brain development to better understand how developmental processes and outcomes are affected by drug exposure, the environment and genetics. Drug treatment in criminal justice setting.--The Committee is very concerned about the well-known connections between drug use and crime. Research continues to demonstrate that providing treatment to individuals involved in the criminal justice system significantly decreases future drug use and criminal behavior, while improving social functioning. The Committee supports NIDA's efforts in this area, particularly the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS). HIV/AIDS.--The Committee understands that one of the most significant causes of HIV virus acquisition and transmission is drug taking practices and related risk factors in different populations. Drug abuse prevention and treatment interventions can be very effective in reducing HIV risk. The Committee commends NIDA on its ``Drug Abuse and HIV--Learn the Link'' public awareness campaign, targeting young people, and encourages the Institute to continue supporting research that focuses on developing and testing drug-abuse related interventions designed to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Reducing health disparities.--The Committee notes that the consequences of drug abuse disproportionately impact minorities, especially African American populations. The Committee is pleased to learn that NIDA is encouraging researchers to conduct more studies in this population and to target studies in geographic areas where HIV/AIDS is high and/ or growing among African Americans, including in criminal justice settings. Reducing prescription drug abuse.--The Committee notes the continued increases in the numbers of people, especially young people, who use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. The Committee is particularly concerned about the inappropriate use of opiod analgesics--very powerful pain medications. The Committee commends NIDA for its research focus in this area, and for the new Prescription Opioid Use and Abuse in the Treatment of Pain initiative. Research targeting a reduction in prescription drug abuse, particularly among our nation's youth, should continue to be a priority for NIDA. Translating research to communities.--The Committee commends NIDA for its outreach and work with State substance abuse authorities to reduce the current 15-to-20-year lag between the discovery of an effective treatment intervention and its availability at the community level. In particular, the Committee applauds NIDA for continuing its work with SAMHSA to strengthen State agencies' capacity to support and engage in research that will foster statewide adoption of meritorious science-based policies and practices. The Committee encourages NIDA to continue collaborative work with states to ensure the research findings are relevant and adaptable by state substance abuse systems. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH The Committee recommends $1,394,806,000 for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is $8,709,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NIMH is responsible for research activities that seek to improve diagnosis, treatments, and overall quality of care for persons with mental illnesses. Disorders of high priority to NIMH include schizophrenia, depression and manic depressive illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and other mental and behavioral disorders that occur across the lifespan; these include childhood mental disorders such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; eating disorders; and other illnesses. NIMH supports and conducts fundamental research in neuroscience, genetics, and behavioral science. In addition to laboratory and controlled clinical studies, the NIMH supports research on the mental health needs of special populations and health services research. Adolescent depression and suicide.--Depressive disorders-- one of the major risk factors for suicide--continue to be very common in adolescence. The Committee is pleased to note that NIMH, in partnership with NIDA and NIAAA, is supporting three research centers whose primary focus is on new trials to reduce adolescent suicide, which now accounts for 13 percent of all adolescent deaths and ranks third as a cause of death among teenagers. The Committee therefore encourages NIMH to continue this investment in finding ways to better identify the risk factors in children and adolescents, and examining the outcomes of actions taken to assist those found to be at risk. Alzheimer's disease.--NIMH continues to play an important part in efforts to develop effective treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. The Institute is currently supporting research examining various aspects of the pathophysiology and genetics of Alzheimer's disease, and studies examining behavioral, emotional and psychiatric symptoms associated with the disorder and their treatment. The Committee encourages NIMH to continue to assign a high priority to this research. Disaster relief.--The Committee encourages NIMH to consider supporting the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) mental health consortium to serve as a clearinghouse for responding to the mental health needs of the poor and underserved immediately following a disaster. Down syndrome.--The Committee encourages NIMH to develop new strategies for cataloging, understanding, diagnosing and treating behavioral disorders that are common in people with Down syndrome, including autism, pervasive developmental disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and psychosis. The Committee encourages NIMH to coordinate its research on Down syndrome with NICHD, NINDS, NIA and other institutes. Epilepsy.--The Committee applauds the NIMH for its recent RFA on the etiology and treatment of comorbid mental and neurologic disorders. Studies looking at the connections between epilepsy and depression as well as the cognitive burden of epilepsy are of particular importance and relevance to this initiative. The Committee encourages NIMH to actively participate in the NINDS 2007 ``Curing Epilepsy'' conference and to continue to advance research related to epilepsy and mental health. Mental health for older Americans.--The Committee is aware that demographics will demand a greatly increased focus on mental disorders in older persons and commends NIMH for recently recognizing the need to place higher priority on the mental health needs of that population. The Committee encourages the Institute to follow through on the 2004 recommendations promulgated by the NIMH Aging Research Workgroup and the restructuring of the Adult and Geriatric Treatment and Preventive Intervention Research Branch. However, the Committee believes it is critical that studies related to the elderly keep pace with the rapid growth of this cohort. Despite the recent internal reorganization to focus intervention efforts on the aging population, the Committee encourages NIMH to continue to emphasize research on adults over age 65 to reflect the growth in numbers of this population, particularly in light of the public health consequences of an inadequate knowledge base about late-life mental illness. A correlating issue is the need for greater numbers of investigators focused on late-life mental health research. Therefore, the Committee encourages NIMH to expand research in this area, including issues relating to neurodegenerative disorders, and to provide adequate resources to advance the geriatric mental health research agenda. The Committee encourages NIMH to continue its commitment to research on late-life mental illness as a means to act as a catalyst for investigators to focus on this critical area of research. Minority training.--The Committee is disappointed to learn that NIMH intends to reduce its commitment to training minority scientists through the Minority Fellowship Program and the Career Opportunities in Research Program. Both of these programs have demonstrated success in training biomedical and behavioral scientists who are addressing critical ethnic minority mental health issues. The Minority Fellowship Program in particular has been an important national program that has provided access to training to all, without regional or university-specific restrictions. The Committee encourages NIMH to continue to fund programs to meet the demands for research on disparities in mental disorders. Parkinson's disease.--The Committee encourages continued collaborations including additional intramural activities between NINDS, NIMH, and NIA to enhance understanding of the important psychiatric component of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's. Psoriasis.--Psoriasis is associated with elevated rates of mental disability, depression and suicidal ideation. The Committee encourages NIMH to conduct research into the mental health aspects of psoriasis, especially as it relates to quality of life and burden of the disease. Furthermore, a 2005 study of 44 autoimmune diseases found that only psoriasis, when present in women around the time of pregnancy, was significantly associated with autism, doubling the risk of autism spectrum disorder in their children. The Committee encourages NIMH to support further study of the link between psoriasis and autism. NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE The Committee recommends $482,942,000 for the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), which is $3,107,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NHGRI coordinates extramural and intramural research, as well as research training, in the areas of genomics and genetics. The Division of Extramural Research supports research on sequence and function of both human and non-human genomes, human genetic variation, technology development for genome research, database management and analysis, and research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genome research. The Division of Intramural Research focuses on applying the tools and technologies of the successful Human Genome Project to understanding the genetic and environmental basis of disease, and developing DNA-based diagnostics and gene-based therapies. Cancer genome.--The Committee commends NHGRI and NCI for jointly launching the pilot phase of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). This important new effort will accelerate the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis technologies, including large- scale genome sequencing. Using technologies developed by the Human Genome Project and recent advances in applying genetic information to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, this effort should lead to new tests to detect cancer in its early, most treatable stages; new ways to predict which cancers will respond to which treatments; new therapies to target cancer at its most vulnerable points; and, ultimately, new strategies to prevent cancer. Genes and environment.--The Committee commends NIH and the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH) for initiating the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN), a public-private partnership using genetic analysis of existing case-control studies to identify the genetic roots of common illnesses. The Committee also commends NIH for building on the momentum of GAIN to advance the trans-NIH and DHHS Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI), beginning in fiscal year 2007. This new research effort combines genetic analysis and environmental technology development to understand the causes of common diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma, and heart disease. The Committee encourages NHGRI to work with the NIEHS on this important project. The Committee also encourages NHGRI to follow up on the working group recommendations on a ``Population-Based Cohort Study to Determine the Relationships among Genes, Environment, and Health.'' This kind of prospective cohort study of a large sample of Americans could provide a valuable complement to the work of GAIN and GEI. Liver disease.--The Committee encourages NHGRI to focus on the genetic component of biliary atresia and other liver diseases with a significant identified genetic component. Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI).--The Committee commends NHGRI for its outstanding work in creating a collaboration to develop a newborn screening test for X-linked SCID, the most severe form of primary immunodeficiency. The Committee looks forward to learning of the results of this effort and encourages further use of this model of public- private partnerships. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).--The Committee is aware that SMA carrier testing is available to help persons of childbearing age make more informed reproductive decisions with regard to the risk of SMA in their offspring. The Committee encourages NHGRI to develop a pilot program to assess the optimal practices for delivery of population-based screening for SMA carriers. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL IMAGING AND BIOENGINEERING The Committee recommends $294,850,000 for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), which is $1,960,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--The NIBIB mission is to improve human health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies. The Institute is committed to integrating the engineering and physical sciences with the life sciences to advance basic research and medical care. Liver tissue engineering.--The Committee encourages NIBIB to focus efforts on expanding the Tissue Engineering Program to examine how the development and function of engineered tissues and organs can improve treatment techniques for patients afflicted with liver disease. Liver imaging techniques.--Consistent with NIBIB's mission to improve all diagnostic imaging technologies, the Committee encourages NIBIB to continue to make liver imaging techniques a primary focus, speeding the development of new modalities that better capture the early stages of various liver diseases, including cancer, as well as offering the potential for less invasive combinations of diagnosis and treatment and the evaluation of livers from cadaver donors. The Committee encourages NIBIB to participate actively in trans-NIH initiatives that address these priorities. Technological competitiveness.--As the institute charged with developing new technologies with broad applications to virtually all of the diseases and organ systems that constitute the missions of the other NIH institutes, NIBIB can play a key role in strengthening U.S. technological competitiveness. The leadership of NIBIB in supporting research at the interface of the physical and life sciences is especially important in light of the President's proposal to increase our investment significantly in basic research in the physical sciences. NIH is responsible for more than 50 percent of total federal spending for basic scientific research and thus can contribute substantially to this plan. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES The Committee recommends $1,123,242,000 for the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), which is $24,141,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $25,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee includes bill language identifying $25,000,000 for extramural facility construction, which is $25,000,000 above the request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Mission.--The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) provides laboratory scientists and clinical researchers with environments and tools that they can use to prevent, detect, and treat a wide range of diseases. This support enables discoveries that begin at the molecular and cellular level, move to animal-based studies, and then are translated to patient-oriented clinical research, resulting in cures and treatments for both common and rare diseases. NCRR connects researchers with each other and with patients and communities across the nation to bring the power of shared resources and research to improve human health. Extramural facilities.--The Committee provides $25,000,000 for extramural facilities construction grants. The Committee encourages NCRR to give special consideration to applications for extramural construction from potential grantees in states who are under-represented with regard to NIH awards and to projects at historically minority institutions that have developed a comprehensive plan to address the disproportionate impact of cancer in minority communities. The Committee requests to be notified of expenditures under this program, including the primary purpose of facilities selected for funding, after the peer review process for extramural awards has been completed. The Committee intends that facilities for research on infectious agents and countermeasures should be eligible to compete for this funding. General Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs)/Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs).--In fiscal year 2006 Congress provided funds to begin the CTSA program, in order to move basic research into clinical practice and fundamentally transform clinical and translational research. The Committee is pleased that NIH, through NCRR, has developed the mechanisms necessary to foster the interdisciplinary collaborations that are increasingly necessary for success in curing disease. The Committee understands that the clinical research services provided through the current GCRCs will be a component of the CTSAs. These clinical services, as well as other linked clinical grant mechanisms, will provide the locus for a robust clinical and translational research enterprise. As the CTSA initiative is implemented, the Committee reminds NIH about the need to ensure that the program improves on the current clinical research infrastucture provided through the existing GCRCs. The Committee requests a report on NCRR's progress in implementing the CTSA program by July 1, 2007. Institutional Development Awards (IDeA).--The Committee recommends $215,938,000 for the IDeA program, which is the same as the budget request and $4,048,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The Committee recognizes the importance of the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) programs, and expects funding for COBRE to be at a level of at least $130,000,000 and INBRE funding to be at least $85,000,000. Research centers at minority institutions (RCMI).--The Committee continues to recognize the critical role played by minority institutions at both the graduate and undergraduate level in addressing the health research and training needs of minority populations. These programs help facilitate the preparation of a new generation of scientists at these institutions. The RCMI program continues to impact significantly on these problems. The Committee encourages NIH to strengthen participation from minority institutions and increase resources available in this area. The Committee also encourages NIH to work with minority institutions with a track record of producing minority scholars in science and technology. NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE The Committee recommends $120,554,000 for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is $911,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NCCAM was established to stimulate, develop, and support rigorous and relevant research of high quality and open, objective inquiry into the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices and to train individuals to apply the tools of exacting science to CAM systems and modalities in order to provide health care professionals and the American public with reliable information about these practices. Ameliorating liver disease.--The Committee is pleased with NCCAM's efforts to conduct clinical trials in collaboration with NIDDK regarding the use of milk thistle as a possible treatment in slowing the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and to reduce the side effects of hepatitis C interferon treatments. The Committee looks forward to the development and dissemination of the research results associated with the use of milk thistle as a treatment to ameliorate liver disease. Parkinson's disease (PD).--The Committee encourages NCCAM to continue exploration of exercise in its many forms including aerobic, anaerobic and exercises such as Tai Chi Chuan in the treatment of PD. Recent studies show exercise may increase neuroprotective chemicals in the brain and decrease falls in the elderly. The Committee also encourages continued research into significant non-motor co-morbidities in Parkinson's including magnetic stimulation for depression, and the phytomedicine Valerian for sleep dysfunction. Finally, NCCAM is encouraged to work the Office of Dietary Supplements in investigating supplements which may be neuroprotective, such as berries, alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, acetyl-L- carnitine, vitamin E, ginko biloba, vitamin D, vitamin B12, phosphatidylcholine, and glyconutrients. In light of the many ways cell death can occur, NCCAM is encouraged to study the concurrent implementation of multiple exercise and nutrition- based strategies. NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES The Committee recommends $194,299,000 for the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), which is $1,106,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--NCMHD conducts and supports research, training, information dissemination and other programs aimed at reducing the disproportionately high incidence and prevalence of disease, burden of illness and mortality experienced by certain American populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and other groups, such as the urban and rural poor, with disparate health status. Cancer in minority communities.--The Committee commends NCMHD for its leadership in addressing the disproportionate impact of cancer in minority communities. The Committee encourages NCMHD to consider collaborating with NCRR and NCI to support the establishment of a cancer center at a historically minority institution focused on research, treatment, and prevention of cancer in African American and other minority communities. Disaster-related mental health issues in minority communities.--The Committee is aware that Hispanic survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may have experienced increased risks for certain mental health conditions due, in part, to barriers encountered in the mainstream mental health and disaster relief systems. Therefore the Committee encourages NCHMD to seek out research sites that can conduct research into culturally-competent and linguistically-appropriate treatment strategies for minority survivors of natural and man-made disasters; to develop and evaluate community-based pilot programs to test such strategies; and to submit a report to Congress including recommendations for public policy and practice to improve the Hispanic community's access to quality mental health treatment. Extramural facility construction.--The Committee commends NCMHD for its successful ``Project EXPORT'' initiative and encourages continued support for this important program. Finally, the Committee encourages the director of NCMHD to coordinate with the NIH Director and the National Center for Research Resources to support extramural facility construction and the development of other research and research library infrastructure at minority health professions schools. Glomerular disease.--The Committee understands that glomerular disease, a group of diseases affecting the filtering mechanisms of the kidneys, is more prevalent among African Americans than the general population. The Committee encourages NCMHD to explore collaboration with NIDDK to support research activities related to glomerular injury and requests a report on progress made in this area by August 1, 2007. Health disparities among Hispanic-Americans.--The Committee is aware of promising research about health disparities among Hispanic-Americans that is being conducted, and is particularly impressed that this is the first study of its scope that has been implemented in a Hispanic population in the United States. The Committee therefore encourages NCMHD to continue to conduct similar research, in close coordination with Hispanic researchers and faculty at institutes of higher education that have experience in regional factors affecting such health disparities, with the goal of identifying the best proposals and the most promising avenues for national, regional and disease-specific research in order to continue to make progress in addressing health disparities among Hispanic-Americans. Liver disease.--The Committee notes that many liver diseases, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, are more common in the African-American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander and Native American populations, than in whites. In addition, access to and acceptance of care is particularly problematic in these populations. The Committee therefore continues to encourage NCMHD to initiate and participate with NIDDK, NIDA and NCI in research focused on addressing and reducing these disparities and requests that NCMHD report on progress in this regard by July 1, 2007. Lung disease.--The Committee is concerned with the disproportionate impact of lung diseases on minority populations. The Committee encourages the NCMHD to partner with other NIH institutes, including NHLBI, to develop an epidemiological approach to determine the disproportionate impact of airway disease on minority populations. Research endowment.--The Committee commends NCMHD for its leadership in addressing the longstanding problem of health disparities in minority and medically underserved populations. For fiscal year 2007, the Committee continues to encourage NCMHD to implement its successful Research Endowment program as an ongoing initiative. Moreover, the Committee encourages NCMHD to implement the program in a manner that is consistent with the authorizing legislation. JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER The Committee recommends $66,681,000 for the Fogarty International Center (FIC), which is $303,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Mission.--FIC was established to improve the health of the people of the United States and other nations through international cooperation in the biomedical sciences. In support of this mission, the FIC pursues the following four goals: mobilize international research efforts against global health threats; advance science through international cooperation; develop human resources to meet global research challenges; and provide leadership in international science policy and research strategies. American Russian Cancer Alliance (ARCA).--The Committee again recognizes the members of ARCA in their continued pursuit of novel cancer research activities that capitalize on the particular strengths of the respective participating institutions, and notes the achievements in the ARCA-sponsored projects in molecular imaging and radioisotope-targeted cancer therapy and diagnosis. As the principal NIH institute charged with overseeing and supporting international biomedical scientific activities and initiatives, FIC is well positioned to provide grant support for bi-national pilot studies, and the Committee looks to Fogarty to assist the Alliance in identifying and, when appropriate, in applying for support of pilot studies in cancer prevention, treatment, or diagnosis research. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).--The Committee encourages FIC to expand its COPD research and training activities. Tuberculosis training.--The Committee is pleased with FIC's efforts to supplement grants in the AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) and International Training and Research Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases (ERID), which train tuberculosis experts in the developing world. Given the magnitude of global TB, the Committee encourages FIC to develop a specific free-standing TB training program. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE The Committee recommends $313,269,000 for the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which is $1,641,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. In addition, $8,200,000 is made available from program evaluation funds as requested by the Administration to support the National Center on Health Services Research, which is equal to what was provided in fiscal year 2006. Mission.--NLM collects, organizes, and disseminates information important to biomedicine; serves as a national information resource for medical education, research, and health service activities; enhances access to biomedical literature through electronic services; serves the public by providing electronic access to reliable health information for consumers; supports and directs the National Network of Libraries of Medicine; provides grants for research in biomedical communications, medical library development, and training health information specialists; conducts and supports research in biomedical informatics and computational biology; and creates information resources for genomics, molecular biology, toxicology, medical images, environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, and health services research. Disease management technology.--The Committee encourages NLM to conduct outreach activities to all public and private sector organizations that have demonstrated capabilities in health information technology. The Committee is particularly interested in disease management technology as it relates to improving care for the chronically ill and reducing health care costs. Outreach.--The Committee encourages NLM, in coordination with medical librarians and other health information specialists, to continue its outreach activities aimed at educating health care professionals and the general public about its products and services. PubMed Central.--The Committee commends NLM for its leadership in developing PubMed Central, an electronic online repository for life science articles. Because of the high level of expertise health information specialists have in the organization, collection, and dissemination of medical information, the Committee believes that health sciences librarians have a key role to play in the further development of PubMed Central. The Committee encourages NLM to work with the medical library community regarding issues related to copyright, fair use, peer-review and classification of information on PubMed Central. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) The Committee recommends $667,825,000 for the Office of the Director (OD), which is $140,259,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Included within funding for the Office of the Director is $96,030,000 for radiological, nuclear and chemical countermeasures. It is intended that the Director allocate these funds to those institutes that support these areas of countermeasure research. Mission.--OD provides leadership to the NIH research enterprise and coordinates and directs initiatives that cross- cut the NIH. OD is responsible for the development and management of intramural and extramural research and research training policy, the review of program quality and effectiveness, the coordination of selected NIH-wide program activities, and the administration of centralized support activities essential to the operations of NIH. The bill repeats language included in prior years authorizing the collection of third party payments for the cost of clinical services, providing the Director of NIH with one percent transfer authority, and allocating up to $500,000 of funds within the Office of the Director appropriation for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. The Committee recommends $120,700,000 within the Office of the Director for the Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF), which is the same as the request and $28,630,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. In addition, the Committee recommendation includes $159,500,000 for the advanced development of biodefense countermeasures. The Committee also includes bill language providing $10,000 as requested by the Administration for representation allowances when specifically approved by the Director of NIH. The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives (OPASI) as requested by the Administration. The Committee believes that OPASI is a critical mechanism to review the NIH research portfolio as a whole, to address the issues raised by external groups about the coding of diseases for funding reporting, and, most importantly, as a tool to help direct future research efforts in order to maximize the significant public investment in biomedical research to cure disease. The Committee includes bill language from last year's bill identifying maximum of $332,000,000 that may be transferred from ICs to the Common Fund, which supports activities that are of benefit to multiple institutes and centers. The language also requires the Director to report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations every six months detailing all deposits to and expenditures from the Common Fund. Priority setting.--The Committee recognizes the role of serendipity in science, but continues to believe that thorough and thoughtful strategic planning is a far superior alternative. The Committee commends each IC that has undertaken a strategic planning process in conjunction with the best and brightest minds in the extramural community. Accordingly, the Committee directs each IC to develop a report, to be submitted no later than February 15, 2007, that identifies, by IC, measures to be taken to ensure that awards made via the peer review process in fiscal year 2007 and beyond reflect the strategic plans that have been published by each IC in conjunction with the extramural community. The Committee expects that such reports will identify specific steps such as mechanisms to ensure that strategic directions, as identified in strategic plans, are included in the peer review process for unsolicited grant applications as well as an increased emphasis on the use of requests for applications (RFAs) that identify specific research themes to achieve the strategic goals of each IC, as identified in the strategic plan. Furthermore, the Committee expects that each IC will adopt a tactical approach to implementing strategic plans so as to maximize the significant public investment with the ultimate aim of curing diseases. Office of Research on Women's Health The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) works in collaboration with the institutes and centers of NIH to promote and foster efforts to address gaps in knowledge related to women's health through the enhancement and expansion of funded research and/or the initiation of new investigative studies. ORWH is responsible for ensuring the inclusion of women in clinical research funded by NIH, including the development of a computerized tracking system and the implementation of guidelines on such inclusion. ORWH is also involved in promoting programs to increase the number of women in biomedical science careers, and in the development of women's health and sex and gender factors in biology as a focus of medical/scientific research. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).--The Committee is pleased with the increased focus on IBS at ORWH and encourages the office to continue expanding research on this prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder. Office of AIDS Research The Office of AIDS Research (OAR) is responsible for coordination of the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the NIH AIDS research program. OAR develops a comprehensive plan for NIH AIDS-related research activities which is updated annually. The plan is the basis for the president's budget distribution of AIDS-related funds to the Institutes, and centers within NIH. The Committee expects the Director of NIH to use this plan and the budget developed by OAR to guide his decisions on the allocation of AIDS funding among the Institutes. The Director of NIH also should use the full authority of his office to ensure that the institutes and centers spend their AIDS research dollars in a manner consistent with the plan. In addition, OAR allocates an emergency AIDS discretionary fund to support research that was not anticipated when budget allocations were made. The Committee has included the same general provisions in bill language that were contained in the fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill. This language permits the Director of OAR, jointly with the Director of NIH, to transfer between ICs up to three percent of the funding determined by NIH to be related to AIDS research. This authority could be exercised throughout the fiscal year subject to normal reprogramming procedures, and is intended to give NIH flexibility to adjust the AIDS allocations among institutes if research opportunities and needs should change. The Committee also repeats language from last year's bill making the research funds identified by NIH as being AIDS- related available to the OAR account for transfer to the institutes. This provision permits the flow of funds through the OAR in the spirit of the authorization legislation without requiring the Congress to earmark a specific dollar amount for AIDS research. Office of Dietary Supplements The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) was established in recognition that dietary supplements can have an important impact on the prevention and management of disease and on the maintenance of health. ODS is charged with promoting, conducting, and coordinating scientific research within NIH relating to dietary supplements. Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) provides leadership and direction for the development of a trans-NIH plan to increase the scope of and support for behavioral and social science research and in defining an overall strategy for the integration of these disciplines across NIH institutes and centers; develops initiatives to stimulate research in the behavioral and social sciences arena and integrate a biobehavioral perspective across the research areas of NIH; and promotes studies to evaluate the contributions of behavioral, social and lifestyle determinants in the development, course, treatment, and prevention of illness and related public health problems. Basic behavioral research.--The Committee encourages OBSSR to continue working to build alliances among institutes that support and nurture basic behavioral and social sciences research. In particular, the Committee encourages OBSSR to partner with NIGMS and other funders of basic research to enhance support for work on methods, animal models, and the interplay of biological factors, behavioral and social influences underlying phenomena such as stress that influence multiple health conditions. Office of Rare Disease Research The Office of Rare Disease Research (ORD) was established in recognition of the need to provide a focal point of attention and coordination at NIH for research on rare diseases. ORD works with Federal and non-Federal national and international organizations concerned with rare disease research and orphan products development; develops a centralized database on rare diseases research; and stimulates rare diseases research by supporting scientific workshops and symposia to identify research opportunities. Pediatric liver diseases.--The Committee is pleased that ORD has continued to provide significant funding to support 10 centers within the Biliary Atresia Clinical Research Consortium, as well as working with NCRR to research cholastatic liver disease in children. Multi-Institute Research Issues Amyloidosis.--The Committee encourages NIH to continue to intensify its research efforts into the amyloidosis, a group of rare diseases characterized by abnormally folded protein deposits in tissues. These diseases are often fatal and there is no known cure. Treatment involving large-dose intravenous chemotherapy followed by stem cell replacement or rescue is effective for many patients, but this procedure is risky, unsuitable for many patients, and not a cure. The Committee understands that NIH will be holding a national conference on amyloidosis and participating in an international conference. The Committee looks forward to being informed on the results of these conferences and to receiving from NIH the results and recommendations identifying the next steps that need to be taken to increase the understanding, prevention and treatment of this devastating group of diseases. Clinical and translational research.--The Committee believes that using clinical and translational research to move scientific advances developed in the laboratory to mainstream medical practice is critical to the effort to cure disease. As such, the Committee commends NIH for launching the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, which will help to transform the manner in which basic and applied research reach patients. Accordingly, the Committee encourages NIH to expand the use of this concept across multiple ICs as quickly as possible in order to ensure that potentially life-saving breakthroughs reach patients without delay. The Committee requests a report by April 1, 2007 detailing NIH's progress in this area, including identifying any potential barriers to widespread implementation of the CSTA program. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.--The Committee is aware that Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) is a major genetic risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The Committee commends NIH, particularly NHLBI, for its plans to focus additional research in the area of COPD. The Committee encourages NHLBI, NIDDK, NHGRI and other appropriate institutes to enhance the NIH research portfolio, encourage targeted detection, raise public awareness about Alpha-1 and provide appropriate information to health professionals. Autism and vaccines.--The Committee continues to be aware of concerns about reports of a possible association between the measles component of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and a subset of autism termed autistic entercolitis. The Committee continues its interest in this issue and encourages the Interagency Coordinating Committee to continue to give serious attention to these reports. The Committee is aware that NIH-supported research is underway, and encourages NIH to avoid further delays in this research. The Committee is also concerned that there is some evidence that infant exposures to thimerosal in the 1990s may be related to the epidemic of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. CDC's most extensive review of Vaccine Safety Datalink data concluded that more research needs to be conducted in this arena to answer these questions with certainty. The Committee concurs with the need for this continued research, particularly given the recent expansion of flu vaccine for children and the fact that most childhood vaccines administered in developing countries still contain thimerosal. The Committee encourages NIH to dedicate significant resources to pursue the recommended research initiatives outlined in the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Immunization Review. These reports have identified the research needed to understand better why a number of children suffer severe adverse reactions to childhood vaccines. Continuation of this research to develop a better understanding of biological mechanism is critical to understanding with certainty whether or not thimerosal and other vaccines exposures might cause increased risks for some children. Autism spectrum disorders.--The Committee is encouraged by NIH's autism research matrix and encourages NIH to devote sufficient resources to this research agenda. The Committee encourages NIH when implementing the autism research matrix to coordinate with autism organizations already funding research initiatives to ensure the most efficient use of its resources. The Committee also notes the promise of particular areas cited in the matrix, including genetic, gene-environment interactions, behavioral characterizations of the disorder, screening and early diagnosis, and the development of evidence- based interventions. Carcinoid tumor disease.--Carcinoid cancer and related neuroendocrine tumors are small, slow growing tumors found mostly in the gastrointestinal system, but can also be found in other parts of the body such as the pancreas and the lung. The Committee encourages the Director to expand and coordinate research and related activities with respect to carcinoid disease and carcinoid tumor biology across all relevant institutes, centers and offices, particularly at NCI, to help foster early and accurate diagnosis as well as develop new, safe, and effective treatments for the disease and move toward a cure. In addition, the Committee encourages NCI to hold a summit on carcinoid cancer and requests a report by June 1, 2007 on future research plans for carcinoid cancer. Chromosome abnormalities.--The Committee commends NIH for its efforts over the past year to encourage new research into molecular, genetic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of chromosome abnormalities. Because of the multisystemic consequences of a chromosome abnormality, multidisciplinary and multi-institute support by NIH will be required in order to make progress that will be meaningful to those affected. The Committee continues to encourage NIH to seek ways to expand and intensify such research, especially studies involving the syndromes of chromosome 18. Cystic fibrosis.--The Committee commends the Director and NIH for facilitating progress in finding new ways to treat individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Progress from the 1960s when children with CF did not live long enough to attend elementary school to today's median life expectancy of 35 years has resulted from significant contributions of both NIH and the private sector. The Committee encourages NIH to support more research in CF to cure this disease, a goal that is achievable, and can result in lessons to benefit research on other rare, genetic diseases. The Committee commends the Director for recent initiatives in the NIH Roadmap to re-engineer the clinical research system by issuing grants to establish integrative academic homes for clinical and translational science. The Committee encourages the Director to consider as a model the CF clinical trials network, and to continue to support this model network, which is making great advances in developing new treatments for cystic fibrosis. Down syndrome.--The Committee encourages the Director to establish an NIH Down syndrome research task force on cognition to develop a strategic plan for genetic and neurobiological research relating to the cognitive dysfunction and the progressive late-life dementia associated with Down syndrome. The purpose of the strategic plan is to provide a guide for coordinating Down syndrome research on cognition across NIH and for enhancing the development of new research efforts based on identification of areas of greatest scientific opportunity, especially as they relate to the development of future treatments. The plan should include short, intermediate and long-term goals for basic and clinical research with strategies for achieving goals and with specified time frames for implementation. Dystonia.--The Committee is very pleased with progress demonstrated by the NIH intramural research program in the treatment and understanding of dystonia. NIH intramural researchers have successfully utilized injections of Botox to treat many patients who otherwise would be severely debilitated by dystonia. The Committee encourages continued work in this important area of study and treatment. Gene therapy research.--The Committee is encouraged by promising research being undertaken in gene therapy, especially in regard to thalassemia, or Cooley's anemia. The Committee is concerned, however, that the current mechanism for funding gene therapy research, while promoting advancement of individual components of gene therapy, lacks an overarching strategy that will coalesce these advances and encourage the ultimate goal of curing genetic disorders expeditiously. The Committee is equally concerned that the most innovative research in curative gene therapy is being conducted in Europe rather than in the U.S. Last year, the Committee urged the Director to assess the prospects for the most promising areas for breakthroughs in this field and to develop an aggressive program to focus resources on it. A meeting was convened on the topic, but the Committee believes that more focused and aggressive action is needed. NIH should assess the prospects for success in a broad range of diseases, with the goal of curing a single gene disorder in the shortest possible time utilizing gene therapy. The Committee requests a plan for implementing an aggressive research agenda by January 1, 2007. Heart disease research and prevention action plan.--The Committee is pleased to learn that the NIH, through the NHLBI, will convene a national conference in 2006 to assess progress and opportunities in heart disease research and prevention and to develop a comprehensive, long-range, trans-agency action plan. The Committee looks forward to receiving the report by March 1, 2007, and expects the report to be a long-range, trans-agency action plan on heart disease research and prevention, with quantifiable goals and benchmarks to measure progress in the battle against heart disease. Human tissue supply.--The Committee remains interested in matching the increased needs of NIH grantees and intramural researchers who rely upon human tissues and organs to study disease and search for cures, including for those researchers dedicated to the study and cure of rare diseases. The Committee is aware that NIH has established a multi-institute initiative on human tissue supply. While this is promising, there is still an unmet demand for the use of human tissue in research. The Committee encourages the Director to strengthen the core for this initiative and to broaden its scope to other institutes such as NCI, NHLBI, and NINDS that have not previously participated in the initiative's core support. Lymphatic research and lymphatic diseases.--In light of the transformational impact of lymphatic biology and disease research, which requires the participation of multiple institutes and centers, the Committee encourages the Director to give careful consideration to the development of an initiative for lymphatic biology and disease under the auspices of OPASI. In addition, the Committee encourages the Director and the Trans-NIH Coordinating Committee on the Lymphatic System to pursue the goals of fostering lymphatic research initiatives and awareness across all NIH institutes and centers. Microbicides.--There is an urgent need to expand the development pipeline with more microbicide candidate products, particularly those that target HIV in new ways. In addition to candidates that may arise from basic research efforts, the best possibilities may be found within pharmaceutical companies where there are, today, dozens of potential compounds already developed as therapeutics that could move into clinical development as microbicides if made available. As outlined in the ``NIH Roadmap,'' NIH has mechanisms in place to encourage partnerships among researchers in academia, government and the private sector. The Committee encourages the leadership at NIH to support the microbicide field by encouraging the pharmaceutical industry to allow its drug candidates to be developed as microbicides. In recent years, the International Partnership for Microbicides has entered into innovative agreements with leading pharmaceutical companies to test and develop leading AIDS drugs as microbicides. More partnerships like these between the pharmaceutical industry and the non- profit community will be critical. Microbicides to prevent HIV/AIDS.--The Committee notes with alarm that being female, married and poor are often the most significant risk factors for acquiring HIV. Once developed, microbicides will be a critical element of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS that takes into account the unequal impact of the epidemic on women. The Committee encourages greater emphasis on microbicide research and development at NIH. The Committee has long advocated that NIH establish a dedicated microbicide unit with clearly identified leadership, funding and staffing to accelerate and coordinate NIH-supported microbicide research. Greater leadership and coordination on this issue is especially critical given that a microbicide- specific clinical trial network is under active review for approval. Minority institution research infrastructure.--The Committee continues to be pleased with the NIH Director's implementation of various programs focused on developing research infrastructure at minority health professions institutions, including Research Centers at Minority Institutions, extramural biomedical research facilities, and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The Committee encourages the NIH Director to work closely with the Director of NCMHD to establish a program of coordination among these various mechanisms to partner with minority health professions schools to address their infrastructure needs. Mucolipidosis Type IV (ML4).--The Committee commends NINDS, NIMH and NICHD for efforts to create a strain of mice that replicates the genetic mutation that causes ML4 in humans. The Committee encourages continued research in the effort to cure ML4 and similar genetic disorders. Musculoskeletal trauma and skeletal pain.--The Committee encourages NIAMS, NIA, NIDCR, and NCCAM to study ways to understand better the epidemiology of back pain, and improve on or develop new diagnostic techniques for back pain. The Committee also encourages expansion of research to improve diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to lower the impact of musculoskeletal trauma. Osteoporosis and bone health action plan.--The Committee appreciates the report the Surgeon General submitted on bone health in October 2004. In the report, the Surgeon General calls for a national action plan for bone health. To accomplish this, the Committee encourages NIH to convene a national summit and develop a National Action Plan for Bone Health and Osteoporosis. Parkinson's disease (PD).--The Committee continues to encourage NIH to develop a strategic plan for future investments in PD research, based on the findings of a planning conference tasked with identifying the current shortcomings and future opportunities for more effective treatments and potential cures for the disease, and with a clearly defined budget for achieving those objectives. The Committee understood last year that NIH convened a conference in June of 2005 and instructed NIH to report back to Congress the conclusions and recommended research plan for the next three years of PD research. The Committee further encourages NIH to submit an implementation plan that outlines progress already made and specific results of investments outlined in that plan by June 30, 2007. The Committee also encourages continued collaborations including additional intramural activities between NINDS, NIMH, NIA and NHGRI to enhance understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and develop therapeutic applications for gene discoveries. Psoriasis.--The Committee encourages the Director to expand and coordinate research and related activities with respect to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis across all relevant ICs, particularly at NIAMS and NIAID, to help foster new, safe, and effective treatments for these diseases and move toward a cure. Rett syndrome.--The Committee applauds NIH's continued commitment to Rett syndrome research, a gentically-based neurological disorder seen almost exclusive in females, which is estimated to occur in approximately one in ten thousand female births. Recent discoveries suggest that mutations in the gene responsible for Rett syndrome are associated with other disorders including learning disability, autism, schizophrenia, mental retardation, and in infant males, a progressive, fatal encephalopathy. New basic biomedical discoveries are also providing insights on general mechanisms of postnatal brain development, providing a roadmap of new avenues of interventions with the potential to treat Rett syndrome and other neurological disorders. The Committee is pleased that NINDS, NIMH, and NICHD have partnered with existing advocacy groups in the development of co-funded projects, and encourages additional support for development of new animal models and for continuation of the ongoing genotype/phenotype investigations to hasten progress in eliminating this and other neurologically based disorders. The Committee encourages expansion of research in applied areas that will improve the quality of life for individuals with Rett syndrome and others with communicative disorders, and encourages NIH to redouble its effort to integrate the work of appropriate institutes in this area, including NICHD, NINDS, NIA, NIMH, NIDCD, NHGRI, NHLBI, NIAMS, NIDDK, NIGMS, and NCRR. The Committee also admires the progress made by the Office of Rare Diseases in the development of the Rare Disease Clinical Research Network, and is pleased by the implementation of clinical research protocols to create better understanding of the scope of Rett syndrome and other rare disorders. Shaken baby syndrome.--The Committee encourages NIH to expand its programs to raise public awareness of shaken baby syndrome (SBS) and to expand its programs of research on the prevention and treatment of the syndrome. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).--The Committee encourages the Director to ensure the success of the SMA project by providing active and ongoing support from the OD as well as from other related institutes. The Committee is aware that the current SMA project is scheduled to conclude in 2007 and encourages the Director to begin planning for the necessary follow-on effort to maximize the results of this innovative project for SMA and to ensure it serves as a model for other diseases. Study of gender differences.--The Committee notes that in 2001 the Institute of Medicine released a report that stressed the importance of gender as a basic variable that needs to be considered in all areas of biomedical research. Recent findings have demonstrated that significant differences between men and women exist in health and disease. One of the fields where such differences are most pronounced is neuroscience. The Committee encourages each of the fifteen institutes involved in the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint to analyze carefully its entire NIH Neuroscience Blueprint research portfolio to ensure gender is included as a variable, when appropriate, and to require that all reported results include gender specific analysis. The Committee requests a written report from the Director that includes information on the progress of these efforts at all fifteen of the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint institutes prior to the fiscal year 2008 hearings. Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS).--The Committee encourages the Director to develop collaborative, multidisciplinary research, translational and clinical studies on SWS with appropriate institutes and centers, as well as with other, appropriate government agencies. The Committee encourages NIH to utilize all appropriate mechanisms and resources in carrying out these studies. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).--TSC is a genetic disorder that triggers uncontrollable tumor growth in multiple organs of the body, including the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, eyes or skin. Because of the effects of TSC on multiple organ systems, the Committee encourages the Office of the Director to work with all institutes involved in TSC research to revise the 10-year TSC Research Plan into a comprehensive TSC Research Strategy for a Cure. The Committee encourages NIH to organize a conference with all institutes supporting TSC research. Also, the Committee encourages the Director to support translational research and to fund new investigators in the TSC research field. The Committee is encouraged by the collaborative efforts that have been brought forth to produce the Program Announcement on Understanding and Treating Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. The Committee encourages NIH to continue this program announcement in future years and expand the number of participating institutes. Vulvodynia.--Since fiscal year 1998, Congress has highlighted the need for research on the prevalence, causes and treatment of vulvodynia, a painful and often debilitating disorder of the female reproductive system. The Committee is pleased that some progress has been made since that time. For example, NICHD has supported a major study of the prevalence of this disorder. The Committee calls upon the Director to build upon these initial successes by coordinating through the Office of Women's Health Research an expanded and collaborative extramural and intramural research effort into the causes of and treatments for vulvodynia. This expanded effort should involve ORWH, NICHD, NINDS and other relevant ICs as well as the NIH Pain Consortium and should emphasize etiology and multi-center therapeutic trials. In addition, the Committee is concerned that many women with vulvodynia remain undiagnosed. To address this shortcoming, the Committee encourages NIH to include information about vulvodynia on its website and that it work with relevant groups to implement a national education program for primary care health professionals, patients and the general public on vulvodynia its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options. The Committee encourages the Director to include experts on vulvodynia and related chronic pain and female reproductive system conditions on peer review panels. Finally, the Committee encourages NICHD to reissue its request for applications in this area and to fund high quality applications. BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES The Committee recommends $81,081,000 for buildings and facilities, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. Mission.--The Buildings and Facilities appropriation provides for the design, construction, improvement, and major repair of clinical, laboratory, and office buildings and supporting facilities essential to the mission of the National Institutes of Health. The funds in this appropriation support the 77 buildings on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland; the Animal Center in Poolesville, Maryland; the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and other smaller facilities throughout the United States. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES The Committee provides a program level of $3,343,135,000 for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is $16,397,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $83,134,000 above the budget request. Within the total, $126,129,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. SAMHSA is responsible for supporting mental health and alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment services nationwide through discretionary capacity expansion and science to service activities, formula block grants to the States and associated technical assistance efforts. The agency consists of three principal centers: the Center for Mental Health Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The Office of the Administrator is responsible for overall agency management. The Committee expects that no less than the amounts allocated in fiscal year 2006 will be spent in fiscal year 2007 for activities throughout SAMHSA that are targeted to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disparate impact on communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. These funds provide grants to organizations with a history of providing culturally competent, community specific, and linguistically appropriate services in hard to reach and high-risk communities of color to expand service infrastructure and capacity. The Committee includes within the total provided for programs of regional and national significance across SAMHSA, $46,391,000 for homeless programs, which is the same funding level provided in fiscal year 2006 and $5,757,000 more than the budget request. The Committee is hopeful that programs that provide supportive services to individuals in permanent housing settings will help to end long-term homelessness in this country and encourages SAMHSA to develop supportive services programs within the authority of the programs of regional and national significance. Health disparities need to be addressed as the demographics of our society are changing dramatically. The Committee notes that minorities represent 30 percent of the population and are projected to increase to 40 percent by 2025. Yet, only 23 percent of recent doctorates in psychology, social work and nursing were awarded to minorities. For fiscal year 2007, the Committee has provided no less than the level allocated in fiscal year 2006 for the minority fellowship program in order to train culturally competent mental health, and substance abuse treatment and prevention professionals. The Committee expects that none of the funds provided for SAMHSA will be used to support attachment therapy (AT), a controversial ``treatment'' on adoptive and foster children who present disciplinary problems. Reports have suggested that AT has been the cause of abuse, and even death, in several nationally prominent cases. While proponents of the ``therapy'' have been marketing AT to child-protection agencies and workers, social-work professionals, parents, and others, AT is an un-validated intervention. Center for Mental Health Services The Committee provides a program level total of $890,114,000 for the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), which is $5,866,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $41,202,000 above the budget request. Within the total, $21,629,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. The Committee does not include requested bill language that would require states to use amounts above their minimum mental health block grant allotment for transformation activities. Programs of regional and national significance The Committee provides $269,303,000 for mental health programs of regional and national significance, which is $6,040,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $41,202,000 above the budget request. The program includes studies that identify the most effective service delivery practices, knowledge synthesis activities that translate program findings into useful products for the field, and knowledge application projects that support adoption of exemplary service approaches throughout the country. The Committee provides $25,740,000 for the state incentive grants for transformation, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,944,000 more than the budget request. These comprehensive state mental health plans will enhance the use of existing resources at the state and local levels and expand the options and array of available supports. These grants are not intended to provide direct services, but rather are to aid states in developing broad systems changes to better serve persons with mental illness. The Committee recommends that SAMHSA continue to work with states and planning and advisory councils to integrate the principles of transformation with a state's service-delivery system, including the mental health block grant. The Committee encourages SAMHSA to provide a mechanism within the state incentive grants for transformation to ensure that full and active participation by community-based organizations representing consumers is present in all facets of transformation planning and implementation. While the Committee is pleased that SAMHSA is focusing on helping persons with mental illnesses achieve recovery, a parallel effort must be made to strengthen the service capacity of safety net community-based mental health providers. Therefore, SAMHSA is urged to produce a comprehensive study for the Committee regarding the technical assistance furnished to community mental health centers over the last five years on such issues as personnel preparation, evidenced-based practices, quality improvement, integrated treatment, and individualized care. The Committee provides $89,000,000 for school violence programs, which is $13,290,000 more than the budget request and $4,298,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. At this funding level, it is the Committee's intention that grants will be awarded to school districts with the goals of promoting the healthy development of children and youth, fostering their resilience in the face of adversity, and preventing violence. Within funds provided, the Committee recommends $29,500,000 for the national child traumatic stress initiative, $38,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program has established 54 treatment development and community service centers to treat children who have experienced trauma and also supports the national center for traumatic stress. It is estimated that up to 40,000 traumatized children and their families will directly benefit from services delivered as a result of this initiative. The mental health needs of our Nation's seniors are largely ignored within our mental health system. While many older Americans experience depression, dementia, anxiety and substance abuse disorders, far too often these conditions are not recognized or treated. Outreach to elderly persons conducted in places frequented by seniors, such as senior centers, meal sites, primary care settings and other locations, is needed. The elderly treatment and outreach program is the only federally funded services program dedicated specifically to the mental health care of older adults. It is for this reason that within the funds provided, the Committee recommends that no less than the level allocated in fiscal year 2006 be allocated for the older adults program. The Committee remains deeply concerned that suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. Consistent with the recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, the Committee has in the past called upon SAMHSA to award grants to local educational systems or non- profit entities in conjunction with local educational systems for analyzing screening mechanisms and to identify evidence- based practices for facilitating treatment for youth at risk. The Committee strongly urges SAMHSA to continue this effort in fiscal year 2007. The Committee recommends that within the funding provided, programs that address youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies, including the suicide resource center, be funded in fiscal year 2007 at no less than the amounts allocated in fiscal year 2006. In addition, the Committee provides $5,000,000 to support suicide hotlines, which is $1,979,000 more than both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee recognizes the value of marriage and family therapy (MFT). As one of the five ``core mental health professions'' designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Committee encourages SAMHSA to permit MFT students to be granted eligibility to participate in the minority fellowship program. The Committee includes the following projects and activities and in the following amount for fiscal year 2007: American Red Cross, Lower Bucks County Chapter, Levittown, PA to provide mental health counseling and case management services, along with related services............................................ $250,000 Community Shelter Board, Columbus, OH for a National Model to House Homeless Families.................... 175,000 Family Support Systems Unlimited, Inc., Bronx, NY for mental health services.............................. 175,000 Fulton County Department of Mental Health, Atlanta, GA for a Jail Diversion Program........................ 300,000 Heartland Health Outreach, Chicago IL for mental health services to refugee children........................ 150,000 Helen Wheeler Center for Community Mental Health, Kankakee, IL to increase service capacity........... 315,000 Jefferson Behavioral Health System, Steubenville, OH for mental health services at Beacon House.............. 250,000 Jewish Association for Residential Care, Farmington Hills, MI for mental health support services........ 300,000 Lane County, Eugene, OR for mental health and substance abuse treatment services for at-risk youth.......... 200,000 Orange County, Orlando, FL to provide for an intensive case management model to manage people released from acute care and jail settings who are diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses and co- occurring substance use disorders................... 250,000 Pacific Clinics, Arcadia, CA for mental health and suicide prevention programs for adolescents......... 450,000 Peninsula Counseling Center, Woodmere, NY for mental health services for older adults.................... 250,000 Prince George's County Health Department, Largo, MD for mental health services through wellness centers in high schools........................................ 100,000 Progreso Latino, Central Falls, RI for mental health services for senior citizens........................ 100,000 San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA for mental health and substance abuse services for homeless persons in supportive housing. 1,500,000 St. Mary's Home for Children, North Providence, RI for mental health services to children.................. 350,000 United Jewish Federation, Pittsburgh, PA for services to adults with mental illness.......................... 150,000 United Way of Lake County, Mentor, OH for the Lake County Drop-in Center............................... 115,000 University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, Tampa, FL to close the knowledge/practice gap in mental health and substance abuse programs............................ 200,000 Ventura County Probation Office, Ventura, CA for treatment and related services for juvenile offenders with mental health and chemical dependency problems............................................ 250,000 Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Ventura, CA for the Crisis Intervention Team Training Program........... 210,000 Mental health block grant The Committee provides a program level total of $428,472,000 for the mental health block grant, which is $174,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The block grant provides funds to states to support mental health prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Funds are allocated according to statutory formula among the states that have submitted approved annual plans. The Committee notes that the mental health block grant funding represents less than two percent of total state mental health funding and less than three percent of state community-based mental health services. Within the total, $21,629,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Program distributes funds to 59 eligible states and territories through a formula based upon specified economic and demographic factors. Applications must include an annual plan for providing comprehensive community mental health services to adults with a serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance. Because the mental health needs of our Nation's elderly population are often not met by existing programs and because the need for such services is dramatically and rapidly increasing, the Committee recommends that SAMHSA require that states' plans include specific provisions for mental health services for older adults. Children's mental health The Committee provides $104,078,000 for the grant program for comprehensive community mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbance, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Funding for this program supports grants and technical assistance for community-based services for children and adolescents up to age 22 with serious emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. The program assists states and local jurisdictions in developing integrated systems of community care. Each individual served receives an individual service plan developed with the participation of the family and the child. Grantees are required to provide increasing levels of matching funds over the six-year grant period. Grants to states for the homeless (PATH) The Committee provides $54,261,000 for the grants to states for the homeless (PATH) program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. PATH grants to states provide assistance to individuals suffering from severe mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders and who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Grants may be used for outreach, screening and diagnostic treatment services, rehabilitation services, community mental health services, alcohol or drug treatment services, training, case management services, supportive and supervisory services in residential settings, and a limited set of housing services. Protection and advocacy The Committee provides $34,000,000 for the protection and advocacy program, which is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. This funding is distributed to states according to a formula based on population and income to assist state-designated independent advocates to provide legal assistance to mentally ill individuals during their residence in state-operated facilities and for 90 days following their discharge. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment The Committee provides a program level total of $2,160,695,000 for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), which is $3,155,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $26,725,000 above the budget request. Within the total, $83,500,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. Programs of regional and national significance The Committee provides a program level total of $326,695,000 for substance abuse treatment programs of regional and national significance, which is $72,254,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $48,684,000 below the budget request. Within the total, $4,300,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. The program supports activities to improve the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of substance abuse treatment services and services delivery. These activities include capacity expansion initiatives to help communities respond to serious, emerging and unmet treatment needs and science into services initiatives through monitoring and accreditation of treatment programs, training, dissemination and knowledge application activities. The program promotes the adoption of science- and evidence- based treatment practices by developing and field-testing new treatment models in order to facilitate the provision of quality treatment services and service delivery. These activities are undertaken in actual service settings rather than laboratories and results are disseminated to state agencies and community treatment providers. The goal is to promote continuous, positive treatment service delivery change for those people who use and abuse alcohol and drugs. The Committee does not provide funding for the new access to recovery (ATR) voucher incentive program that would create incentive for states to use a portion of their substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant to provide services through vouchers. The budget request proposes $70,488,000 for this program. As this is a new request, no funding was provided for the voucher incentive program in fiscal year 2006. The Committee understands that states already have the authority to initiate voucher programs in their states without this incentive program. As a result, the Committee includes an increase of $75,409,000 to the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant and encourages SAMHSA to provide technical assistance and share best practices with those states that may want to develop a voucher program with their block grant funding. The budget request proposes $24,750,000 for a methamphetamine treatment voucher program that would require states to purchase methamphetamine treatment services through the use of vouchers, using the ATR treatment voucher program as a model. The Committee appreciates and supports the Administration's interest in dedicating resources to help expand access to clinically appropriate methamphetamine treatment. The Committee is aware that state addiction systems employ a broad range of purchasing mechanisms that are developed to effectively tailor service delivery in ways that best address state and local needs and circumstances. The Committee favors the allocation of grants to states in a manner that allows flexibility in managing funds to acknowledge the variation in state systems and to continue to support programs that are achieving effective outcomes. As a result, the Committee is not allocating funding for the proposed treatment voucher program, but instead, the Committee provides $25,000,000 for methamphetamine treatment to state substance abuse agencies without requiring states to employ vouchers or any other one specific required service delivery purchasing mechanism. The Committee directs SAMHSA to allow state substance abuse agencies to choose financing strategies for methamphetamine treatment services that are most appropriate for their own unique systems, including but not limited to vouchers. Within the funds provided, the Committee recommends $31,151,000 for the screening, brief intervention, referral, and treatment (SBIRT) program as requested. This competitive grant program assists states, territories, and Tribes in targeting non-dependent drug users and is designed to avert the progression of patients from chronic substance abuse problems. The SBIRT program works in primary and general care settings to identify patients in need of treatment and to provide them with appropriate intervention and treatment options. The Committee includes the following projects and activities and in the following amounts for fiscal year 2007: AIDS Resource Center, Dayton, OH for treatment services. $250,000 Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN for the StepUP program to assist students in recovery from chemical dependency.......................................... 250,000 Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD to expand buprenorphine treatment services............. 150,000 Chesterfield County, VA for the Dual Treatment Track program............................................. 100,000 City of Jackson, TN for the Jackson Drug Court program.. 200,000 City of Las Vegas, NV for mental health and substance abuse treatment services within the EVOLVE program.. 250,000 Community Corrections Department, Dakota County, Hastings, MN for the All Children Excel demonstration project............................... 150,000 Gaudenzia, Inc., Norristown, PA to establish the Institute for Professional Development.............. 100,000 Gavin Foundation, South Boston, MA for substance abuse treatment services.................................. 300,000 Jefferson County Medical Society Outreach Program, Inc. (The Healing Place), Louisville, KY for the Women's Recovery Program.................................... 225,000 Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Minneapolis, MN for a dual diagnosis outpatient treatment program 230,000 N Street Village Washington, DC for its Recovery Housing treatment program for women with dual diagnoses of addiction and mental illness........................ 150,000 Nexstep to Independence, Inc., Louisville, KY for a prisoner re-entry program........................... 60,000 Northeast Guidance Center; Detroit, MI for substance abuse treatment and mental health services at The Family Life Center.................................. 150,000 Patrician Movement, San Antonio, TX for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs................... 250,000 Self Help Movement, Inc., Philadelphia, PA for inpatient treatment services.................................. 30,000 Sheriffs Youth Program, Inver Grove Heights, MN for chemical dependency treatment services.............. 150,000 Washington County, Hillsboro, OR for a residential treatment program for persons with dual diagnoses... 200,000 Westcare Kentucky, Frankfort, KY for comprehensive substance abuse treatment services at the Pikeville, KY facility......................................... 500,000 Substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant The Committee provides a program level total of $1,834,000,000 for the substance abuse prevention and treatment (SAPT) block grant, which is $75,409,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Within the total, $79,200,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. The SAPT block grant provides funds to states to support alcohol and drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Funds are allocated among the states according to a statutory formula. State applications including comprehensive state plans must be approved annually by SAMHSA as a condition of receiving funds. The Committee expresses its strong support for the SAPT block grant, an effective and efficient funding stream that is directed to every state and territory. The block grant is the foundation of our publicly funded substance abuse prevention and treatment system and serves our most vulnerable citizens, including pregnant and parenting women, those with HIV/AIDS and others. As a result, the Committee remains concerned with any action that could erode, weaken, or in any way disrupt this vital funding mechanism. The Committee is aware of SAMHSA's collaborative work with state substance abuse directors, also known as single state authorities (SSAs) for substance abuse, to improve the quality of substance abuse prevention and treatment data by seeking information on a core set of national outcome measures (NOMs) across all SAMHSA funding mechanisms, including services funded by the SAPT block grant. The Committee commends SAMHSA for working with states and territories to streamline data reporting requirements while improving accountability. The Committee encourages SAMHSA to continue working directly with the national association representing state substance abuse directors on the variety of implementation issues related to NOMs to ensure continued progress, including work to examine effective non-proprietary data management tools that could continue to implement this initiative in an efficient and cost- effective manner. Center for substance abuse prevention Programs of regional and national significance The Committee provides $195,805,000 for the substance abuse prevention programs of regional and national significance, which is $2,904,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $15,207,000 more than the budget request. The program identifies and disseminates evidence-based substance abuse prevention approaches. Within the total, the Committee provides $300,000 for the Advertising Council's parent-oriented media campaign to combat underage drinking. Funding should be used to continue the campaign, refresh media spots, and evaluate results. The Committee is pleased that the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) has taken steps to engage State officials on evdience-based strategies for combating underage drinking and to promote increased State action to reduce youth alcohol use. The Committee appreciates the ICCPUD's January 2006 submission of a proposed federal underage drinking prevention plan, and is very pleased that it included plans for a Surgeon General's ``Call to Action'' on underage drinking prevention to be releaed in spring of 2006. The Committee urges the ICCPUD to ensure that the ``Call to Action'' is vigorously promoted and disseminated to policy-makers and the public. The Committee includes the following projects and activities and in the following amounts for fiscal year 2007: City of Detroit, for substance abuse prevention and treatment services for youth through the SAFETY program............................................. $425,000 Hamilton County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition, Jennings, FL for a youth academic and social development program.......................... 150,000 Institute for the Advanced Study of the Black Family, Oakland, CA for an integrated HIV/AIDS and substance abuse treatment initiative.......................... 100,000 Kids Hope United, Lake Villa, IL to expand its multi- systemic therapy program............................ 200,000 Lawrence County Family Center, New Castle, PA for the Lawrence County Strategic Alliance for Stable Families............................................ 500,000 Long Island Crisis Center, Bellmore, NY to conduct a public education and awareness campaign for vulnerable families................................. 80,000 National Center for Children Exposed to Violence, Yale University Child Study Center, New Haven, CT for training, technical assistance, consultation and other services relating to the effects of violence on children......................................... 650,000 Ohio Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Shaker Heights, OH for the Ohio Alcohol and Drug Workforce Development Project.............. 100,000 Relief Nursery, Eugene, OR for services to methamphetamine-affected children and their families 350,000 South Boston Community Health Center, South Boston, MA for substance abuse prevention programs............. 350,000 Program management The Committee provides a program level total of $96,521,000 for program management, of which $21,000,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside as requested. The fiscal year 2007 program level is $4,472,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The appropriation provides funding to coordinate, direct, and manage the agency's programs. Funds are used for salaries, benefits, space, supplies, equipment, travel and overhead. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality The Committee provides a total of $318,695,000 for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The mission of the agency is to generate and disseminate information that improves the delivery of health care. Its research goals are to determine what works best in clinical practice; improve the cost-effective use of health care resources; help consumers make more informed choices; and measure and improve the quality of care. The Committee provides $260,695,000 for research on health costs, quality, and outcomes, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program identifies the most effective and efficient approaches to organize, deliver, finance, and reimburse health care services; determines how the structure of the delivery system, financial incentives, market forces, and better information affects the use, quality, and cost of health services; and facilitates the translation of research findings for providers, patients, plans, purchasers, and policymakers. It also funds research that determines what works best in increasing the cost effectiveness and appropriateness of clinical practice; supports the development of tools to measure and evaluate health outcomes, quality of care, and consumer satisfaction with health care system performance; and facilitates the translation of information into practical uses through the development and dissemination of research databases. The Committee also encourages AHRQ to look favorably on proposals that would proactively detect medical errors and preemptively control injury via compact medical devices that acquire, analyze and filter data from multiple, disparate, wireless and wired sources. Within the total for research on health costs, quality, and outcomes, the Committee provides $84,000,000 for the patient safety program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This amount includes $50,000,000 for grants to support the health information technology (HIT) initiative. The Committee urges AHRQ to play a key role in the initiative being developed in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The Committee is aware of several pilot projects being funded that demonstrate the reduction in patient harm from the use of integrated medication delivery systems and urges AHRQ to continue making such systems a component of its HIT grants. Also within the total for research on health costs, quality and outcomes, the Committee provides $15,000,000 for comparative clinical effectiveness research. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee is concerned about the prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness among older Americans. Affective disorders, including depression, anxiety, dementia, and substance abuse and dependence, are often misdiagnosed or not recognized at all by primary and specialty care physicians in their elderly patients. Research has shown that the treatment of mental illness can improve health outcomes for those with other chronic diseases. While effective treatments for these conditions are available, there is an urgent need to translate advancements from biomedical and behavioral research to clinical practice. The Committee urges AHRQ to support evidence-based research projects focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in the geriatric population, and to disseminate evidence-based reports to physicians and other health care professionals. The Committee is aware that heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among women. The Committee requests that AHRQ, no later than September 30, 2007, prepare and submit to the Committee, a report on the quality of and access to care for women with heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. The report should contain recommendations for eliminating disparities in, and improving the treatment of, heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases in women. The Committee is aware that obesity rates in children have risen dramatically in recent years and that obesity may soon overtake tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death. The Committee requests that AHRQ submit a report on the effectiveness of weight reduction programs to the Committee not later than 18 months after the enactment of this Act. The report should evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of the programs, behavior modification, and other weight loss methods, and how successful the programs are in helping individuals achieve short-term and long-term weight loss and sustain long-term weight maintenance. The Committee is pleased that AHRQ is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish evidence-driven standards of care for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy patients, and encourages both agencies to complete this work by February 1, 2007. The Committee is aware that simulation-based medical education can ensure clinical competence and reinforce best practices by allowing medical students and experienced clinicians to practice procedures in a realistic setting. The enhanced clinical skill development provided by simulation- based medical training benefits patients and healthcare consumers in the form of improved health outcomes, patient safety, and quality; reduced medical errors and deaths; and increased healthcare cost savings. The Committee encourages AHRQ to support research, convene workshops, and perform outreach to medical, nursing, and allied health schools to improve the utilization and development of simulation technologies in medical education and demonstrate the value of simulation-based medical training. AHRQ is encouraged to collaborate with the Department of Defense, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Institutes of Health in the further deployment of medical simulation research, tools, and training to improve patient care. The Committee is concerned about end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the difference in prevalence of treatment modalities, especially the significant difference between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. The Committee urges AHRQ to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of the best available research studies comparing short and long term outcomes of dialysis methods, especially those affecting the quality of life of ESRD patients, and the costs associated with the treatment of these patients. The Committee provides $55,300,000 for the Medical Expenditures Panel Surveys (MEPS), which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The MEPS provide data for timely national estimates of health care use and expenditures, private and public health insurance coverage, and the availability, costs, and scope of private health insurance benefits. This activity also provides data for analysis of changes in behavior as a result of market forces or policy changes on health care use, expenditures, and insurance coverage; develops cost/savings estimates of proposed changes in policy; and identifies the impact of changes in policy for subgroups of the population. For program support, the Committee provides $2,700,000 which is the same as fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This activity supports the overall direction and management of the agency. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID The Committee provides $138,072,248,000 for the Federal share of current law state Medicaid costs, which is $18,882,171,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. This amount does not include $62,783,825,000 which was advance funded in the fiscal year 2006 appropriation for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007. In addition, the Committee provides an advance appropriation of $65,257,617,000 for program costs in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The Committee has also included indefinite budget authority for unanticipated costs in fiscal year 2007. Federal Medicaid grants reimburse states for 50 to 83 percent (depending on per capita income) of their expenditures in providing health care for individuals whose income and resources fall below specified levels. Subject to certain minimum requirements, states have broad authority within the law to set eligibility, coverage, and payment levels. Over 51,000,000 low-income individuals will receive health care services in 2007 under the Medicaid program. state costs of administering the program are matched at rates that generally range from 50 to 100 percent, depending upon the type of cost. Total funding for Medicaid includes $2,006,445,000 for the entitlement Vaccines for Children program. These funds, which are transferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for administration, support the costs of immunization for children who are on Medicaid, uninsured or underinsured and receiving immunizations at Federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics. The Committee is concerned that certain states have plans to use the Federal matching dollars available under Medicaid, not to improve the quality of hospital care in their state, but to fill state budget gaps at the expense of quality healthcare for patients. That is clearly not the intention of this program and we encourage the committees of jurisdiction to take appropriate remedial action. PAYMENTS TO HEALTH CARE TRUST FUNDS The Committee provides $197,017,391,000 for the Payments to the Health Care Trust Funds account, which is $18,370,191,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $118,404,000 less than the budget request. This entitlement account includes the general fund subsidy to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for Medicare Part B benefits and for Medicare drug benefits and administration as well as other reimbursements to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for benefits and related administrative costs, which have not been financed by payroll taxes or premium contributions. Funds are not provided for reimbursement for health care fraud and abuse control, since the Committee did not fund this new account. The Committee continues to include bill language requested by the Administration providing indefinite authority for paying the general revenue portion of the Part B premium match and provides resources for the Part D drug benefit program in the event that the annual appropriation is insufficient. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT The Committee makes available $3,153,547,000 in trust funds for Federal administration of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which is $73,729,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,145,000 above the budget request. The Committee includes bill language that extends the availability of $146,760,000 until September 30, 2008 for Medicare contracting reform activities as requested. The Committee also includes bill language requested by the Administration which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to charge fees associated with conducting revisit surveys on health care facilities. Such fees, estimated at $35,000,000, shall be credited to this appropriation as an offsetting collection to remain available until expended. Research, demonstration, and evaluation The Committee provides $46,673,000 for research, demonstration and evaluation, which is $10,747,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,145,000 above the budget request. These funds support a variety of studies and demonstrations in such areas as monitoring and evaluating health system performance; improving health care financing and delivery mechanisms; modernization of the Medicare program; the needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of health care access, delivery systems, and financing; and information to improve consumer choice and health status. The Committee includes bill language referring to the following projects and activities and in the following amounts for fiscal year 2007: Access Health, Inc., Muskegon, MI for the small business health coverage program............................. $300,000 Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY for a Men's Health Initiative to demonstrate means of improving health care and preventive services for low-income minority men........................................ 400,000 Chai Lifeline, New York, NY for support programs for seriously ill children and their families........... 100,000 City of Detroit, MI for a project to improve access to primary care and preventive health services for low- income and uninsured persons........................ 550,000 City of Los Angeles, CA for a demonstration project to provide mobile medical services for the homeless.... 300,000 Gadsden County Community Health Council, Quincy, FL for a project to help low-income residents obtain prescription drugs.................................. 170,000 Genesys Health System, Grand Blanc, MI for a demonstration program through the Health Access network to improve access to dental care for low- income uninsured patients........................... 50,000 Good Shepherd Home, Ashland, OH for an elderly health care delivery demonstration......................... 150,000 Medicare Rights Center, New York, NY for the Medicare Interactive program................................. 500,000 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Alexandria, VA for an initiative to increase underserved participation in end-of-life care....... 350,000 Patient Services Inc., Midlothian, VA for a Medical Insurance and Co-payment Assistance Case Management Program for Chronic Diseases, including Hepatitis C. 100,000 Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News, VA for the Patient Navigator Program....................... 200,000 San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA for a demonstration project to improve HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services.......... 1,500,000 Stark Prescription Assistance Network, Inc., Canton, OH for prescription assistance to the uninsured........ 100,000 Thurston-Mason County Medical Society Volunteer Care Institute, Olympia, WA for its Project Access initiative to provide care for low-income uninsured patients............................................ 200,000 Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Richmond, VA for a program to educate potential recipients regarding the Medicare part D drug benefit............................................. 175,000 Medicare operations The Committee provides $2,145,208,000 to support Medicare claims processing contracts, which is $41,966,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. Revitalization plan The Committee provides $22,765,000 to remain available for two years, as the fourth year of investment in CMS's efforts to make significant improvements to key aspects of managing both the agency and the Medicare program. This amount is the same as the budget request and $1,198,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. Funding will target information technology involving modernization of Medicare fee-for-service claims processing and modernization of the data environment. State survey and certification The Committee provides $283,524,000 for state inspections of facilities serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, which is $25,396,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. Survey and certification activities ensure that institutions and agencies providing care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries meet Federal health, safety and program standards. On-site surveys are conducted by state survey agencies, with a pool of Federal surveyors performing random monitoring surveys. Over 72,000 surveys and complaint investigations are estimated be performed in fiscal year 2007. Federal administration The Committee provides $655,377,000 to support Federal administrative activities related to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which is $18,312,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. This amount includes $12,900,000 for the Healthy Start, Grow Smart program as proposed in the budget request. The Committee continues bill language identifying $48,960,000 for the contract costs of the health-care integrated general ledger accounting system. The Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance programs ensure the health care security of about 90,000,000 beneficiaries. The Federal administration budget provides funds for the staff and operations of CMS to administer these programs. The Committee commends CMS for expanding the Quality of Life Demonstration (QoL) project to include oral chemotherapy regimens in its data collection on this project. The QoL as implemented by CMS in 2005 was an excellent first step in gathering data on the impact of chemotherapy as it started to measure important outcomes for cancer patients specifically related to infused chemotherapy. The Committee is pleased with CMS' decision to broaden the demonstration in 2006 to collect data on all types of cancer management. The inclusion of oral chemotherapy regimens will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the quality of life issues impacting all cancer patients. The demonstration project is intended to provide a better understanding from cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on such important issues as their pain control management, minimization of nausea and vomiting, and the reduction of fatigue. The action taken by CMS to expand the demonstration project will provide important data on all anti- cancer regimens and their impact on patients' quality of life. The Committee believes that the growing gap between the size of the nation's aging baby boom population and the number of pulmonary/critical care physicians poses challenges to the future delivery of high quality, efficient care under Medicare and Medicaid. The Committee requests that CMS review a recently released report by HRSA on the healthcare workforce, a portion of which focuses on the critical care workforce shortage, and that CMS also review other relevant research and consult with the relevant critical care societies in order to develop recommendations for addressing the critical care workforce shortage issue, including the possible use of the pulmonary/ critical care specialty as a model for developing and testing policy approaches to address workforce shortage issues. The Committee is aware that heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease are the leading cause of death among women and is concerned that women are less likely than men to receive treatments for cardiovascular disease, perhaps due to lack of awareness and the presence of different symptoms in women than in men. The Committee also recognizes that certain diagnostic tests for cardiovascular disease may be less accurate in women than men. Therefore, the Committee urges the Center for Beneficiary Choices of CMS to develop and distribute to female Medicare beneficiaries, physicians, and other appropriate health care professionals educational materials relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease in women. The Committee recognizes that CMS has initiated some commendable community-based activities for an MMA education and outreach campaign directed towards dual elibigle persons, but the Committee is also aware that there is considerable evidence that low-income dual eligible persons with mental disabilities continue to need direct help with Part D enrollment. Therefore, within the amounts appropriated, the Committee encourages that five percent of the funds be directed for one-on-one pharmaceutical benefits counseling to be provided through community-based organizations and safety net community mental health centers. The Committee is concerned that patients suffering from end stage renal disease (ESRD) are offered the proper modality for the best medical outcome and the highest quality of life. The Committee is particularly concerned about factors that may be influencing the choice of modality and the availability of services to ESRD patients. Given that Medicate provides coverage for 90 percent of the prevalent dialysis population and 69 percent of those with a transplant, the Committee urges CMS, in conjunction with other health agencies, to review these patterns and requests CMS to provide the Committee with recommendations to ensure public health policies, in the form of reimbursement rates, public health service, research or other activities related to ESRD, give priority to positive medical outcomes and quality of life for ESRD patients. Administration for Children and Families PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS The Committee recommends $2,752,697,000 for the Child Support Enforcement and Family Support programs, and $1,000,000,000 in advance funding for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 to ensure timely payments for the child support enforcement program. This is the same as the budget request. The Committee recommends estimated funding of $38,000,000 for Payments to Territories, the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee also recommends $1,000,000 for the repatriation program, which is the authorized funding level under section 1113(d) of the Social Security Act. LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE The Committee recommends $1,930,000,000 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance state formula grants. This is $50,000,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $148,000,000 more than the budget request. The Committee recommends $181,170,000 for the contingent emergency reserve. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. For Fiscal year 2006, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (as amended by Public Law 109-204) provided $500,000,000 for State formula grants and $500,000,000 for the contingency emergency reserve (in addition to the funds appropriated for these items in the general appropriation Act). The low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to low-income households to help pay the costs of home energy. Funds are provided through grants to states, Indian Tribes, and territories and are used for summer cooling, winter heating, and crisis assistance programs. REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE The Committee recommends $604,329,000 for refugee assistance programs. This is $34,506,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $10,606,000 less than the budget request. In addition, the Committee recommends that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) be granted authority to carry over unexpended funds from fiscal year 2007 to reimburse the costs of services provided through September 30, 2009, for all programs within ORR's jurisdiction. Transitional and medical services The Committee recommends $282,333,000 for transitional and medical services. This is $16,786,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The transitional and medical services program provides funding for the state-administered cash and medical assistance program that assists refugees who are not categorically eligible for TANF or Medicaid, the unaccompanied minors program that reimburses states for the cost of foster care, and the voluntary agency grant program in which participating National refugee resettlement agencies provide resettlement assistance with a combination of Federal and matched funds. Victims of trafficking The Committee recommends up to $9,816,000 for the victims of trafficking program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $5,000,000 less than the budget request. The funds will ensure continued administration of a national network for identification, tracking, and certification of trafficking victims. The Committee supports efforts to ensure that child trafficking victims do not remain trapped in life-threatening situations out of fear of being interrogated by law enforcement authorities. The Committee supports the efforts of the Department, under the Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2000, to independently certify children as child trafficking victims eligible for benefits and services and encourages the Department to facilitate the provision of guardians ad litem for child trafficking victims to help ensure their access to emergency benefits and services until their ultimate placement in foster care. Social Services The Committee recommends $154,004,000 for social services. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $4,394,000 more than the budget request. Funds are distributed by formula as well as through the discretionary grant-making process for special projects. Within the funds provided, the Committee has included $19,000,000 for support to communities with large concentrations of Cuban and Haitian entrants of varying ages whose cultural differences make assimilation especially difficult, justifying a more intense level and longer duration of Federal assistance. The Committee continues to request the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to adequately fund refugee school impact grants. Preventive health The Committee recommends $4,748,000 for preventive health services. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These funds are awarded to the states to ensure adequate health assessment activities for refugees. Targeted assistance The Committee recommends $48,590,000 for the targeted assistance program. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These grants provide assistance to areas with high concentrations of refugees. Unaccompanied minors The Committee recommends $95,022,000 for the unaccompanied minors program. This is $17,720,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $10,000,000 less than the budget request. The Committee recognizes the legal representation crisis and need for guardians for unaccompanied children and is pleased with the progress ORR has made in implementing pro bono pilot programs to test the benefits of providing pro bono counsel and guardians for unaccompanied children through its grant to Vera Institute for Justice. The Committee has included additional funds to expand the pilot pro-bono legal services program to a national level. The Committee has also included additional funds for the care and placement of an increasing number of unaccompanied alien children through foster care, shelter care, staff secure or secure detention centers, and for additional field staff in areas of high apprehensions. The Committee does not recommend that funds be included for expanded background checks before placement of unaccompanied minors. The Committee expects the Department to continue to perform the rigorous background checks on the adult to whom the minor is released and to conduct home assessments as circumstances warrant. Victims of torture The Committee recommends $9,816,000 to provide a comprehensive program of support for domestic centers and programs for victims of torture. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT The Committee recommends $2,062,081,000 for the child care and development block grant program, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The discretionary funds provided in this bill, along with annual child care entitlement funds and matching funds, constitute the Child Care and Development Fund. That Fund enables states, Territories, and Indian Tribes to provide child care services for low-income families. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 increased the annual child care entitlement contribution to that fund through 2010 to $2,917,000,000, an annual increase of $200,000,000. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT The Committee recommends $1,700,000,000 for the social services block grant (SSBG). This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Committee rejects language proposed in the budget request to override the authorized funding level set forth in section 2003(c) of the Social Security Act. SSBGs are designed to encourage states to furnish a variety of social services to needy individuals to prevent and reduce dependency; help individuals achieve and maintain self- sufficiency; prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care; secure admission or referral for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate; and prevent neglect, abuse, and exploitation of children and adults. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES PROGRAMS The Committee recommends a program level total of $8,663,166,000 for children and families services programs. This is $194,213,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $414,064,000 more than the budget request. Within the total provided, $10,500,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside. This account finances a number of programs aimed at enhancing the well-being of the Nation's children and families, particularly those who are disadvantaged or troubled. Head Start The Committee recommends $6,788,571,000 for the Head Start program, the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and an increase of $2,800,000 over the budget request. Of this total, the Committee recommends advancing $1,388,800,000 of this account for fiscal year 2008. Head Start provides comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and their families. Intended primarily for preschoolers from low-income families, the program promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through educational, health, nutritional, social and other services. At least 10 percent of enrollment opportunities in each state are made available to handicapped children. Grants to carry out Head Start programs are awarded to public and private nonprofit and for-profit agencies. Unless a waiver is approved, grantees must contribute 20 percent of the total cost of the program from non-Federal funds, which is usually an in-kind contribution. No more than 15 percent of total costs may be for program administration. The Committee continues to point to the 2001 study published by the Department of Health and Human Services, documenting that only 19 percent of eligible children were able to access Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs. The Committee supports the provision included in H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 as passed by the House, which would address the funding shortfall facing Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs by reserving 5 percent of the total annual Head Start appropriation for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs. Until such time as the Bureau can put in place a system to ensure that access to funding for migrant and seasonal children is comparable to the access enjoyed by other eligible children, the Committee encourages the Bureau to develop strategies to better serve the needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children and requests that the Secretary submit a report on the Bureau's ongoing plans to ensure that Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs are able to serve a larger percentage of the children eligible for services. Consolidated runaway and homeless youth program The Committee recommends $87,837,000 for runaway and homeless youth activities. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Funds for this program are distributed between the basic center program and the transitional living program under a statutory formula. The runaway and homeless youth programs provide grants to local public and private organizations to establish and operate runaway and homeless youth shelters to address the crisis needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Grants are used to develop or strengthen community-based shelters, which are outside the law enforcement, juvenile justice, child welfare, and mental health systems. The Committee request that ACF work with nonprofit organizations that are trained and dedicated to meeting the needs of young homeless children and their families. The Committee directs the Department to refrain from vouchering transitional living program funds to provide maternity group home services. The Committee believes that the voucher policy is ill-advised and, furthermore, that the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act does not authorize the Department to issue such vouchers. Rather, it is the Committee's continued expectation that current transitional living program grantees will provide transitional living opportunities and supports to pregnant and parenting homeless youth, as is their current practice. The Committee continues to encourage the Secretary, acting through the network of federally-funded runaway and homeless youth training and technical assistance providers, to offer guidance to grantees and others on the programmatic modifications required to address the unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth and on the various sources of funding available for residential services to this population. Prevention grants to reduce abuse of runaway youth The Committee recommends $15,027,000 for prevention grants to reduce abuse of runaway youth. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program is designed to reduce the sexual abuse of runaway youth by providing grants to support street-based outreach and education to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been sexually abused or who are at-risk of sexual abuse. The street outreach program ensures rapid engagement with young people in an effort to prevent the most terrible situations that take place when they are subjected to life on the streets, including physical and sexual abuse, assault, commercial sexual exploitation, disease, long-term homelessness, and even death. Child abuse state grants and discretionary activities For child abuse state grants and discretionary activities, the Committee recommends $53,137,000. This is $350,000 more than both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Within this total, the recommendation includes $27,007,000 for state grants and $26,130,000 for child abuse discretionary activities. Within the funds provided for child abuse discretionary activities, the Committee includes funding for the following items: Children's Advocacy Center of Manhattan, New York, NY for assessment and treatment services to victims of child abuse......................................... $150,000 Jefferson County, CO for reengineering of child abuse prevention infrastructure........................... 150,000 McKenzie's Hope, Huntington, IN for child abuse and neglect programs.................................... 50,000 Community-based child abuse prevention The Committee recommends $42,430,000 for community-based child abuse prevention. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Funds are provided to lead state agencies and are used to develop, operate, expand, and enhance community-based efforts to strengthen and support families in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. Abandoned infants assistance The Committee recommends $11,835,000 for the Abandoned Infants Assistance program. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The purpose of this program is to provide financial support to public and private community and faith-based entities to develop, implement, and operate demonstration projects that will prevent the abandonment of infants and young children exposed to HIV/ AIDS and drugs; identify and address their needs; assist such children to reside with their natural families or in foster care; recruit, train, and retain foster parents as well as health and social services personnel; provide respite care for families and foster families; and prevent the abandonment of infants and young children. Child welfare services and training The Committee recommends $286,753,000 for child welfare services. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program provides grants to states to assist public welfare agencies to improve child welfare services. state services include preventive intervention in order for children to stay in their homes, alternative placement like foster care or adoption if it is not possible for children to remain at home, and reunification programs so that, if appropriate, children can return home. The Committee recommends $7,335,000 for child welfare training. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee recognizes the need for trained, skilled, and qualified child welfare service workers. This program provides grants to institutions of higher education to develop and improve education and training programs and resources for child welfare service providers as well as students seeking degrees in social work. Adoption opportunities The Committee recommends $26,848,000 for adoption opportunities. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program provides funding specifically targeted to improving the adoption of children, particularly those with special needs, and for providing innovative services that support families involved in adoption. Adoption incentives The Committee recommends $17,820,000 for the adoption incentives program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $11,834,000 less than the budget request. This program targets incentives specifically for older children. Funds are awarded to states using three baselines: one for the total number of children adopted, one for children with special needs under the age of nine, and one for children aged nine and older. The goal of this program is to increase the number of adoptions nationwide. Adoption awareness The Committee recommends $12,674,000 for the adoption awareness program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program provides training to designated staff of eligible health centers in providing adoption information and referrals to pregnant women on an equal basis with all other courses of action included in non-directive counseling to pregnant women. Compassion capital fund The Committee recommends $54,549,000 for the compassion capital fund. This is $9,801,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $45,451,000 less than the budget request. This program provides grants to intermediary organizations that in turn provide training and technical assistance to faith and community based organizations. The program also provides capacity-building grants directly to the latter organizations, which include organizations that foster supportive relationships with youth. Social services and income maintenance research The Committee recommends a program level total of $14,395,000 for social services and income maintenance research, $6,000,000 of which is through the evaluation set- aside. The program level total is $8,527,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $14,395,000 more than the budget request. These funds support research, demonstration, evaluation, and dissemination activities. Recent topics funded through this program include welfare-to-work strategies and programs to strengthen family relationships and promote healthy marriages. While the Child Support Enforcement program continues to make gains in enforcing child support orders--child support collections reached $23 billion in 2005, serving an estimated 16 million child support cases--the costs and complexities of tracking, locating and coordinating child support cases is imposing heavy burdens on State automation systems. Both the General Accountability Office and the Office of the Inspector General have recommended that ACF provide more technical assistance to help States better administer and manage these systems. In addition, broader administration and reporting requirements contained in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 will place additional strain on the States' ability to manage this program. ACF is currently working with the State Information Technology Consortium to expand data exchange capabilities between the courts and State child support enforcement agencies as well as increase collection efficiency in States and tribal organizations. The Committee recommends that collaborative effort continue. Within the funds provided for this program, the Committee includes funding for the following items: Abstinence the Better Choice, Inc., Akron, OH to expand educational methods of the Responsible Social Values program and to update technology.................... $25,000 Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Virginia, MN for the Family to Family community-based mentoring program to assist low-income families............... 250,000 Beth El House, Alexandria, VA for social services and transitional housing for formerly homeless women and their children...................................... 75,000 Beth Gavriel Bukharian Jewish Congregation, Queens, NY for a demonstration project to address the needs of elderly immigrants.................................. 150,000 Cherokee County Commission, Centre, Alabama, for Cherokee County Family Resource Center.............. 100,000 Child Adoption Resource Association, Inc., New London, CT for adoption services............................ 60,000 Children's Home Society of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD for services related to domestic violence, child abuse and neglect................................... 250,000 Children's Center of Southwest Missouri, Joplin, MO for child advocacy...................................... 50,000 Children's Home Society of Idaho, Boise, ID for foster care................................................ 260,000 Children's Hunger Alliance, Columbus, OH for the nutrition and obesity education program............. 100,000 Children's Rights Council, Hyattsville, MD for Safe Haven Access Centers in Stark County, OH............ 50,000 Christian Outreach of Lutherans (COOL), Waukegan, IL for Latino leadership development in underserved areas.. 125,000 City and County of Denver, CO for housing assistance, mentoring and other services to homeless families and seniors......................................... 150,000 City of Chicago, IL Department of Housing for assistance to chronically homeless families.................... 150,000 City of Detroit, MI for an Individual Development Account initiative.................................. 250,000 City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX for early childhood development program................................. 250,000 City of Lansing, MI for Michigan Center for Infant Loss. 350,000 City of Portland, OR for services to prevent and end family homelessness................................. 250,000 City of San Jose, CA for its Services for New Americans program, including assistance with job seeking skills, citizenship, family safety and resettlement. 200,000 Clearbrook Clinical Services, Arlington Heights, IL for services to children with developmental disabilities 210,000 Clearbrook, Arlington Heights, IL to enhance its residential services for persons with developmental disabilities........................................ 100,000 Cleveland Avenue YMCA, Montgomery, AL for family support services for at- risk youth......................... 100,000 Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club, Owensboro, KY for computers, fitness equipment, and furnishings of new facility............................................ 300,000 Community Mediation Center of Stark County, OH for a conflict resolution program......................... 50,000 Community of Hope, Washington, DC for social services to homeless families using a Housing First model....... 225,000 Community Support Services, Brookfield, IL for counseling and services for people with developmental disabilities and their families....... 150,000 Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies, Wethersfield, CT for the Empowering People for Success welfare-to-work initiative.................. 300,000 Cross Road Foundation, Staten Island, NY for crisis pregnancy services.................................. 25,000 District Attorney, 32nd Judicial District, Houma, LA for counseling and other intervention services for at- risk youth and their families....................... 100,000 Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Honolulu, HI for education and other services related to domestic violence prevention............. 250,000 Dreams with Wings, Inc., Louisville, KY for its Dream Builders--Day Program for mentally disabled adults.. 50,000 East Akron Community House, Akron, OH for youth services programs............................................ 50,000 Family and Children First, Inc., Louisville, KY for abused and neglected children's services............ 50,000 Family Center of Columbus, Columbus, GA for family counseling, youth mentoring, and other services for families dealing with consequences of divorce....... 200,000 Gerard Treatment Programs, Austin, MN for program for abused and neglected children with severe emotional or behavioral problems.............................. 500,000 Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Clearwater, FL for the Training and Best Practices Research Center for Victims of Torture and Genocide..................... 300,000 Helping Children Worldwide, Herndon, VA for support programs for low- income students and their families 250,000 Hope Village for Children, Meridan, MS for expansion of urgent shelter and therapeutic group care........... 300,000 Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, El Monte, CA, for a mentoring program for foster children in Los Angeles County...................... 240,000 J.W. Darden Foundation, Opelika, AL for a health resource and education screening center............. 100,000 Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, Beechwood, OH for human services programs for children and families... 100,000 Kids Hope United, Miami, FL for the WINGS program....... 200,000 L.I.F.T. Women's Resource Center, Detroit, MI, for services to improve self- suficiency and life skills of women transitioning from substance abuse, domestic violence or homelessness................... 150,000 Lutheran Social Services, Duluth, MN for services to runaway, homeless and other at-risk youth and their families............................................ 250,000 Mary's Family, Orlean, VA to develop a respite program for Winchester-area special needs families.......... 100,000 Mecklenburg County, NC for the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Initiative........................ 150,000 Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Shelter, Mecklenburg, NC for equipment....................................... 300,000 Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, Sikeston, MO for the Fatherhood First program........................ 300,000 Monterey County Probation Department, Salinas, CA for the Silver Star gang prevention and intervention program............................................. 500,000 National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, Washington, DC for research and information dissemination related to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.................................. 200,000 New Hope for Families, Pawtucket, RI for case management and other supportive services for families leaving emergency shelter................................... 200,000 Nihonmachi Little Friends, San Francisco, CA for child care and family resource and referral services...... 200,000 PathWays PA, Holmes, PA for programs for teen mothers... 120,000 Pathways/Senderos and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, New Britain, CT for education and outreach............................................ 400,000 Peace River Center, Bartow, FL for Joint Family Intensive Therapy Team.............................. 350,000 Pennsylvania Women Work, Pittsburgh, PA for program for single parents and displaced homemakers............. 500,000 Public Health Department of Dakota County, West St. Paul, MN for the Dakota County Healthy Families program............................................. 300,000 Quality Services for the Autism Community, Astoria, NY to improve training and skills of health care workers and others serving people with autism....... 150,000 Ridgely, Caroline County, MD for curriculum and program development, staff and consultants, communication devices, and technical support...................... 600,000 Safe Haven of Tarrant County, Arlington, TX for shelter and associated services for victims of domestic violence............................................ 70,000 Sephardic Bikur Holim of Monmouth County, Deal, NJ for social services programs............................ 100,000 Shelter for Abused Women, Winchester, VA to develop a model for service delivery for domestic violence victims in rural communities........................ 100,000 South Shore Women's Center, North Plymouth, MA for domestic violence prevention and intervention services............................................ 75,000 TLC for Children and Families, Olathe, KS for a transitional living program for at-risk and homeless youth............................................... 250,000 Union Station Foundation, Pasadena, CA for services to homeless families................................... 150,000 University of Louisville, Louisville, KY to enhance clinical services for education and training initiatives in autism............................... 800,000 Visitation Home, Inc., Yardville, NJ for care of developmentally disabled residents.................. 110,000 Visually Impaired Preschool Services, Louisville, KY for preschool programs for the blind and visually impaired............................................ 200,000 Voyager Program Inc., Canton, OH for domestic violence prevention.......................................... 50,000 Women's Center of Beaver County, PA for the ``Building Foundations'' project............................... 75,000 Yale University Child Study Center, New Haven, CT for diagnostic and intervention services for children affected by autism or related developmental disorders........................................... 400,000 Developmental disabilities For programs authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act, the Committee recommends $170,836,000. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,000 more than the budget request. The account total includes $71,771,000 for allotments to the states to fund state Councils, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. These Councils engage in such activities as planning, policy analysis, demonstrations, training, outreach, interagency coordination, and public education. They do not provide direct services to the developmentally disabled population. Within the total, $38,718,000 will be available to the states to be used for operating a protection and advocacy system to protect the legal and human rights of the developmentally disabled. This is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The Committee recommends $15,720,000 for voting access for individuals with disabilities programs. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Within the funds provided, $10,890,000 is for payments to states to promote access for voters with disabilities and $4,830,000 is for state protection and advocacy systems. These programs are intended to make polling places accessible and provide equal access and participation for individuals with disabilities. The protection and advocacy program will ensure that individuals can fully participate in the electoral process, including registering to vote, accessing polling places, and casting a vote. The Committee recommends $11,414,000 for developmental disabilities projects of national significance. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The Committee recommends $33,213,000 for the university centers for excellence in developmental disabilities. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,000 more than the budget request. This funding provides discretionary grants to public or not-for-profit entities associated with universities. The grants provide basic operational and administrative core support for these agencies. In addition, these funds support interdisciplinary training, community services, research and technical assistance, and information dissemination. Native American programs The Committee recommends $44,332,000 for Native American programs. This is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The Native American programs assist Tribal and Village governments, Native American institutions and organizations to support and develop stable, diversified local economies. In promoting social and economic self-sufficiency, this program provides financial assistance through direct grants for individual projects, training and technical assistance, and research and demonstration programs. Community services The Committee recommends $507,878,000 for community services activities. This is $483,426,000 more than the budget request and $186,696,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. State block grants For State block grants, the Committee recommends $449,037,000. This is $181,388,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. This program provides grants to states, territories, and Indian Tribes for services to meet employment, housing, nutrition, energy, emergency services, and health needs of low-income people. By law, 90 percent of these funds are passed directly through to local community action agencies that have previously received block grant funds. The Committee recognizes the impact that its recommended funding level may have on rural areas. Rural areas highly depend on these funds to provide the infrastructure to deliver antipoverty services. Therefore, the Committee encourages the authorizing Committee of jurisdiction to review the funding allocations for the Community Services Block Grant to ensure that limited funding is reaching those areas with the greatest need. Community economic development The Committee recommends $27,022,000 for community economic development. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. This program provides assistance to private, locally initiated community development corporations that sponsor enterprises providing employment, training, and business development opportunities for low-income residents in poor communities. Job opportunities for low-income individuals The Committee concurs with the budget request not to include funding for job opportunities for low-income individuals. The fiscal year 2006 funding level for this program is $5,382,000. This program provides competitive grants to non-profit organizations to create new employment and business opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals. Individual development accounts The Committee recommends $24,452,000 for individual development accounts. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Individual development accounts are dedicated savings accounts that can be used by families with limited means for purchasing a first home, paying for postsecondary education or capitalizing a business. The intent of the program is to encourage participants to develop and reinforce strong habits for saving money. Section 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply for the funds and applicants must match Federal funds with non- Federal funds. Rural community facilities The Committee recommends $7,367,000 for the rural community facilities program. This is $74,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. The Committee includes these funds to be used solely for the purpose of improving water and wastewater facilities in poor, rural communities. As in the past, these funds should be allocated to regional rural community assistance programs. Violent crime reduction programs The Committee recommends $124,731,000 for family violence prevention and services and battered women's shelters. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. This program is designed to assist states and Indian Tribes in efforts to prevent family violence and to provide immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents. The program also provides technical assistance and training relating to family violence programs to state and local public agencies (including law enforcement agencies), nonprofit private organizations, and persons seeking such assistance. The Committee also includes $2,970,000 to continue funding the national domestic violence hotline. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Mentoring children of prisoners The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for the mentoring children of prisoners program. This is $9,493,000 below the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. This program supports competitively awarded grants to states and local governments, Indian tribes and consortia, and faith- and community-based organizations to mentor children of prisoners and those recently released from prison. Independent living training vouchers The Committee recommends $46,157,000 for independent living training vouchers. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These funds support vouchers for college tuition or vocational training for individuals who age out of the foster care system so they can be better prepared to live independently. Abstinence education The Committee recommends a program level total of $113,400,000 for the community-based abstinence education program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $27,765,000 below the budget request. As requested, $4,500,000 is provided within the total through the evaluation set-aside. The program provides support to public and private entities for implementation of community-based abstinence education programs for adolescents aged 12 through 18 (as defined in Section 510(b)(2)(A)-(H)). The entire focus of these programs is to educate young people and create an environment within communities that supports teen decisions to postpone sexual activity until marriage. There is no funding match requirement for these grants. The Committee intends that up to five percent of these funds be used to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to grantees. Within the total, up to $10,000,000 may be used to carry out a National Abstinence Education Campaign. The Committee urges the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to utilize the set-aside to ensure that programs around the country are using appropriate and approved curricula that are evidence-based and comply with the appropriate Federal legislation. To that end, the Committee requests ACF to issue a report to the Committees on Appropriation of the House and Senate no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the use of the 5 percent set-aside and the intended use of the fiscal year 2007 funds. The Committee also requests ACF to include in this report the funds from the National Abstinence Education Campaign that are being used for training and technical assistance. The Committee reinforces the guidance from its report accompanying the fiscal year 2005 appropriation with respect to the abstinence messages given by the public health entities that are grantees in the community-based abstinence education program and to the conduct of evaluation activities for the program. Faith-based center The Committee recommends $1,386,000 for the faith-based center. This is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 funding level. The center will support implementation of faith-based and community initiatives in accordance with the President's executive order. Program direction The Committee recommends $186,265,000 for program direction expenses for ACF. This is $2,900,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,858,000 less than the budget request. PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES The Committee recommends $434,100,000 for the promoting safe and stable families program. This is $40,000,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. Of this amount, $345,000,000 are mandatory funds and $89,100,000 are discretionary. PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR FOSTER CARE AND ASSISTANCE The Committee recommends $5,211,000,000 for payments to states for foster care and adoption assistance. This is $270,200,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. The Committee also includes an advance appropriation of $1,810,000,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 to ensure timely completion of first quarter grant awards. Within the total appropriation, including the advance appropriation from the prior year, the Committee recommends $4,757,000,000 for the foster care program to provide maintenance payments to states on behalf of children who must live outside their homes. This is the same as the budget request and $72,000,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. Within the total appropriation, the Committee recommends $2,044,000,000 for adoption assistance. This is $161,000,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. This program provides training for parents and state administrative staff as well as payments on behalf of categorically eligible children considered difficult to adopt. This annually appropriated entitlement is designed to provide alternatives to long, inappropriate stays in foster care by developing permanent placements with families. Within the total appropriation for this account, the Committee recommends $140,000,000 for the independent living program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program is designed to assist foster children age 16 or older to make successful transitions to independence. Funds assist children to earn high school diplomas, receive vocational training, and obtain training in daily living skills. Funds are awarded to states on the basis of the number of children on behalf of whom Federal foster care payments are received. Administration on Aging AGING SERVICES PROGRAMS For programs administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Committee recommends a total of $1,390,306,000. This is $27,447,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $55,471,000 more than the budget request. This account funds the programs under the Older Americans Act except for the Community Services Employment Program, which is administered by the Department of Labor. Supportive services and centers The Committee recommends $350,595,000 for supportive services and centers. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Funds for supportive services and centers are awarded to states and territories for in-home and community-based services for frail elderly persons who are at risk of losing their self-sufficiency due to physical or mental impairments. The funds contained in the bill will support a variety of activities including transportation services, information and assistance, and personal care services. Preventive health The Committee recommends $21,400,000 for preventive health services. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. These funds are awarded to states and territories to support activities that educate older adults about the importance of healthy lifestyles and promote healthy behaviors that can prevent or delay chronic disease and disability. Protection of vulnerable older Americans The Committee recommends $20,156,000 for the protection of vulnerable older Americans. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $990,000 more than the budget request. This includes funding for both the long-term care ombudsman program and the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation program. The former program protects the rights and interests of residents in nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar adult care facilities. The latter program trains law enforcement and medical professionals in recognition of and response to elder abuse. National family caregiver support program The Committee recommends $156,167,000 for the family caregivers program. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,980,000 more than the budget request. The family caregiver program provides formula grants to states to provide a support system in each state for family caregivers. All states are expected to put in place five basic system components as follows: individualized information on available resources; assistance to families in locating services from private and voluntary agencies; caregiver counseling, training and peer support; respite care; and other supplemental services. Native American caregiver support program The Committee recommends $6,241,000 for the Native American caregiver support program. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. The program assists Tribes in providing multifaceted systems of support services for family caregivers as well as for grandparents caring for grandchildren. Nutrition programs For congregate and home-delivered meals, as well as the nutrition services incentive program, the Committee recommends $722,292,000. This is $7,222,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $10,783,000 more than the budget request. The funding distribution for these programs is included in the detailed table accompanying this report. These programs are intended to address some of the difficulties confronting older individuals; namely, nutrition deficiencies due to inadequate income, lack of adequate facilities to prepare food, and social isolation. Grants for Native Americans The Committee recommends $26,134,000 for grants for Native Americans. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. Grants are distributed to tribal organizations to be used to help Native American elders remain healthy and independent by providing transportation, nutrition, health screening, and other services. Program innovations The Committee recommends $44,135,000 for program innovations. This is $19,540,000 more than the fiscal year funding level and $8,650,000 more than the budget request. Funds under this program are used for competitive grants and contracts to support projects that develop new and promising practices to serve older adults and their families. Alzheimer's disease often causes patients to exhibit unusual and unpredictable behavior, including physical aggression and combativeness and drastic mood swings. AoA funds support a 24-hour call center to help families in crisis manage these behaviors with expert advice, consultation and referrals. The Committee has provided $1,000,000 to continue this valuable resource. Within this total, the Committee provides $28,000,000 to begin national implementation of the Choices for Independence initiative. Choices for Independence builds on the successful program innovations administered by AoA over the last four years, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers that are currently operating in 43 States, evidence-based disease prevention efforts, and the cash and counseling initiative. Funding is provided to sustain and expand these efforts through a coordinated approach that will provide States with enhanced tools for redirecting their long-term care systems to make them more consumer-directed and provide moderate and low-income individuals at high risk of institutionalization with more options to remain at home and in the community. In implementing Choices for Independence, the Committee encourages AoA to continue its close partnership efforts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other agencies. Within the funds provided for program innovations, the Committee includes funding for the following items: Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, Denver, CO for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project............................... 200,000 Alzheimer's Family Organization, New Port Richey, FL for training and qualification of dementia care professionals....................................... 200,000 Boise State University, Boise, ID for Center for the Study of Aging...................................... 300,000 Cyber Seniors, Detroit, MI for the ExperienceSeniorPower program............................................. 100,000 Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation, Durham, NC for a demonstration program to improve assistance to family caregivers................................... 140,000 Experience Corps, Port Arthur, TX for capacity building and expansion....................................... 350,000 Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, Fairfax, VA for naturally occurring retirement community demonstration project.......... 150,000 Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Boston, Waltham, MA for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project................... 200,000 Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis, Minnetonka, MN for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project................... 400,000 Jewish Family Service, Albuquerque, NM for a naturally occurring retirement community demonstration project 400,000 Jewish Family Service, Los Angeles, CA for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project in Park La Brea & West Hollywood............ 300,000 Jewish Family Services of Delaware, Wilmington, DE for a naturally occurring retirement community demonstration project............................... 150,000 Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, MI for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project............................... 125,000 Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, Scotch Plains, NJ for the naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project................... 150,000 Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN for a naturally occurring retirement communities supportive services demonstration................... 300,000 Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, NJ for a naturally occurring retirement community demonstration project............................... 200,000 Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Woodbridge, CT to develop, test, evaluate and disseminate an innovative community-based approach to family caregiver support services.......................... 200,000 Jewish Federation of Middlesex County, South Amboy, NJ for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project............................... 200,000 Legal Assistance for Seniors, Oakland, CA for a demonstration project, including training, to improve assistance to elderly victims of financial abuse............................................... 250,000 Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Lincoln, NE for data collection and evaluation...... 400,000 Nursing Assistant Institute at the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, Charlottesville, VA for assessment and address of nursing assistant shortages in long-term care settings....................................... 100,000 People Inc., Buffalo, NY for an integrated Alzheimer's and dementia respite care demonstration project..... 75,000 Prevent Blindness Ohio, Columbus, OH for the Ohio Senior Eye project......................................... 250,000 Rebuilding Together, Inc., Washington, D.C. for education, training, technical assistance and other services related to its national program to reduce the risk of injury to seniors through home modifications....................................... 300,000 Samuel Field YM&YWHA, Little Neck, NY for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project............................................. 150,000 Senior Legal Hotline, Sacramento, CA for a demonstration project to increase services to non-English-speaking seniors............................................. 60,000 Shenandoah Area Agency of Aging, Front Royal, VA for a model group respite center for persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia..................... 150,000 The Aging in New York Fund, Inc. of the New York City Department for the Aging, New York, NY to develop best practices in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease............................................. 750,000 UJA Federation of Bergen County, NJ for the Safe and Secure Senior Program............................... 300,000 United Jewish Communities of Metrowest, Parsipanny, NJ for naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project............................... 500,000 Visiting Nurses Association Healthcare Partners of Ohio, Mansfield, OH for CareWatch......................... 100,000 Warbasse Community Services, Brooklyn, NY for a naturally occurring retirement communities demonstration project addressing mental health needs 200,000 Aging network support activities The Committee recommends $13,133,000 for aging network support activities, which include five ongoing programs: the Eldercare Locator, Pension Counseling, Senior Medicare Patrols, the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, and the National Center on Elder Abuse. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the budget request. These established programs, which began as demonstration projects, provide critical support for the national aging services network. Alzheimer's disease demonstration grants The Committee recommends $11,668,000 for Alzheimer's disease demonstration grants. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 funding level. No funds were requested for this program. The program provides competitive grants to States to help them plan and establish programs to provide models of care to individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Funds are used for respite care and supportive services, clearinghouses, training, and administrative costs for State offices. An estimated 70 percent of Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family members provide the preponderance of care. The Alzheimer's disease demonstration grant program currently supports matching grants to 38 States to help stimulate and coordinate services to assist families caring for Alzheimer patients, particularly those living in underserved rural communities and minorities. Unlike other AoA general service activities, this program is designed to address the unique demands Alzheimer's disease places on families and emphasizes systems change to meet those demands. Program administration The Committee recommends $18,385,000 for program administration expenses. This is the same as the budget request and $685,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level. This activity provides administrative and management support for all Older Americans Act programs administered by AoA. Office of the Secretary GENERAL DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT The Committee provides $363,592,000 for general departmental management, which is $5,697,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $4,827,000 below the budget request. Included in this amount is authority to spend $5,792,000 from the Medicare trust funds. In addition, the Office of the Secretary has access to $39,552,000 of policy evaluation funding. This appropriation supports those activities that are associated with the Secretary's roles as policy officer and general manager of the Department. The Office of the Secretary also implements Administration and Congressional directives, and provides assistance, direction and coordination to the headquarters, regions and field organizations of the Department. This account also supports several small health promotion and disease prevention activities that are centrally administered. The Committee includes the amounts within the Office of the Secretary for the following projects and activities in fiscal year 2007 listed below: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX (in cooperation with UT Dallas) for a program to recruit minority students into biomedical research (including outreach, mentoring and/or scholarships and fellowships).................................... $75,000 Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ for its Latino Healthcare Initiative............................... 100,000 National Hispanic Medical Association, Washington, DC for development of a Hispanic Health Portal to provide on-line health education materials.......... 250,000 New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition, Manchester, NH to expand the Medical Interoperation Services Project............................................. 300,000 Northern Virginia Family Services, Oakton, VA to develop a network of local pediatricians providing affordable health care to the working poor in Loudoun County, VA.................................. 100,000 St. Luke Free Community Clinic, Front Royal, VA to coordinate a seven-county effort to address adult hypertension and inadequate dental care for the uninsured........................................... 350,000 University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV for translation, training, and technology related to its Interpretive Services Program................ 250,000 University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ for research, education and community outreach activities of the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities................... 275,000 Adolescent family life The Committee provides $30,277,000 for the Adolescent Family Life program, which is the same as the 2006 level and $95,000 below the budget request. The Committee repeats bill language requested by the Administration allocating all funds for prevention demonstrations to be available for abstinence education activities under section 510(b)(2) of the Social Security Act. The program provides comprehensive and integrated approaches to the delivery of care services for pregnant and parenting adolescents, and prevention services that promote abstinence from sexual activity among non-parenting teens. Office of Minority Health The Committee provides $46,775,000 for the Office of Minority Health (OMH), which is $9,719,000 below the fiscal year 2006 amount and the same as the budget request. The 2006 appropriation included a one-time project costing $9,900,000. The OMH works with Public Health Service agencies and other agencies of the Department in a leadership and policy development role to establish goals and coordinate other activities in the Department regarding disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery and research relating to disadvantaged and minority individuals; concludes interagency agreements to stimulate and undertake innovative projects; supports research, demonstration, and evaluation projects; and coordinates efforts to promote minority health programs and policies in the voluntary and corporate sectors. Historically black medical schools.--The Committee continues to be concerned about the diminished partnership between OMH and the nation's historically black medical schools. Consistent with the fiscal year 2006 conference report, the Committee encourages OMH to: (1) re-establish its unique cooperative agreement with Meharry Medical College; (2) develop a formal partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine and its National Center for Primary Care; and (3) coordinate a response to the challenges facing the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, including expanded opportunities for biomedical research and support for residency training faculty. The Committee requests a report on the status of these activities by January 1, 2007. Office on Women's Health The Committee provides $28,265,000 for the Office on Women's Health, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and $104,000 below the budget request. The Office on Women's Health advises the Secretary and provides Department-wide coordination of programs focusing specifically on women's health. HIV/AIDS in minority communities The Committee provides $51,891,000 to be available to the Secretary to transfer to the Department's operating agencies for specific program activities to address the high-priority HIV prevention and treatment needs of minority communities. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. These funds are provided to promote an effective culturally competent and linguistically appropriate public health response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Within the total provided, the Committee expects that activities that are targeted to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disproportionate impact upon communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, will be supported at no less than last year's funding level. Afghanistan The Committee includes $5,892,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and $124,000 below the budget request. These funds will be used for the joint Department of Defense and HHS initiative to improve the largest women's hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan and to create four satellite teaching clinics. Bill language is included identifying the amount of assistance and citing as authority the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002. Embryo adoption awareness campaign The Committee does not provide funding for the embryo adoption awareness campaign, which is $1,980,000 below both the Administration request and the fiscal year 2006 level. HHS has received funding for four years to conduct embryo adoption public awareness activities. Public education campaigns.--The Committee recognizes the important role that minority-owned and -operated media serve in reaching key segments of the public, and the U.S. Hispanic population in particular. Given the importance of reaching these communities, the Committee encourages the Department to consider the importance of these media and their constituencies when conducting national public health education campaigns, and to target resources to reach these communities through minority-owned and -operated media. This is particularly critical when that media serves residents whose first language is not English, such as in Spanish language print media, and when the public health campaigns are targeting conditions that affect non-English speaking populations disproportionately, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Obesity.--The Committee requests the Secretary, not later than one year after the enactment of this Act, to submit a report to the Committee describing research being conducted on health implications of obesity and being overweight. The report should describe the types and numbers of studies completed or being conducted by NIH; the types of studies completed or being conducted by CDC on individual and community interventions to prevent individuals from becoming overweight or obese; and recommendations on further research that is needed. Cardiovascular disease and women.--The Committee is concerned that there continues to be a lack of awareness among health care providers that cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in the United States. The Committee encourages the Secretary to conduct an education and awareness campaign for physicians and other health care professionals relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in women. Sodium.--High sodium diets are strongly correlated with hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's working group on hypertension has called for a fifty percent reduction in salt consumption over ten years. The Committee encourages the Surgeon General to issue a report on salt and hypertension within one year of the passage of this bill. Bioterrorism funds: state and local capacity.--The Committee continues to recognize that bioterrorism events will occur at the local level and will require local capacity, preparedness and initial response. The Committee notes that HHS' cooperative agreement guidance now includes explicit requirements for local concurrence with state spending plans for public health emergency preparedness and urges CDC to monitor and enforce these requirements. The Committee also recognizes that HHS has incorporated the National Preparedness Goal into the cooperative agreement guidance and established new CDC Preparedness Goals. The Committee urges the Department to assure that the performance metrics for the CDC Preparedness Goals, by which local health department preparedness will be measured, are fully consistent with the target capabilities list of the National Preparedness Goal. Sleep disorders.--At the National Institutes of Health's Frontiers of Knowledge in Sleep and Sleep Disorders conference in March, 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General reported on the profound impact that chronic sleep loss and untreated sleep disorders have on Americans of all ages and that the public health model is well suited to translate these essential health messages to society. The Committee continues to urge the Surgeon General to develop a Surgeon General's Report on Sleep and Sleep Disorders and requests a report regarding progress made on this initiative. Food allergy.--The Committee notes that approximately three million children under the age of eighteen suffer from food allergies. There are no Federal guidelines concerning the management of life-threatening food allergies in a school setting. The Committee encourages the Secretary, working with the Secretary of Education, to develop a policy to be used on a voluntary basis to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools within six months of the enactment of this Act. These guidelines should include detailed emergency treatment procedures in the event of anaphylaxis or other food allergy reaction, strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas such as the cafeteria, and consideration of the authorization of school personnel to administer epinephrine when the school nurse is not immediately available. Office of Population Affairs (OPA).--The appropriations bill has had a longstanding provision making clear that no family planning provider is exempt from any State law requiring notification or reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape or incest. The committee is pleased that OPA is developing an audit for a representative sample of Title X recipients to measure the level of compliance with each of these statutory requirements. The committee directs OPA to begin this audit in calendar year 2006, giving particular attention to states where issues of non-compliance have been raised by state government officials. The committee directs the OPA to submit a report no later than March 1, 2007 to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees detailing the fundings from the audit, including the number of abuse cases that have been reported consistent with State law. The Committee again directs the OPA to send Title X grantees a reminder notification of this Federal requirement and a report no later than March 1, 2007, to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee detailing their progress in notifying all grantees of this federal requirement. Steroid use.--The Committee supports education efforts to demonstrate the consequences of using performance-enhancing drugs. The Department should undertake a comprehensive campaign to educate youth on the dangers of steroid use for 5th through 8th graders, an education program authorized in the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004. Genetic screening.--The Committee is pleased that the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children has recommended a uniform screening panel for which all newborns should be screened. The Advisory Committee is encouraged to update the panel of recommended tests periodically, as well as provide the Secretary with recommendations, advice or information on steps to improve newborn screening programs. This Committee strongly urges the Secretary to adopt or reject recommendations no later than 180 days after the Advisory Committee issues them, and to make public the justification for such determination. OFFICE OF MEDICARE HEARINGS AND APPEALS The Committee provides $70,000,000 for this Office, which is $10,600,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $4,250,000 below the Administration request. This office supports hearing at the administrative law judge level, the third level of Medicare claims appeals. More than 40,000 appeals are projected to be heard in fiscal year 2007. OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Committee provides $98,000,000 for the health information technology office, of which $86,070,000 is available in budget authority and $11,930,000 in program evaluation tap funding. This total is $36,728,000 above the amount made available in fiscal year 2006 and $17,872,000 below the Administration request. In addition, $50,000,000 is provided for health information technology activities in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This AHRQ activity is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program is intended to bring together decision-makers to develop standards for modern information technology, to devise certification procedures, to develop electronic information architecture and to test privacy standards. The ultimate goal is the accurate and rapid transfer of a patient's health information electronically. The Committee encourages the Department to develop an interoperability standard, tool set, and validation protocol that facilitate seamless medical device information sharing and device connectivity. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL The Committee provides $41,415,000 for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which is $2,000,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 level and $2,345,000 less than the budget request. Permanent appropriations for this office are contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as well as the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Total funds provided between this bill and the permanent appropriations would be $226,415,000 in fiscal year 2007. The Office of the Inspector General was created by law to protect the integrity of Departmental programs as well as the health and welfare of beneficiaries served by those programs. Through a comprehensive program of audits, investigations, inspections and program evaluations, the OIG attempts to reduce the incidence of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness throughout the Department. OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS The Committee provides $36,283,000 for the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which is $1,637,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. This includes authority to transfer $3,314,000 from the Medicare trust funds. The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing civil rights statutes that prohibit discrimination in health and human services programs. OCR implements the civil rights laws through a compliance program designed to generate voluntary compliance among all HHS recipients. MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS The Committee provides an estimated $341,694,000 for medical benefits for commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service. This is the same as the Administration request and $13,142,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount. This account provides for retirement payments to U.S. Public Health Service officers who are retired for age, disability or length of service; payments to survivors of deceased officers; medical care for active duty and retired members and dependents and beneficiaries; and for payments to the Social Security Administration for military service credits. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND The Committee provides $160,475,000 for the public health and social services emergency fund for homeland security related activities within the Office of the Secretary, which is $100,448,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. Within the amount, $81,595,000 is for homeland security preparedness activities within the Office of the Secretary and $78,880,000 is for pandemic influenza preparedness. In addition, the Committee provides for homeland security activities $1,606,000,000 within CDC; $487,000,000 within HRSA; and $1,866,000,000 within NIH. The Committee does not provide funding within the Office of the Secretary for healthcare provider credentialing. The Committee believes a better use of resources would be to expand the ongoing credentialing program operated by HRSA to permit cross-state credentialing. Funding is included for develpment of a national vaccine/ anti-viral medication logistics management system. This system would integrate geospatial analysis, data capture, influenza outcome models, and situational decision-making tools to assist Federal emergency response in conjunction with state and local governments. In light of the imminent hurricane season and potential pandemic flu considerations, the Committee is concerned that responses to recent hurricanes revealed problems in assuring availability of an adequate blood supply through implementation of the National Response Plan. In particular, the local non- profit community-based blood centers experienced shortages of: fuel for generators to collect and maintain as well as vehicles to distribute a viable blood stock; reliable access to emergency comunications; and availability of emergency transportation for distribution of blood and supplies. The Committee expects the Secretary of Health and Human Services, by August 1, 2006, to submit an operating plan with policies and procedures that ensure FDA-licensed or registered blood centers received priority access to fuel, communications equipment and frequencies, and transportation, consistent with their role as providers of emergency medical services. Further, this plan shall identify any impediments related to State responsibilities in providing priority access to those resources. In preparing the plan, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Transportation regarding coordination with their responsibilities under the National Response Plan. Administrative Provisions Sec. 201. The Committee continues a provision to limit the amount available for official reception and representation expenses. Sec. 202. The Committee continues a provision to limit the number of Public Health Service employees assigned to assist in child survival activities and to work in AIDS programs through and with funds provided by the Agency for International Development, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund or the World Health Organization. Sec. 203. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the use of funds to implement section 399F(b) of the Public Health Service Act or section 1503 of the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993. Sec. 204. The Committee continues and amends a provision to limit the salary of an individual through an NIH, AHRQ, or SAMHSA grant or other extramural mechanism to not more than the rate of Executive Level II. Sec. 205. The Committee includes a provision limiting the compensation of an individual working in Head Start to the Federal Executive Level II salary. Sec. 206. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the Secretary from using evaluation set-aside funds until the Committee receives a report detailing the planned use of such funds. Sec. 207. The Committee continues a provision, although changes the percentage provided in the fiscal year 2006 bill, permitting the Secretary to use up to 1.0 percent of funds authorized under the PHS Act for the evaluation of programs. (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Sec. 208. The Committee continues and amends a provision permitting the Secretary of HHS to transfer up to one percent of any discretionary appropriation from an account, provided that no appropriation is increased by more than three percent by any such transfer. (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Sec. 209. The Committee continues a provision to provide the Director of NIH, jointly with the Director of the Office of AIDS Research, the authority to transfer up to three percent of human immunodeficiency virus funds. (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Sec. 210. The Committee continues a provision to make NIH funds available for human immunodeficiency virus research available to the Office of AIDS Research. Sec. 211. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the use of Title X funds unless the applicant for the award certifies to the Secretary that it encourages family participation in the decision of minors to seek family planning services and that it provides counseling to minors on how to resist attempts to coerce minors into engaging in sexual activities. Sec. 212. The Committee continues a provision related to the Medicare Advantage program. Sec. 213. The Committee continues a provision stating that no provider of services under title X shall be exempt from any state law requiring notification or the reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or incest. Sec. 214. The Committee continues a provision to exempt states from Synar provisions if certain funding criteria are met. Sec. 215. The Committee continues a provision to allow funding for CDC international HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease, chronic and environmental disease, and other health activities abroad to be spent under the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956. Sec. 216. The Committee continues a provision granting authority to the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to enter directly into transactions in order to implement the NIH Roadmap for medical research and permitting the Director to utilize peer review procedures, as appropriate, to obtain assessments of scientific and technical merit. Sec. 217. The Committee continues a provision that permits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to transfer funds that are available for Individual Learning Accounts to ``Disease Control, Research, and Training''. Sec. 218. The Committee continues a provision permitting the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive regulations requiring child restraint systems and vehicle monitors on buses that transport children attending Head Start programs. The reauthorization of the Head Start program will remedy the disruption caused by these regulations and thus the waiver authority expires upon enactment the reauthorization. Sec. 219. The Committee continues a provision granting authority to the Secretary of HHS to use charter aircraft under contract with CDC. Sec. 220. The Committee includes a provision requiring NIH- funded authors to deposit final, peer-reviewed manuscripts in the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central database within twelve months of the official date of publication. Sec. 221. The Committee recommends new language to preclude funds made available in this Act from being used to phase down or reduce below 6 percent certain taxes under section 433.68(f)(3) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Education for the Disadvantaged The bill includes $14,652,541,000 for the education for the disadvantaged programs. This amount is $1,817,000,000 less than the budget request and $171,380,000 higher than the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Of the total amount available, $7,099,907,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2007 for obligation after July 1, 2007 and $7,383,301,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for obligation on or after October 1, 2007. This appropriation account includes compensatory education programs authorized under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and title IV of the Higher Education Act. Grants to local educational agencies Of the amounts provided for title I programs, $6,808,408,000 is available for basic grants to local education agencies. This amount is the same as both last year's level and the request. Funding for concentration grants, which targets funds to local educational agencies in school districts with high levels of disadvantaged children, is $1,365,031,000, the same as both last year and the request level. The bill includes $2,269,843,000 for targeted grants, the same as both last year and the request. A total of $2,269,843,000 is included for education finance incentive grants, the same as both the request and last year's level. Financial assistance flows to school districts by formula, based primarily on the number of school-aged children from low- income families. Within districts, local school officials target funds on school attendance areas with the greatest number or percentage of children from poor families. Local school districts develop and implement their own programs to help ensure that students in high-poverty schools meet challenging State academic standards. Funds under this account are also used to pay the Federal share of State administrative costs for title I programs. The maximum State administrative grant is equal to one percent of title one local educational agency grants or $400,000, whichever is greater. The Committee does not include bill language requested by the Administration to override existing statutory language that prohibits State educational agencies from reserving the full four percent of their allocations for school improvement programs if the formula reduces any local educational agency allocations. The Committee supports the effort to provide State agencies with funding to address school improvement efforts, especially as more schools fall into needing improvement categories, but is reluctant to change the statute when No Child Left Behind (NCLB) will be considered for reauthorization next year. With the renewed focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, the Committee notes with concern the under-representation of Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans in the STEM fields. For example, the Center for the Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Education notes that Hispanic Americans constitute 12 percent of the population in the United States, and yet represent less than three percent of the engineering and scientific community nationwide. With the goal of increasing the percentage of all minority subgroups that contribute to the STEM fields, the Committee encourages the Department to investigate the reasons for this disparity and issue a report within one year with the findings of that investigation, including suggested remedies to bridge the divide. Even Start The Committee provides $70,000,000 for Even Start, $29,000,000 below last year and $70,000,000 above the request. Even Start provides grants for programs focusing on the education of low-income families, including parents eligible for services under the adult Education and Family Literacy Act and their children, aged birth-7 years. These parents are not in school, are above the State's compulsory school attendance age limit, and have not earned a high school diploma (or equivalent). Even Start funds are allocated to the States, generally in proportion to title I Part A funds. School improvement grants The Committee provides $200,000,000 for the first year of funding for school improvement grants, authorized under section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This is the same as the Administration request. This formula grant program will make awards to States to provide assistance for local school improvement activities required for title I schools that do not make adequate yearly progress for at least two consecutive years. This assistance will help ensure that States and localities have the resources necessary to carry out the continuous improvement required to meet the annual and long-term proficiency goals of NCLB. The Committees does not include bill language requested by the Administration overriding the statutory requirement that States subgrant 95 percent of their grant funds to local educational agencies. The Committee hopes this issue will be considered during the authorization of No Child Left Behind next year. Reading First State Grants The bill provides $1,029,234,000 for Reading First State grants, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides assistance to states and school districts in establishing scientific research-based reading programs for children in kindergarten through grade three. The program also provides for professional development and other support to ensure that teachers can identify children at-risk for reading failure and provide the most effective early instruction to overcome specific barriers to reading proficiency. Early Reading First The bill provides $103,118,000 for Early Reading First, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This is a competitive grant program targeted toward children from birth three through age five, and supports the development of verbal skills, phonemic awareness, pre-reading development and assistance for professional development for teachers in evidence-based strategies of instruction. Striving Readers The bill provides $35,000,000 for Striving Readers, $65,000,000 below the budget request and $5,300,000 above last year's level. Striving Readers makes competitive grants to develop, implement and evaluate reading interventions for middle- or high-school students who are reading significantly below grade level. Math Now The bill does not provide $250,000,000 requested by the Administration for two new programs, Math Now for Elementary School Students and Math Now for Middle School Students. The Committee supports efforts to improve mathematics instruction, but has concerns about beginning additional programs when ongoing programs exist that target math and science instruction. The Committee does provide funding for the national mathematics panel to develop mathematics content and principles for programs like Math Now. Literacy through school libraries The bill provides $19,486,000 for literacy through school libraries, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program helps school districts provide students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials, a well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media center, and well-trained, and professionally certified school library media specialists. At appropriations of less than $100,000,000 the Department makes competitive awards to districts with a child poverty rate of at least 20 percent. High school intervention The bill does not include funding for the high school intervention program proposed by the Administration at $1,475,000,000. The Committee supports the Administration's goals in this program, which are to increase the achievement of high school students, particularly students at risk of failing to meet challenging State academic content standards; to eliminate gaps in achievement between students from different ethnic and racial groups and between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers; and to enable all high school students to graduate with the education, skills, and knowledge necessary to succeed in postsecondary education and in a demanding, high-technology economy. However, the Committee notes that this program has not been authorized. America's opportunity scholarships for kids The bill does not include funding for the America's opportunity scholarships for kids program proposed by the Administration at $100,000,000. This demonstration program would provide parents with funds either to send their child to a private school or receive intensive tutoring assistance. Instead, the Committee provides $200,000,000 for assistance to schools that do not make adequate yearly progress through the School Improvement Grants program. State agency programs: migrant The bill includes $386,524,000 for the migrant education program, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. This program supports formula grants to State agencies for the support of special educational and related services to children of migratory agricultural workers and fishermen. The purpose of this program is to provide supplementary academic education, remedial or compensatory instruction, English for limited English proficient students, testing, plus guidance, counseling and other activities to promote coordination of services across States for migrant children whose education is interrupted by frequent moves. State agency programs: neglected and delinquent For the State agency program for neglected and delinquent children, the bill includes $49,797,000, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. This formula grant program provides services to participants in institutions for juvenile delinquents, adult correctional institutions, or institutions for the neglected. Evaluation The Committee provides $9,330,000 for evaluation, the same as both the 2006 appropriation and the budget request. Title I evaluation supports large scale national evaluations that examine how title I is contributing to improved student performance at the State, local education agency, and school levels. It also supports short-term studies that document promising models. Comprehensive school reform The bill includes $3,000,000 for the Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) Program, $3,000,000 above the request and $4,920,000 below last year's level. The Committee has included bill language providing funding for continuation costs of the quality initiative awards and the comprehensive school reform clearinghouse. The CSR program provided incentive grants of at least $50,000 per year, for 3 years, for schools to implement effective, research-driven strategies for schoolwide reform. Recent studies have demonstrated that comprehensive school- improvement models, when well implemented, boost student achievement to a greater extent than other interventions designed to serve similar student populations. Now that the NCLB has spurred an increased emphasis school reform activities, programs supported by CSR can be funded through Title I grants to local educational agencies. Migrant education, high school equivalency program The bill includes $18,550,000 for the high school equivalency program. This amount is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The high school equivalency program recruits migrant students aged 16 and over and provides academic and support services to help those students obtain a high school equivalency certificate and subsequently to gain employment or admission to a postsecondary institution or training program. College assistance migrant programs The bill includes $15,377,000 for the college assistance migrant programs. This amount is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The college assistance migrant program (CAMP) provides tutoring and counseling services to first-year, undergraduate migrant students and assists those students in obtaining student financial aid for their remaining undergraduate years. Impact Aid The bill provides $1,228,453,000 for Federal impact aid programs in fiscal year 2007, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. This account supports payments to school districts affected by Federal activities. Impact Aid represents a Federal responsibility to local schools educating children whose families are connected with the military or who live on Indian land. The bill also repeats language, as requested by the Administration, ensuring that schools serving the children of military personnel continue to receive Impact Aid funds when the military parents who live on-base are deployed and the child continues to attend the same school and in cases in which an on-base military parent is killed while on active duty and the child continues to attend the same school. Basic support payments The bill includes $1,091,867,000 for basic support payments to local educational agencies, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Basic support payments compensate school districts for lost tax revenue and are made on behalf of Federally-connected children such as children of members of the uniformed services who live on Federal property. Payments for children with disabilities The Committee recommends $49,466,000 for payments on behalf of Federally-connected children with disabilities, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. These payments compensate school districts for the increased costs of serving Federally-connected children with disabilities. Facilities maintenance The Committee recommends $4,950,000 for facilities maintenance, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 amount and the budget request. These capital payments are authorized for maintenance of certain facilities owned by the Department of Education. Construction The Committee recommends $17,820,000 for the construction program, which is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides formula and competitive grants to local educational agencies that educate Federally connected students or have Federally owned land for building and renovating school facilities. The Committee provides funding for the formula program rather than, as requested by the Administration, for the competitive program. Payments for Federal property The bill provides $64,350,000 for payments related to Federal property, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Funds are awarded to school districts to compensate for lost tax revenue as the result of Federal acquisition of real property since 1938. School Improvement Programs The bill includes $4,764,559,000 for school improvement programs. This amount is $490,918,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $208,599,000 less than the budget request. This appropriation account includes programs authorized under titles II, IV, V, VI, and VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, title IV-A of the Civil Rights Act, section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002, and section 105 of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003. State grants for improving teacher quality The bill includes $2,587,000,000 for state grants for improving teacher quality, which is $300,439,000 less than both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program gives States and districts a flexible source of funding with which to meet their particular needs in strengthening the skills and knowledge of teachers and administrators to enable them to improve student achievement. States are authorized to retain 2.5 percent of funds for state activities, including reforming teacher certification, re-certification or licensure requirements; expanding, establishing or improving alternative routes to state certification; carrying out programs that include support during the initial teaching and leadership experience, such as mentoring programs; assisting school districts in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified and effective teachers and principals; reforming tenure systems; and developing professional development programs for principals. States send funding to the local level by formula and by competitive grant. Among other things, local uses of funds include initiatives to assist recruitment of principals and fully qualified teachers; initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers and principals; programs designed to improve the quality of the teacher work force; teacher opportunity payments; professional development activities; teacher advancement initiatives and hiring fully qualified teachers in order to reduce class size. In the 2003-2004 school year, the Department reports that states transferred $140,000,000 out of teacher quality State grants for use in other NCLB programs. Early childhood educator professional development The bill includes $14,549,000 for early childhood educator professional development, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides competitive grants to partnerships to improve the knowledge and skills of early childhood educators and caregivers who work in communities that have high concentrations of children living in poverty. Mathematics and science partnerships The bill includes $225,000,000 for mathematics and science partnerships, $42,840,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program promotes strong math and science teaching skills for elementary and secondary school teachers. Grantees may use program funds to develop rigorous math and science curricula, establish distance learning programs, and recruit math, science and engineering majors into the teaching profession. They may also provide professional development opportunities. Grants are made to States by formula based on the number of children aged 5 to 17 who are from families with incomes below the poverty line, and States then award the funds competitively to partnerships that must include the State agency, an engineering, math or science department of an institution of higher education, and a high-need school district. Other partners may also be involved. The Committee has increased funding for this program in response to the Administration's K-12 mathematics instruction initiative. State grants for innovative programs The bill includes $150,000,000 for state grants for innovative programs, which is $51,000,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides funding to state and local educational agencies for 27 purposes identified in statute, including obtaining technology and technology-related training, combating illiteracy among children and adults, addressing the educational needs of gifted and talented children, and implementing school improvement and parental involvement activities under ESEA Title I. The Committee has increased funding for this program to expand funding available to states, for use as they determine appropriate for their needs, in areas such as educational technology, library enhancements, teacher training, counseling, school-based mental health services, dropout prevention, and gifted and talented education. Educational technology state grants The bill does not include funding for education technology activities, consistent with the Administration budget request. The program was funded at $272,250,000 in fiscal year 2006. Under this program, states have directed funding to school districts for access to technology; teacher professional development; and initiatives using technology to increase academic achievement. This program has received almost $2,900,000,000 over the last five years. Ninety-three percent of schools report that they have access to the internet in instructional rooms as well as declining student-instructional computer ratios. State grants for innovative programs and Improving Teacher Quality State grants can be used for technology-related professional development and infrastructure. There is additional support for technology infrastructure through the E-Rate program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which supports connectivity in schools and libraries by offering discounted rates on telecommunications and Internet service, as well as basic maintenance of connections. In the funding year that ended in June, 2005, the FCC committed $2,300,000,000 through the e-rate program. Approximately 98 percent of the funds go to a school, school district, or consortium; the remaining 2 percent goes to libraries. Supplemental education grants The bill provides $18,001,000 for supplemental education grants to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which is the same as the budget request and the 2006 appropriation. The Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-188) authorizes these entities to receive funding for general education assistance. Bill language is included providing a consolidated amount for supplemental education grants since the underlying statute determines the allocation between Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. 21st century community learning centers The bill provides $981,166,000 for 21st century community learning centers, the same as both the 2007 request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program is a formula grant to states. Ninety-five percent of funds are distributed on a competitive basis from the state to local school districts, community-based organizations and other public entities and private organizations. Grantees must target students who attend low-performing schools. Funds may be used for before and after school activities that advance student academic achievement including remedial education and academic enrichment activities; math, science, arts, music, entrepreneurial and technology education; tutoring and mentoring; recreational activities; and expanded library service hours. State assessments The bill includes $407,563,000 for state assessments, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides states with funding to develop annual assessments and to carry out activities related to ensuring accountability for results in the state's schools and school districts. Javits gifted and talented education The bill does not include funding for gifted and talented education, the same as the budget request and $9,596,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports grants to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the needs of gifted and talented students. Competitive grants are awarded to states and school districts, institutions or higher education and other public and private entities. Foreign language assistance grants The bill includes $21,780,000 for foreign language assistance grants, $2,000,000 below the budget request and the same as the 2006 level. The program supports competitive grants to school districts and States to increase the quality and quantity of elementary and secondary-level foreign language instruction in the United States. Education for homeless children and youth For the education of homeless children and youth program, the Committee recommends $61,871,000, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Grants are allocated to States in proportion to the total that each State receives under the title I program. For local grants, at least 50 percent must be used for direct services to homeless children and youth, including tutoring or remedial or other educational services. Training and advisory services The bill includes $7,113,000 for training and advisory services authorized by title IV-A of the Civil Rights Act. This amount is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. Title IV-A authorizes technical assistance and training services for local educational agencies to address problems associated with desegregation on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. The Department awards 3-year grants to regional equity assistance centers (EACs) located in each of the ten Department of Education regions. The EACs provide services to school districts upon request. Typical activities include disseminating information on successful education practices and legal requirements related to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, and national origin in educational programs; training designed to develop educators' skills in specific areas, such as the identification of race and sex bias in instructional materials; increasing the skills of educational personnel in dealing with race-based confrontations such as hate crimes; and providing technical assistance in the identification and selection of appropriate educational programs to meet the needs of limited English proficient students. Education for Native Hawaiians The Committee recommends $31,433,000 for education for Native Hawaiians, which is the same as the budget request and $2,474,000 below the fiscal year 2006 amount. A number of authorized programs limited to Native Hawaiians are supported with these funds, including a model curriculum project, family- based education centers, postsecondary education fellowships, gifted and talented education projects, and special education projects for disabled pupils. Alaska Native education equity The Committee recommends $33,908,000 for the Alaska Native education equity program, which is the same as the budget request and $1,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount. These funds are used to develop supplemental educational programs to benefit Alaska Natives. Rural education The bill includes $168,918,000 for rural education programs, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This fund includes two programs to assist rural school districts to improve teaching and learning in their schools. The small, rural schools achievement program provides funds to rural districts that serve a small number of students; the rural and low-income schools program provides funds to rural districts that serve concentrations of poor students, regardless of the number of students served by the district. Comprehensive centers The bill includes $56,257,000 for comprehensive centers, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. These funds are used for the 21 new comprehensive centers first funded in fiscal year 2005. The centers include 16 regional centers that will provide training and technical assistance to State educational agencies within their geographic regions to help them implement provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act State-wide and five content centers, each specializing in a different area. Indian Education The bill includes $118,690,000 for Indian education. This amount is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. This account supports programs authorized by part A of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Grants to local educational agencies The bill provides $95,331,000 for grants to local education agencies. This program provides assistance through formula grants to school districts and schools supported or operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The purpose of this program is to reform elementary and secondary school programs that serve Indian students, including preschool children. Grantees must develop a comprehensive plan and assure that the programs they carry out will help Indian students reach the same challenging standards that apply to all students. This program supplements the regular school program to help Indian children sharpen their academic skills, bolster their self-confidence, and participate in enrichment activities that would otherwise be unavailable. Special programs for Indian children The Committee recommends $19,399,000 for special programs for Indian children. These programs make competitive awards to improve the quality of education for Indian students. This program also funds the American Indian Teacher Corps and the American Indian Administrator Corps to recruit and support American Indians as teachers and school administrators. National activities The bill provides $3,960,000 for national activities. Funds under this authority support research, evaluation and data collection to provide information on the status of education for the Indian population and on the effectiveness of Indian education programs. Innovation and Improvement The bill includes $911,413,000 for innovation and improvement programs. This amount is $25,073,000 less than the comparable fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $60,447,000 more than the budget request. This appropriation account includes programs authorized under part G of title I and portions of titles II and V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Troops to teachers The bill includes $14,645,000 for troops to teachers, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program is designed to assist eligible members of the armed forces to obtain certification or licensure as elementary and secondary school teachers, or vocational or technical teachers. The Committee includes bill language permitting stipends and bonuses under this program to be available to those serving in schools receiving title I funding. Transition to teaching The bill includes $44,484,000 for transition to teaching, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. Transition to teaching is designed to help mitigate the shortage of qualified licensed or certified teachers. The program provides competitive grants to help support State and local educational agencies' efforts to recruit, train and place talented individuals into teaching positions and to support them during their first years in the classroom. In particular, the program focuses on mid-career professionals with substantial career experience and recent college graduates. Grants are made on a competitive basis. National writing project The bill provides $21,532,000 for the National Writing Project, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The President's budget did not request funding for this program. Funds are provided to the National Writing Project, a nonprofit educational organization that supports training programs to teach writing effectively. To provide these services, the National Writing Project contracts with numerous institutions of higher education and nonprofit education providers to operate small teacher training programs. Federal funds support 50 percent of the costs of these programs, and recipients must contribute an equal amount. Teaching of traditional American history The bill includes $50,000,000 for the teaching of traditional American history, the same as the budget request and $69,790,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports competitive grants to school districts to promote the teaching of American history in elementary and secondary schools as a separate academic subject. The number of quality applications for assitance under this program has been insufficient to justify the current level of funding. School leadership The bill includes $14,731,000 for school leadership activities, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The President's budget did not propose funding for this program. The program provides competitive grants to assist high-need school districts with recruiting, training, and retaining principals and assistant principals. Advanced credentialing The bill includes $18,695,000 for advanced credentialing, $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $10,695,000 above the budget request. The program supports activities to encourage and support teachers seeking advanced certification or credentialing. The Committee intends that $10,695,000 of the funds be awarded to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and that $8,000,000 be awarded to the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence. Charter school grants The Committee recommends $214,782,000 for support of charter schools, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. Charter schools are developed and administered by individuals or groups of individuals, which may include teachers, administrators, and parents. These groups enter into charters for operation of their schools, which must be granted exemptions from State and local rules that limit flexibility in school operation and management. Under this program, grants are made to State educational agencies in States that have charter school laws; the State educational agencies in turn make sub-grants to authorized public chartering agencies in partnerships with developers of charter schools. Credit enhancement for charter school facilities The bill includes $36,611,000 for credit enhancement for charter school facilities, the same as both the budget request and fiscal year 2006. This program helps charter schools meet their facility needs by providing funding on a competitive basis to leverage other funds and help charter schools obtain school facilities by means such as purchase, lease and donation. Charter schools are more likely than traditional schools to have problems obtaining adequate facilities because they are perceived as more financially risky than other schools, and unlike traditional school districts, charter schools generally lack the ability to issue general obligation bonds backed by property taxes. Voluntary public school choice The bill includes $26,278,000 for voluntary public school choice, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports efforts to establish intra- district and inter-district public school choice programs to provide students in participating schools with the widest variety of options for their education. Funds are used to make competitive awards to States, school districts or partnerships. Magnet schools assistance The bill includes $106,693,000 for the magnet schools assistance program, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The magnet schools assistance program awards competitive grants to local educational agencies for use in establishing or operating magnet schools that are part of a desegregation plan approved by a court or by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. A magnet school is defined by the statute as ``a school or education center that offers a special curriculum capable of attracting substantial numbers of students of different racial backgrounds.'' A funding priority is given to local educational agencies that did not receive a grant in the preceding fiscal year. Fund for the improvement of education The bill includes $183,962,000 for the fund for the improvement of education (FIE), which is $25,452,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $79,919,000 above the budget request. The fund for the improvement of education has a broad portfolio of activities. Under the fund, the Secretary of Education supports activities that identify and disseminate innovative educational approaches. Several separate program authorities are included in this line item such as Reading is Fundamental, Arts in Education, the national mathematics panel, and Reach Out and Read. $10,000,000 is included in FIE for an ``Officers to Principals'' demonstration. Based on the School Leadership program model, the demonstration would provide grants to local educational agencies to recruit military officers, provide professional development programs in instructional leadership and management, and create financial incentives for officers to become and remain school principals. The Department should give high priority to school districts that have been identified as not making adequate yearly progress in the allocation of these funds. The program should emphasize training opportunities that permit the officers to be placed quickly into administrative positions. The Committee believes that creating a program to attract military officers to school leadership positions would provide school districts with a needed talent pool of able, experienced, committed leaders who could be role models for students. The Committee has learned that an Officers to Principals program is currently operating in the State of Maryland, and encourages the Secretary to review that program as it establishes the parameters for this demonstration. Within the amount provided, the Committee includes funding for the following activities: ABC Unified School District, Cerritos, CA, for an after school program at Melbourne Elementary School....... $75,000 Academy for Urban School Leadership, Chicago, IL, for The Chicago Academy and Chicago Academy High School, which may include support for resident teachers..... 350,000 Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Bridgeport, CT to develop a total learning model for Bridgeport, CT schools.......................................... 100,000 African-American Male Achievers Network, Inglewood, CA, for its Project STEP program for at-risk youth...... 40,000 AFSA Education Foundation, Washington, DC for financial literacy education.................................. 50,000 AHEAD Foundation, Inc., Massillon, OH for after school programs, CARE TEAMS and its Collaborative Community Network............................................. 100,000 Alamance-Burlington School District, Burlington, NC for the Teacher Professional Development Academy for curriculum and materials............................ 150,000 Albany State University, Albany, GA, for its Jump Start college preparation initiative for at-risk students. 300,000 Aledo Independent School District, Aledo, TX for implementation of the English as a Second Language program............................................. 200,000 All Kinds of Minds, Chapel Hill, NC for teacher training 200,000 Allens Lane Art Center, Philadelphia, PA, for after school and summer arts education and enrichment activities.......................................... 50,000 Althea Gibson Community Center, Philadelphia, PA, for education and enrichment programs for youth......... 350,000 American Ballet Theatre, New York, NY, for music education programs.................................. 300,000 American Theater Arts for Youth, MT for the Montana Arts in Education Program................................ 100,000 An Achievable Dream, Inc., Newport News, VA, for education and support services for at-risk children, which may include teacher stipend scholarships...... 550,000 Antigo School District, WI, for an after school program. 180,000 Apache County Schools, Apache County, AZ for teacher training............................................ 250,000 Appalachian Leadership & Education Foundation, Huntington, WV for a program to develop character, leadership and technical skills of secondary school students............................................ 400,000 Arizona State University Institute of Civil Rights, Tempe, AZ, for dropout prevention and other education projects.................................. 250,000 Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA, for its Walk to Art program for low-income children.............. 50,000 Army Heritage Center Foundation, Carlisle, PA for teacher preparation for the Voices of the Past Speak to the Future Program............................... 200,000 Arts Center of the Grand Prairie, Stuttgart, AR, for an after school program................................ 50,000 Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County, Buffalo, NY, for arts education programs......................... 100,000 ArtsQuest--The Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA for the B- Smart arts education program........................ 75,000 Ashland School District, WI, for an after school program 250,000 Augusta Public Schools, Augusta, KS to encourage staff development in technology........................... 300,000 Austin Independent School District, Austin, TX for supplies for the Technology Enhancement Program for low income middle-school students................... 250,000 AVANCE, Inc.--Waco, TX, for its early childhood education and family literacy programs.............. 75,000 AVANCE, Inc., McAllen, TX, for an early childhood development and family literacy program in Corpus Christi, TX......................................... 300,000 Bakersfield Music Theatre, Bakersfield, CA for the Stars School of Fine Arts................................. 100,000 Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, Baltimore, MD, for a teacher professional development initiative.......................................... 250,000 Battelle for Kids, Columbus, OH for the value-added student assessment program.......................... 300,000 Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School, Lynn Haven, FL, for its physical education program, which may include equipment................................... 50,000 Bayfield School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 200,000 Baylor University, Waco, TX, for its Language and Literacy Center..................................... 150,000 Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau, Cleveland, OH for education programs.................................. 50,000 Best Buddies International, Inc., for mentoring programs for persons with intellectual disabilities.......... 800,000 Best Buddies Maryland, Baltimore, MD, for mentoring programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. 150,000 Best Buddies Rhode Island, Providence, RI, for mentoring programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. 300,000 Best Buddies Virginia, McLean, VA, for mentoring programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. 250,000 Big Top Chautauqua, WI, for educational activities...... 250,000 Birchwood School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 200,000 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Columbia, SC, for a project to implement technology-based best practices in one or more schools in South Carolina, which may include acquisition of equipment.................... 100,000 Bowie State University, Bowie, MD, for establishment of a Principal's Academy Institute..................... 200,000 Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry, Beaufort, SC for learning activities for disadvantaged children and teens............................................... 150,000 Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino, CA, for an after school program in the Delman Heights community...... 125,000 Boys and Girls Harbor Inc., New York, NY, for a literacy center.............................................. 100,000 Boys&Girls Town of Missouri, Columbia, MO for educational equipment............................... 250,000 Bradford Area School District, Bradford, PA for technology upgrades................................. 100,000 Brainerd Public School District (Independent School District 181), Brainerd, MN, for its Teacher Support System.............................................. 150,000 Bright Side Opportunities Corporation, Lancaster, PA for the operation of a Community Technology Center for disadvantaged youth................................. 300,000 Broadtree Adventures in Education, Chicago, IL, for alternative and environmental education programs for at-risk youth....................................... 50,000 Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, for a Student Success Center in Asbury Park, which may include purchase of equipment............................... 250,000 Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY for its Brooklyn Reads initiative.................................... 250,000 Bruce School District, WI, for an after school program.. 200,000 Butte County, Oroville, CA for the Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) Program............................. 200,000 Butternut School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 200,000 Caldwell Community Center, Toledo, OH, for after school academic and enrichment activities for children and youth in North Toledo............................... 300,000 California Professional Firefighters Foundation, Sacramento, CA, to provide its Team SAFE-T emergency preparedness and safety initiative in public schools 450,000 California State University Northridge, CA, for development of an assessment and accountability system for teacher education........................ 350,000 California State University, San Bernardino, CA, for a leadership training program for urban youth......... 325,000 Camp Fire USA Northeast Ohio Council, Medina, OH for the Young Leaders Serving Ohio program.................. 50,000 Canton City School District, Canton, OH for the PE 4 Life project........................................ 100,000 Canton Symphony Orchestra Association, Canton, OH for implementation of the Northeast Ohio Arts Education Collaborative....................................... 100,000 Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, for its National Music Education Program................................... 250,000 Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA for a partnership with the Allentown School District and the Da Vinci Discovery Center on secondary school science education................................... 100,000 Center for Community Transformation, Chicago, IL, to support faculty, student fellowships, and ongoing secular educational activities in community leadership transformation........................... 100,000 Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Pleasant Gap, PA for curriculum and equipment for its vocational training program....... 600,000 Charlotte County Public Schools, Port Charlotte, FL to implement the MISSING Program in schools............ 300,000 Charter School Development Foundation, Las Vegas, NV, for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.... 175,000 Chesterfield County, VA for assistive technology for special needs students.............................. 150,000 Chetek School District, WI, for an after school program. 250,000 Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL, for after school and extended learning opportunities................. 275,000 Chippewa Falls School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 200,000 Choctaw Elementary School, Choctaw, OK for equipment for the Dreamcatcher Playground Project................. 100,000 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati, OH for the Sound Discoveries Program for K-12 students......... 300,000 City of Brisbane, CA, for equipment for a homework assistance center for youth......................... 50,000 City of Fairfield, CA, for after school programs........ 300,000 City of La Habra, La Habra, CA for the KinderScience Program............................................. 125,000 City of Pembroke Pines, FL, for the autism program at the Pembroke Pines--Florida State University Charter School.............................................. 400,000 City of Rocklin, Rocklin, CA for the Integrated Schools Program............................................. 195,000 City of St. Paul, MN, for after-school and out-of-school youth academic and enrichment programs.............. 375,000 City of Whittier, Whittier, CA, for after school programs............................................ 225,000 City School District of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, for after school learning centers................... 525,000 Clark County School District, Clark County, NV for filling critical teacher shortages.................. 200,000 Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, for its Parent Initiative, which may include training for teachers and parents................................ 75,000 Cleary University, Howell, MI to purchase equipment and develop technology instruction for high school students............................................ 200,000 Clemson University, Clemson, SC for the Call Me Mister program............................................. 200,000 Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH for distance learning............................................ 50,000 Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland, OH for education programs............................................ 100,000 Clovis Unified School District, Clovis, CA for curricula and training to increase student graduation rates... 100,000 College of Alameda, Alameda, CA, for professional development services and science laboratory equipment for the Alameda Science and Technology Institute........................................... 130,000 College Summit, Inc., Washington, DC, for an initiative to increase college enrollment of low-income youth in South Carolina................................... 250,000 Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, Philadelphia, PA for vocational education........................................... 250,000 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH for the Columbus Zoo High School..................................... 250,000 Communities in Schools of Coweta, Inc., Newnan, GA for equipment for Performance Learning Centers.......... 100,000 Communities In Schools of Glynn County, Brunswick, GA for computers, curriculum and training in an effort to reduce school dropouts........................... 100,000 Communities in Schools of Marietta/Cobb County, Marietta, GA for equipment and program development for a performance learning center................... 100,000 Communities in Schools, Northeast Texas, Mt. Pleasant, TX for the CIS-NETX national stay-in-school network. 350,000 Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles, Monterey Park, CA, for the South Whitter community education and computer center............. 45,000 Community Education Partnership, West Valley City, UT for math, science and reading programs.............. 300,000 Community Kollel, Des Moines, IA, for K-12 education programs............................................ 100,000 Compassion Coalition, Inc., Utica, NY for after school programs............................................ 125,000 Connecticut Humanities Council, Middletown, CT, for its Motheread/Fatheread family literacy program......... 90,000 Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc./Connecticut Public Television, Hartford, CT, for production, evaluation and promotion of a math education program........... 350,000 Contra Costa College, San Pablo, CA, for its Bridges to the Future Program.................................. 300,000 CORA Services, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, for youth development and education services.................. 75,000 Council for Excellence in Government, Washington, DC, for the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools for development of an online inventory of instructional units, courses, and practices on civic learning and teaching............................... 500,000 CREATE Foundation, Tupelo, MS to conduct College for All, a four-year pilot project in school-based college and career counseling in two school districts in MS..................................... 200,000 Crotched Mountain Foundation TRUST Center, Greenfield, NH for equipment for an education program for children with autism................................ 150,000 Denton Independent School District, Denton, TX for the English instruction program......................... 100,000 DePaul School, Louisville, KY for outreach to students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities....... 200,000 Devereaux Glenholme School, Washington, CT for professional training in early childhood development 300,000 Dupage County, Wheaton, IL for a countywide physical fitness assessment project pilot.................... 150,000 Early Childhood Resource Center, Canton, OH for early childhood teacher training.......................... 50,000 East Atlanta Computer Technology Center, Atlanta, GA, for an after school program, which may include equipment for a computer lab........................ 150,000 Education Service Center, Region 12, Hillsboro, TX, for a GEAR UP college preparedness program.............. 250,000 Educational Advancement Alliance, Philadelphia, PA, for a college preparation initiative, which may include student scholarships................................ 400,000 EduNet24, Bowling Green, KY for educational software for Spanish speaking students for the Tecumseh YMCA in New Carlisle, OH.................................... 400,000 Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL, for a math and science initiative to assist low-performing students 250,000 Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, for its Parent Child Home Program............... 250,000 Ennis Independent School District, Ennis, TX for an English Instruction Program......................... 500,000 Envision Schools, San Francisco, CA, for establishment of the Metropolitan Arts and Technology High School. 450,000 Erskine College, Due West, SC for the Fine Arts Network for Assisting Rural Education....................... 100,000 eta Creative Arts Foundation, Inc., Chicago, IL, for arts education programs............................. 100,000 Exchange City, Portsmouth, NH for an EarthWorks immersive math and science program.................. 100,000 Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA, for its Bay Area Science Teacher Recruitment, Retention and Improvement Initiative.............................. 550,000 Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax, VA to develop a handicapped- accessible playground.................. 100,000 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA for an innovative Chinese, Arabic and Korean language program in Fairfax and Clarke County schools........ 300,000 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA for the Emergency Medical Services Academy.................. 150,000 Families In Schools, Los Angeles, CA, for its Read with Me/Lea Conmigo family literacy program.............. 150,000 Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC for the Congressional Scholars program........... 250,000 Florida Bay County District Schools, Panama City, FL, for a drug abuse prevention program in middle schools............................................. 30,000 Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL for educational outreach................................ 350,000 Fontana Unified School District, Fontana, CA, for an integrated technology program....................... 100,000 Franklin Special School District, Franklin, TN for information technology equipment.................... 300,000 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Valley Forge, PA to conduct a conference on American history for teachers in Oxford, MS.............................. 140,000 Friendship Circle, West Bloomfield, MI for educational programs for children with special needs............ 350,000 Gallup International Research and Education Center, Omaha, NE for curriculum development of entrepreneurship centers in Lincoln and Norfolk..... 300,000 Georgia Project, Inc., Dalton, GA, for initiatives to assist English language learners.................... 225,000 Girl Scouts of the USA, Washington, DC, for Fair Play... 150,000 Give Every Child A Chance, Manteca, CA for expansion of educational enrichment services..................... 450,000 Glade Run Foundation, Zelienople, PA for educational programming and technology upgrades................. 100,000 Graham County Schools, Graham County, AZ for professional development............................ 250,000 Greenlee County Schools, Greenlee County, AZ for computer equipment.................................. 100,000 Hayward School District, WI, for an after school program 150,000 Heartbeats to the City, Canton, OH for education mentoring programs.................................. 50,000 Heartland Educational Consortium, Lake Placid, FL for teacher professional development.................... 100,000 Helen Keller Interational, NY, for the ChildSight Vision Screening Program and to provide eyeglasses to children whose educational performance may be hindered because of poor vision..................... 1,000,000 Hoke County Schools, Raeford, NC for instructional technology.......................................... 100,000 Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA for an arts education program for underserved groups....... 50,000 Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, VA for the Boosting Student Achievement for Competitiveness program............................. 100,000 Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY for an education enhancement program at Annandale High School, Annandale, VA............................... 100,000 Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY, for school reform activities at Wyandanch High School... 185,000 Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY, to implement small learning communities at Morris High School in the Bronx................................. 75,000 InTune Foundation Group, Washington, DC, for its Kids in Tune music career and education program............. 500,000 Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY, for education programs.................................. 200,000 JASON Project, Needham Heights, MA for the STEP-UP Ohio education program................................... 100,000 Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY, for music education programs.................................. 500,000 Jersey Shore Area School District, Jersey Shore, PA for equipment to create a digital classroom............. 100,000 JFYNetWorks, Boston, MA, for implementation of its computer-based JFYNet: Academic Support for Adequate Yearly Progress initiative in Malden, Revere, and Framingham, MA...................................... 150,000 JFYNetWorks, Boston, MA, for implementation of its computer-based JFYNet: Academic Support for Adequate Yearly Progress project in one or more low- performing schools in the Boston public school system.............................................. 250,000 Joplin School District, Joplin, MO for the eJOPLIN initiative to improve teaching through technology... 200,000 Joplin School District, Joplin, MO for the SMART Board interactive whiteboard.............................. 50,000 Jumpstart for Young Children, San Francisco, CA, for an early childhood enhancement project to provide student mentors to preschool children............... 450,000 Jumpstart, Boston, MA, for an early literacy program for at-risk children.................................... 250,000 Kelberman Center, Utica, NY to expand programs for pre- school and school age children with autism spectrum disorder............................................ 100,000 Kentucky Arts Council, Frankfort, KY for arts education programs in cities of the first class in Kentucky... 200,000 Kewanee Community School District #229, Kewanee, IL, for equipment and technology............................ 200,000 KIPP Foundation, San Francisco, CA for KIPP Reach College Preparatory in Oklahoma City, OK............ 200,000 KIPP Foundation, San Francisco, CA for leadership training and extended learning time at KIPP schools. 1,000,000 KIPP Foundation, San Francisco, CA, for KIPP schools in the State of Maryland to support school leadership and extended learning time.......................... 150,000 KIPP Foundation, San Francisco, CA, for the KIPP Delta College Preparatory School in Helena, AR............ 200,000 Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain, CT for the Special Education Enhancement Initiative............ 300,000 KnowledgeWorks Intermediary, LLC, Cincinnati, OH for the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative.......... 250,000 Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago, Glenview, IL for the Early Childhood Connections Outreach Initiative.......................................... 175,000 La Crosse School District, La Crosse, WI, for student and parent education, enrichment and support services at its Hamilton Family Learning Center..... 95,000 Lab School of Washington, Washington, DC for the Academic Achievement Program........................ 100,000 Lafourche Parish School Board, Lafourche, LA, for early childhood learning centers, which may include portable classrooms and equipment................... 100,000 Laramie County School District Number One, Cheyenne, WY for the English as a Second Language Pilot Program.. 100,000 LaSalle High School, Olla, LA for books, material and equipment........................................... 550,000 Learning Collaborative, Indianapolis, IN for the Washington County, IN K-12 Web Portal Technology Development Initiative.............................. 500,000 Learning Point Associates/North Central Regional Education Laboratory, Naperville, IL to help schools implement No Child Left Behind...................... 200,000 Lee Pesky Learning Center, Boise, ID to provide educational materials for the Literacy Matters! Program............................................. 300,000 Lemay Child & Family Center, St. Louis, MO, for early childhood education and family literacy programs.... 100,000 Lexington City Schools, Lexington, TN for the Technology Enabled Alternative Education Program............... 82,000 Lighthouse Community Learning Center, Eagle Lake, TX, for vocational, computer, arts and/or other education services for youth, which may include the purchase of equipment............................... 100,000 Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center, Chicago, IL, for its Art Smarts after school program and for in- school workshops.................................... 100,000 Logan City School District, Logan, UT for the sixth grade reading assistance project.................... 200,000 Longview Independent School District, Longview, TX for its English language instruction programs........... 100,000 Louisiana Resource Center for Educators, Baton Rouge, LA to provide statewide training for all schools and libraries........................................... 200,000 Lower East Side Conservancy, New York, NY, for education programs and outreach............................... 200,000 Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, Paducah, KY for the Class Acts Education Series for preschool through high school students................................ 100,000 Madison County School System, Madison County, AL, for development of the Madison County Schools Crisis Management Project.................................. 200,000 Martinez Unified School District, Martinez, CA, for a science education project at Martinez Junior High School.............................................. 100,000 Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore, MD, for a study on teacher education (in reading instruction) in Maryland............................ 300,000 Math for America, New York, NY, for implementation of its Newton Fellowship Program in Northern Virginia in partnership, with Marymount University........... 350,000 Medford School District, WI, for an after school program 250,000 Meredith-Dunn Learning Disabilities Center, Inc., Louisville, KY for speech and language therapy programs............................................ 300,000 Merrimack College, McQuade Library, North Andover, MA, for an information literacy training and community outreach project.................................... 250,000 Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, Wilmington, DE for the Achievement Matters! Initiative................. 100,000 Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, for training and development of a renewable energy technologies program................................ 250,000 Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91, Lockport, IL for enhanced technology and computing systems and professional development............................ 100,000 Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation, Washington DC, to implement a Youth Safe Haven after school program in Irvington Township, NJ.............................. 100,000 Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation, Washington, D.C., for the Full Service Community Schools program in the Canton City Schools................................. 100,000 Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation, Washington, DC, for its full-service community schools initiative in Maryland............................................ 200,000 Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee, WI, for after school and/or summer community learning centers..... 600,000 Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS for strengthening partnerships between K-12 parents and their children's teachers, principals, superintendents, and other school personnel......... 500,000 Monroe County School District, Key West, FL for equipment to implement a district-wide technology initiative.......................................... 200,000 Montana Schools E-Learning Consortium, Helena, MT for equipment and curriculum development for a State- wide distance learning program...................... 250,000 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Morristown, NJ, for the Play It Smart Program....... 300,000 National Hispanic University, San Jose, CA, for development of a ``Smart Start'' early childhood development training and certification program...... 350,000 National Resource Center for Deafblindness, East Greenville, Montgomery County, PA for an interactive DVD training program for children with sensory impairments......................................... 100,000 National Science Center, Augusta, GA for the DLP STEP-UP program to improve student achievement in underserved populations............................. 100,000 National Teachers Hall of Fame, Emporia, KS to recognize exceptional career teachers......................... 200,000 Nenana Student Living Center, Nenana, AK for a residential facility for high school students from villages throughout Alaska.......................... 200,000 Network for Closing the Achievement Gap, Des Plaines, IL for Project AYP in suburban Cook County, IL......... 200,000 New Mexico Public Education Department, Santa Fe, NM for summer reading and math institutes throughout the State............................................... 250,000 New York University, New York, NY for the Child Study Center to complete an evaluation of ParentCorps..... 250,000 Nicetown Community Development Corporation Community Center, Philadelphia, PA, for an after school program............................................. 75,000 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro, NC, for a project to reduce suspension rates of minority students in the Guilford County School System....................................... 300,000 North Carolina Technology Association Education Foundation, Raleigh, NC for school technology demonstration projects.............................. 150,000 North Philadelphia Youth Association, Philadelphia, PA, for education and enrichment services for youth..... 50,000 Norwich Public School District, Norwich, CT for the English instruction program......................... 400,000 Ogden City School District, Ogden, UT for the Ogden Telepresence-Enabled Academic Mentoring project..... 150,000 Ohio Department of Education, Columbus, OH for Charter Colleges of Education............................... 200,000 Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK to support the ``College for All'' pilot program for at-risk youth................................... 500,000 O'Neill Sea Odyssey, Santa Cruz, CA, for science education programs for elementary school children... 150,000 OneWorld Now!, Seattle, WA, for after school programs and student scholarships for study in foreign countries........................................... 250,000 Ossining Union Free School District, Ossining, NY, for after school, literacy and/or school reform initiatives......................................... 450,000 Ouachita Parish School Board, Monroe, LA for family literacy programs................................... 350,000 P.E. 4 Life, Kansas City, MO to establish a P.E. Academy in North Mississippi................................ 325,000 Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA for curriculum development for an inquiry-based science program.... 350,000 Palm Beach County School District, West Palm Beach, FL, for a teacher and principal mentoring program....... 500,000 Parent Institute for Quality Education, San Diego, CA, for a parent training program....................... 350,000 Pawtucket School Department, Pawtucket, RI, for musical instruments, equipment and instructional materials for the Jacqueline Walsh School of the Performing and Visual Arts..................................... 500,000 PE4life, Kansas City, MO to expand the P.E. program in the Titusville School District, PA across the state. 300,000 Peoria School District 150, Peoria, IL for the Tapping Future Leaders for Urban Schools Initiative......... 100,000 Person to Person, Minneapolis, MN, for its Hungry Lil' Readers Club Family Literacy Program................ 50,000 Phillips School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 170,000 Port Chester--Rye Union Free School District, Port Chester, NY, for academic enrichment, professional development, family engagement and/or other activities to implement full service community schools............................................. 500,000 Project GRAD USA, Houston, TX, for school improvement activities at one or more schools in the Houston Independent School District and the 18th Congressional District.............................. 200,000 Project MORE, Putnam County Educational Service Center, Ottawa, OH for reading programs for students with disabilities........................................ 100,000 Project One Youth Education Program, Cincinnati, OH for after-school instruction for economically disadvantaged youth................................. 200,000 PUENTE Learning Center, Los Angeles, CA, for education programs............................................ 100,000 Puget Sound Educational Service District, Fife, WA, for its Arts Impact teacher training initiative......... 150,000 Purchase College, State of University of New York, Purchase, NY, for a program to address a shortage of high school science and math teachers............... 250,000 Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN, for equipment and start-up expenses for a magnet school........... 350,000 Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing, NY, for a project to provide youth with career planning and development in the performing arts industry......... 100,000 RARE Foundation, Troy, MI for educational programs for children............................................ 100,000 Reach for the Stars Learning Center, Brooklyn, NY to expand and enhance programs for autistic children... 200,000 ReadNet Foundation, New York, NY for an online literacy program for at-risk youth in Hudson, NY............. 1,000,000 Readnet Foundation, NY, for the ReadNet Online Program for school and public libraries in Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. 300,000 Ready to Learn, Springfield, MO to develop a program for pre-kindergarten academic, reading readiness and social and emotional skill development for pre- school age children and their parents............... 600,000 Rhode Island Philharmonic, Providence, RI, for an arts education initiative for children in Northern Rhode Island.............................................. 100,000 Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, CA for the High School Science Initiative.................. 300,000 Rochester City School District, NY, for its Rochester Children's Zone student achievement initiative...... 400,000 Roseville City School District, Roseville, CA for English as a Second Language program................ 200,000 Salesian Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles, CA, for education and support services for middle and high school students..................................... 100,000 San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino, CA for the English Learners Program..... 500,000 San Bernardino County Superintendents of Schools, San Bernardino, CA for English Language Learners Initiative.......................................... 350,000 San Diego Environmental Foundation, Inc., San Diego, CA, for a science-based education program on alternative fuels for students.................................. 100,000 San Joaquin County, Stockton, CA for the San Joaquin A Plus, program to ensure access to tutors and improve reading skills for third to sixth graders........... 500,000 San Mateo County, CA, for its Preschool for All program. 100,000 San Pasqual Academy, Escondido, CA for technology upgrades............................................ 100,000 Save San Francisco Bay Association, Oakland, CA, for science education programs.......................... 200,000 Save the Children, Westport, CT to implement supplemental literacy programs serving children in the first congressional district of Arizona......... 400,000 Save the Children, Westport, CT, for a children's literacy initiative in Campbell County and Fentress County in Tennessee................................. 200,000 Save the Children, Westport, CT, for a literacy initiative in South Carolina........................ 150,000 School Board of Broward County, Broward County, FL for the Broward Virtual Education online high school.... 250,000 School Board of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, FL for teacher support and development..................... 500,000 School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI), Lakewood, NJ for the special education program...... 200,000 Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership, Jacksonville, FL for expansion of Florida's educational videoconferencing network............... 250,000 Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, Mar Lin, PA, for equipment and technology for the Schuylkill Technology Centers.................................. 350,000 Selden/Centereach Youth Association, Selden, NY, for an after school program................................ 75,000 Silver Crescent Foundation, Charleston, SC for engineering/technology camps for middle and high school students across the State.................... 200,000 Smethport Area School District, Smethport, PA for technology upgrades................................. 100,000 Sociedad Latina, Roxbury, MA, for its Mission Community Enrichment Program.................................. 100,000 South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Hawthorne, CA, for its Fit For Gold after school program............... 100,000 SouthEastern Pennsylvania Consortium, Glenside, PA for professional development for elementary and high school teachers..................................... 800,000 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, College of Education and Human Services, Carbondale, IL, for the Saluki Kids' Academy............................ 300,000 Southwest Arkansas Community Development Corporation, Magnolia, Arkansas, for summer and after school programs............................................ 100,000 Sparta School District, Sparta, WI, for its Right Step Program............................................. 100,000 St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, St. Louis, MO for a pilot program that will provide early intervention & mainstreaming services to severely deaf children in selected unserved or underserved areas.............. 150,000 St. Mary's County Public Schools, Leonardtown, MD, for a mathematics, science, and technology academy........ 500,000 St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL, for development of an early childhood professional development center and other program enhancements...................... 375,000 Stamford Public Schools, Stamford, CT for the Technology for Teaching initiative............................. 200,000 Stark Education Partnership, Canton, OH to implement the P-16 model.......................................... 75,000 State College Area School District, State College, PA for technology enhancements......................... 100,000 State of Rhode Island, Division of Information Technology, Providence, RI, for its Children's Data Sharing Project..................................... 250,000 Steelton-Highspire School District, Steelton, PA, for equipment, technology and technology training....... 150,000 Summit Educational Resources, Tonawanda, NY for technology and equipment for classrooms for children with autism......................................... 200,000 Superior School District, WI, for an after school program............................................. 250,000 Susannah Wesley Community Center, Honolulu, HI, for computers and technology to serve at-risk high school students, and other students in an after school program...................................... 50,000 Tarrytown Union Free School District, Sleepy Hollow, NY, for family literacy activities and professional development to support literacy instruction......... 225,000 Texarkana Independent School District, Texarkana, TX for curriculum development and training with an engineering and math focus.......................... 120,000 Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, for the TSU/ Cuney Homes Project Lab School, which may include equipment and technology............................ 200,000 Texas State University System, Austin, TX at San Angelo, TX and satellite campuses to develop and implement a comprehensive mathematics program for K-12 students. 350,000 Third Street Music School Settlement, New York, NY, for its Music Instruction on the Lower East Side (MILES) arts education program.............................. 75,000 Thornton Township High School District 205, South Holland, IL, for its Mastery Learning Labs project.. 250,000 Toledo Jazz Society, Toledo, OH, for music education initiatives for youth and teachers.................. 100,000 Township of Colony, AL for technology upgrades at a school computer lab, available for students grades K-12................................................ 20,000 Towson University, Towson, MD, for an education partnership with the City of Baltimore, Baltimore City Public School System and the Cherry Hill, MD community........................................... 300,000 Tracy Unified School District, Tracy, CA for the English as a Secondary Language Program..................... 400,000 Triangle Urban League, Raleigh, NC, for its National Achievers' Society program.......................... 100,000 Tri-County Educational Service Center, Wooster, OH for a pilot project of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program............................................. 100,000 Tri-County Educational Service Center, Wooster, OH for technology education................................ 100,000 Turlock Unified School District, Turlock, CA to develop and obtain software to be used for instruction in the English as a Second Language Program............ 350,000 Unified School District 259, Wichita Public Schools, Wichita, KS for technology, software and equipment for special education students...................... 300,000 Union County Public Schools, Monroe, NC for the North Carolina Central Academy of Technology and Arts..... 200,000 University of Louisville, Louisville, KY for after school programs operated through contract with local non-profit organizations............................ 1,000,000 University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, for its Urban School Transformation Study Project................. 150,000 University of Memphis, TN, for a Model Teacher Program in collaboration with the Memphis City School System 300,000 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM for an Indian education demonstration............................. 300,000 University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL for a Virtual School Readiness Incubator Project.......... 250,000 University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA to expand the National Institute of Technology for Inclusive Education We Build Communication Access Through Technology (WeBCATT) program........................ 200,000 Valle Lindo School District, South El Monte, CA, for technology upgrades................................. 70,000 Van Go Mobile Arts, Inc., Lawrence, KS, for education and vocational training for at-risk youth........... 100,000 Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, Pacoima, CA, for an international studies academy for high school students, which may include technology and equipment 350,000 Victory School, North Miami Beach, FL, for professional development, student services and community outreach activities.......................................... 50,000 Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach, VA for educational programs............................................ 300,000 Wallace Accelerated High School, Colorado City, TX to support a charter program for at-risk students in grades 8-12......................................... 150,000 Washington County School District, St. George, UT, for its Family Focus family literacy project............ 350,000 Washington National Opera, Washington, DC, for a music education project serving Maryland schools.......... 150,000 Washington State University, Takoma, WA, for education and enrichment services for youth at its Center for Community Education, Enrichment and Urban Studies... 240,000 Wausau School District, WI, for educational activities and technology...................................... 550,000 Way of a Champion, Chesapeake, VA to expand the after- school program for at-risk children to three other areas............................................... 300,000 WE CARE San Jacinto Valley, Inc., San Jacinto, CA for the after-school tutoring program................... 100,000 Webster School District, WI, for an after school program 250,000 West County Unified School District, El Cerrito, CA, for a building trades apprenticeship program at JFK High School.............................................. 150,000 Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff, NE for the Entrepreneurship Center to serve Scottsbluff and Gering schools...................................... 225,000 Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH for education programs.................................. 50,000 Widener University, Chester, PA for the K-5 Chester- Widener Community Demonstration School.............. 100,000 William Barrett Neighbors Community Center, Philadelphia, PA, for after school and summer academic and enrichment activities.................. 50,000 Wisconsin Rapids School District, WI, for an after school program...................................... 200,000 Wolf Trap Foundation, Vienna, VA for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA to develop early childhood education programs............................................ 200,000 Woodstock Challenger Learning Center for Science & Technology, Woodstock, IL for equipment for the Edventure Area...................................... 100,000 Yakima Public Schools, Yakima, WA for equipment for the English Language Instruction Program................ 225,000 Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch, Billings, MT for equipment to integrate counseling services and distance learning................................... 700,000 YMCA of the East Bay, Richmond, CA, for after school programs, which may include youth scholarships...... 180,000 Yonkers Public Schools, Yonkers, NY, for after-school and Saturday academic enrichment, literacy and professional development services, and for parental involvement activities.............................. 1,000,000 York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC, for its Camp Success engineering and technology program for middle and high school students..................... 150,000 Youngstown City School District, OH, for a Pathways to Building Trades Program in the Youngstown and Warren, OH school districts......................... 200,000 Youngstown Symphony Society, Inc., Youngstown, OH for educational programs................................ 50,000 YouthFriends, Kansas City, MO, for a mentoring project.. 250,000 YWCA of Alliance, Alliance, OH for the Alliance Neighborhood Center Apple Seed Project.............. 100,000 Teacher incentive fund The Committee has included $99,000,000 for the teacher incentive program, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Of this amount, $4,950,000 is made available October 1, 2006 for technical assistance training, and evaluation activities. The program provides financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gap in some of the Nation's highest-need schools. Ready to learn television The bill does not include funding for the Ready to Learn Television program, $24,255,000 below both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. Ready to Learn supports the development and distribution of educational video programming for preschool children, elementary school children and their parents. Only public telecommunications entities are eligible to receive awards. Dropout prevention programs The bill does not include funding for the dropout prevention program, the same as the budget request. This program was funded at $4,851,000 in fiscal year 2006. The dropout prevention program provides assistance to help schools implement effective school dropout prevention and reentry programs. Districts desiring to implement dropout prevention programs can use funds reserved by States under title I Part A to support such efforts. Close Up fellowships The bill does not include funding for Close Up fellowships, the same as the budget request and $1,454,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. The Close Up Foundation provides fellowships to students from low income families and their teachers to enable them to participate with other students and teachers for a week of seminars on government and meetings with representatives of the three branches of the Federal government. In 2004, the funds appropriated for Close Up fellowships contributed less than 6 percent of the overall Close Up Foundation budget, which totaled $24,400,000. In 2002, Close Up's national programs received support from some 55 corporations and foundations, and other funders have been added since that time. The Foundation's participation in Federal grants and contracts has expanded. The organization is a key Department of State contractor for different exchanges between countries involving youth and adults. Close Up also participates in several grants funded under the Department of Education's Teaching American History program. Advanced placement program grants The Committee recommends $80,000,000 for the advanced placement program. This recommendation is $42,175,000 below the budget request and $47,825,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount. The advanced placement test fee program awards grants to States to enable them to cover part or all of the cost of advanced placement test fees of low-income students who are enrolled in advanced placement classes and plan to take the advanced placement test. This program also supports competitive grants to states, school districts and national nonprofit educational agencies for programs that encourage greater participation by low-income students in advanced placement courses. Because the Committee does not wish to override current statutory authorities, it does not include bill language requested by the Administration to require school districts participating in the program to provide incentives for teachers to become qualified to teach advanced placement classes in math, science and foreign languages and for those whose students pass the advanced placement tests in these areas. The Committee also does not include requested bill language requiring grantees to provide a two-to-one funding match by States and the private sector. However, the Committee understands that the Department of Education may have sufficient authority to achieve many of these objectives through administrative action. The Committee encourages the Secretary to use existing authority under section 1705 of part G of title I, ESEA, to encourage eligible entities to use a portion of their funding to expand advanced placement offerings and participation in subjects related to math, science, and foreign language; to support professional development for advanced placement teachers; and to provide incentives to qualified teachers to teach advanced placement classes in core academic subjects, including math, science and foreign languages. Safe Schools and Citizenship Education The bill includes $623,627,000 for safe schools and citizenship education programs. This amount is $105,891,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $357,000,000 more than the budget request. This appropriation account includes programs authorized under parts of titles II, IV, and V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Safe and drug-free schools and communities: State grants The Committee bill includes $310,000,000 for the State grants program, $36,500,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for this program. Eighty percent of the funds provided flows to state and local agencies and twenty percent goes to governors offices for such activities as youth drug prevention, violence prevention, and school safety and security. Safe and drug-free schools and communities: National programs For the national programs under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the bill provides $196,992,000, $55,880,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount and the same as the budget request. Under this program, the Secretary of Education administers a variety of activities to prevent the illegal use of drugs and violence among students at all educational levels, preschool through postsecondary. Within the amount provided, the Committee intends that the student drug testing pilot program be funded at a level of $15,000,000. In recognition of the facts that alcohol is the number one drug of choice among school aged youth and that research has shown that adolescents who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than those who do not drink, this Committee expects the Department of Education to ensure that underage drinking prevention is included as a discrete and major priority in all substance abuse prevention programs funded under the National Programs portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program. Alcohol abuse reduction The bill does not include funding for grants to reduce alcohol abuse, the same as the budget request and $32,409,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This program awards competitive grants to school districts to develop and implement programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools. Districts may use their safe and drug-free schools State grants or their State Grants for Innovative Programs funding to support the activities funded under this program. Mentoring programs The bill includes $19,000,000 for mentoring programs which provide competitive grants to school districts and community- based organizations to promote mentoring programs for children with the greatest need. This is the same as the budget request and $29,814,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This funding would support the final year of a two-year phase-out of the program. Of the more than 4,200 mentoring programs nationwide, only about 6 percent receive mentoring grants from the Department. Only about one percent of the 3 million youths across the country who are in a formal, mentoring relationship do so by participating in a mentoring project that receives funds under this program. Character education The bill includes $24,248,000 for character education, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This program provides support for the design and implementation of character education programs in elementary and secondary schools. Grantees may select the elements of character that will be taught, and must consider the views of parents and students to be served by the program. Elementary and secondary school counseling The bill includes $22,000,000 for elementary and secondary school counseling, $12,650,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. The budget did not propose funding for this program. This program provides grants to school districts to enable them to establish or expand elementary school and secondary school counseling programs. Funding will support the continuation costs of ongoing programs. School counselors are primarily supported with non-Federal funds. In the 2005-2006 school year, grants under this program have paid the cost of only about 500 counselors and other school mental health professionals nationally, which is one-half of one percent of the approximately 100,000 elementary and secondary school guidance counselors in the country. Carol M. White physical education program The bill includes $26,387,000 for the physical education program, the same as the budget request and $46,287,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. Funding will support continuation costs for programs first funded in 2005 and 2006. This program provides grants to school districts and community-based organizations to help students make progress toward meeting State standards for physical education. Civic education The bill includes $25,000,000 for civic education, $4,111,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 level. The budget request did not propose funding for this program. Program funds support the ``We the People'' and the Cooperative Education Exchange programs. ``We the People'' seeks to promote civic competence and responsibility among students. Cooperative Education Exchange provides support for education exchange activities in civics and economics between the United States and eligible countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, any country that was formerly a republic of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern Ireland and developing countries with a democratic form of government. The Center for Civic Education is the statutorily designated recipient of approximately 75 percent of all funds appropriated through the Civic Education program in any single year. The Center has also received funds from numerous foundations and an increasing number of state and local entities. The National Council on Economic Education is supported by numerous corporations and foundations. English Language Acquisition The bill includes $669,007,000 for English language acquisition programs. This amount is the same as the budget request and $1,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides formula grants to States to serve limited English proficient students. Grants are based on each State's share of the national limited English proficient and recent immigrant student population. Funds under this account also support professional development to increase the pool of teachers prepared to serve limited English proficient students as well as evaluation activities. Special Education The bill includes $11,753,013,000 for programs for children with disabilities authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This funding level is $55,511,000 above the budget request and $100,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. State grants: grants to states The bill provides $10,733,107,000 for grants to states, $50,146,000 above the budget request and $150,146,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. Out of the total made available for school year 2007-2008, $4,708,907,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2007 for obligation after July 1, 2007 and $6,024,200,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for obligation on, or after, October 1, 2007. This program provides formula grants to assist the states in meeting the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities. In order to be eligible for funds, states must make free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities. Funds are distributed based on the amount that each state received from the fiscal year 1999 appropriation, and the numbers of children in the general population and who live in poverty in the age range for which each state mandates free appropriate public education for children with disabilities. The Committee includes language proposed in the budget request to limit the increase in the amount of funds required to be transferred to the Department of the Interior to the lesser of an amount equal to the amount transferred in 2006 plus inflation or the percentage increase in the appropriation for the Grants to States program. State grants: preschool grants The bill provides $380,751,000 for preschool grants, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This program provides grants to states on the basis of their proportionate share of the total number of children in the three through five age range and the number of these children living in poverty. These funds are provided in order to assist states to make a free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities in the three through five age range. State grants: grants for infants and families The bill provides $436,400,000 for grants for infants and families, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This formula grant program assists states in developing and implementing statewide systems of coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, interagency programs to make available early intervention services to all children with disabilities, aged birth through two, and their families. IDEA national activities: state personnel development The bill does not include funding for state personnel development, the same as the Administration request and $50,146,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports competitive grants to state educational agencies for reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, education, and transition services. Awards are based on State personnel development plans provided by the states. No funds are provided in the bill because available unobligated balances from the 2006 appropriation are sufficient to support 2007 awards. The Committee intends to resume funding personnel development grants in fiscal year 2008 when existing funds are depleted. Special education--vocational rehabilitation transition initiative The bill does not include funding for a new program proposed by the Administration to develop systems for using secondary and postsecondary school and employment data for students with disabilities. The Administration requested $2,000,000 for this initiative. IDEA national activities: technical assistance and dissemination The bill includes $48,903,000 for technical assistance and dissemination, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides funding for technical assistance, model demonstration projects, information dissemination, and studies and evaluations through competitive awards that support efforts by state and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and other entities to build state and local capacity to make systemic changes and improve results for children with disabilities. IDEA national activities: personnel preparation The bill includes $89,720,000 for personnel preparation, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports competitive awards to help address State-identified needs for qualified personnel to work with children with disabilities, and to ensure that those personnel have the skills and knowledge they need to serve those children. Awards focus on addressing the need for personnel to serve low-incidence populations and leadership personnel. IDEA national activities: parent information centers The bill includes $25,704,000 for parent information centers, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This program makes awards to parent organizations to support parent training and information centers, including community parent resource centers. These centers provide training and information to meet the needs of parents of children with disabilities living in the areas served by the centers, particularly underserved parents and parents of children who may be inappropriately identified. Technical assistance is also provided under this program for developing, assisting and coordinating centers receiving assistance under this program. IDEA national activities: technology and media services The bill includes $38,428,000 for technology and media services, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and $7,365,000 above the budget request. This program makes competitive awards to support the development, demonstration, and use of technology and educational media activities of educational value to children with disabilities. The bill includes $11,880,000 for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Inc. (RFB&D), the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. These funds support continued production and circulation of recorded textbooks, increased outreach activities to print-disabled students and their teachers and accelerated use of digital technology. The Committee believes that the funds recommended will enable RFB&D to expand its service to students with print disabilities and to continue the digital production and use of its extensive library of educational materials. Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research The bill includes $3,244,247,000 for rehabilitation services and disability research. This amount is $63,833,000 above the budget request and $118,703,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. The programs in this account are authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Helen Keller National Center Act, and the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Vocational rehabilitation grants to States For vocational rehabilitation state grants, the bill includes $2,837,160,000, the same as the budget request and $116,968,000 above fiscal year 2006. This program supports basic vocational rehabilitation services through formula grants to the states. These grants support a wide range of services designed to help persons with physical and mental disabilities prepare for and engage in gainful employment to the extent of their capabilities. Emphasis is placed on providing vocational rehabilitation services to persons with the most significant disabilities. Client assistance The bill includes $11,782,000 for the client assistance program, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. A client assistance program is required in each state as a condition of receipt of a basic state grant. State formula grants are used to help persons with disabilities overcome problems with the service delivery system and improve their understanding of services available to them under the Rehabilitation Act. Training For training personnel to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities, the bill includes $38,438,000, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The program supports long-term and short-term training, in-service personnel training, and training of interpreters for deaf persons. Projects in a broad array of disciplines are funded to ensure that skilled personnel are available to serve the vocational needs of persons with disabilities. Demonstration and training programs The bill includes $8,246,000 for demonstration and training programs, $1,735,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. These programs authorize discretionary awards on a competitive basis to public and private organizations to support demonstrations, direct services, and related activities for persons with disabilities. Within the amounts provided for vocational rehabilitation demonstration programs, the Committee includes funding for the following activities: Advocating Change Together, St. Paul, MN, for a disability rights training initiative............... $150,000 Braille Institute of America, Los Angeles, CA, for replacement of a vehicle to provide mobile services to the visually impaired and/or for related services 100,000 Enable America, Inc., Tampa, FL for civic/citizenship demonstration project for disabled adults........... 500,000 IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee, WI, for its assistive technology program.................................. 60,000 Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service, San Francisco, CA, for a Transition Services Project to provide vocational training and job placement for youth and adults with disabilities.................. 400,000 South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Hawthorne, CA, for its Home Safety and Independence Program for disabled individuals................................ 75,000 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, for a demonstration program in orthotics/prosthetics...... 200,000 Vocational Guidance Services, Cleveland, OH, for equipment and technology in order to increase employment for persons with disabilities............ 250,000 Migrant and seasonal farmworkers For programs serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the bill provides $2,279,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program provides discretionary grants to make comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services available to migrant and seasonal farmworkers with vocational disabilities. Projects emphasize outreach activities, specialized bilingual rehabilitation counseling, and coordination of vocational rehabilitation services with services from other sources. Recreational programs For recreational programs, the bill provides $2,518,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program provides individuals with recreation and related activities to aid in their employment, mobility, independence, socialization, and community integration. Discretionary grants are made on a competitive basis to states, public agencies, and nonprofit private organizations, including institutions of higher education. Protection and advocacy of individual rights For protection and advocacy for persons with disabilities, the bill provides $16,489,000, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. Grants are awarded to entities that have the authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies needed to protect and advocate the rights of persons with disabilities. Projects with industry For projects with industry, the bill provides $19,538,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 amount. The Administration did not request funding for the program. This program promotes greater participation of business and industry in the rehabilitation process. The program provides placement and job development services to assist persons with disabilities to prepare them for employment in the competitive labor market. Awards are made to a variety of agencies and organizations, including business and industrial corporations, rehabilitation facilities, labor organizations, trade associations, and foundations. Supported employment state grants For supported employment state grants, the bill includes $29,700,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for the program. These formula grants assist states in developing collaborative programs with public agencies and nonprofit agencies for training and post-employment services leading to supported employment. In supported employment programs, persons with the most significant disabilities are given special supervision and assistance to enable them to work in an integrated setting. Independent living: state grants For state grants for independent living, the bill includes $22,588,000. This amount is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program supports formula grants to the states to provide services for independent living for persons with significant disabilities. Independent living: centers For centers for independent living, the bill provides $74,638,000, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. A population-based formula determines the total amount that is available for discretionary grants to centers in each state. These discretionary grants support a network of consumer-controlled, nonresidential, community-based private nonprofit centers that provide a wide range of services to help persons with significant disabilities live more independently in family and community settings. Centers provide information and referral services, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy. Discretionary grants are made to private nonprofit organizations. Independent living: services for older blind persons For independent living services for older blind individuals, the bill provides $32,895,000. This amount is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Funds are distributed to states according to a formula based on the population of individuals who are 55 or older, and grants support services for persons 55 years old or over whose severe visual impairment makes gainful employment extremely difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Program improvement For program improvement activities, the bill provides $835,000, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The program: (1) provides technical assistance and consultative services to public and non-profit private agencies and organizations; (2) provides short-term training and technical instruction; (3) conducts special demonstrations; (4) collects, prepares, publishes and disseminates educational or informational materials; and (5) carries out monitoring and conducts evaluations. Evaluation The bill includes $1,473,000 for program evaluation, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. These funds are used to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of individual programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. Contracts are awarded on an annual basis for studies to be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the programs authorized by the Act. Helen Keller National Center For the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, the bill includes $8,511,000, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. These funds are used for the operation of a national center that provides intensive services for deaf-blind individuals and their families at Sands Point, New York and a network of 10 regional offices that provide referral, counseling and transition services, and technical assistance to service providers. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research The bill includes $106,705,000 for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The Institute supports research, demonstration and training activities that are designed to maximize the employment and integration into society of individuals with disabilities of all ages. Assistive technology For assistive technology activities, the bill provides $30,452,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006 amount and $8,063,000 above the budget request. Technology assistance activities are authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. This Act authorizes population-based formula grants to the states to assist them in supporting alternative financing programs and assistive technology device demonstrations, loan, and reutilization programs. In addition, protection and advocacy services related to assistive technology and national technical assistance activities are supported. Of the funds provided, $25,058,000 is for the state grant program, $4,341,000 is for the protection and advocacy program, and $1,053,000 is for national activities. Consistent with the authorizing statute, the Committee does not provide separate funding for the alternative financing program. Instead, funds provided for alternative financing in 2006 are included in the 2007 state grant program, which is increased by an amount that is equal to the 2006 funding for alternative financing. The Committee encourages the states to use these additional funds to create or expand state alternative financing programs under their state grant program. Special Institutions for Persons With Disabilities AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND The bill provides $18,000,000 for the American Printing House for the Blind, an increase of $428,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $427,000 above the budget request. This appropriation subsidizes the production of educational materials for legally blind persons enrolled in pre-college programs. The Printing House, which is chartered by the State of Kentucky, manufactures and maintains an inventory of educational materials in accessible formats that is distributed free of charge to schools and states based on the number of blind students in each state. The Printing House also conducts research and field activities to inform educators about the availability of materials and how to use them. NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF The bill provides $57,000,000 for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), an increase of $859,000 above the fiscal year 2006 amount and $1,651,000 over the request. The NTID was established by Congress in 1965 to provide a residential facility for postsecondary technical training and education for deaf persons with the purpose of promoting the employment of these individuals. The Institute also conducts applied research and provides training in various aspects of deafness. The Secretary of Education administers these activities through a contract with the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY The bill provides $110,500,000 for Gallaudet University, an increase of $3,502,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $2,902,000 over the budget request. The Committee does not provide the $600,000 requested by the Administration for evaluation and has concerns about the validity of the PART review conducted by the Office of Management and Budget in 2005 that rated Gallaudet ``ineffective.'' Gallaudet is a private, non-profit educational institution Federally-chartered in 1864 providing elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and continuing education for deaf persons. In addition, the University offers graduate programs in fields related to deafness for deaf and hearing students, conducts research on deafness, and provides public service programs for deaf persons. Vocational and Adult Education The bill includes $1,925,858,000 for vocational and adult education programs. This amount is $66,301,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and $1,346,306,000 above the budget request. This appropriation account includes vocational education programs authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. The account also includes adult education programs originally authorized by the Adult Education Act and reauthorized under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Vocational education basic grants The bill includes $1,182,388,000 for basic grants to states under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 amount. The budget request proposed to eliminate this program and move the funds into a high school reform proposal. Out of the total for basic grants to states made available for school year 2007- 2008, $391,388,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2007 for obligation after July 1, 2007 and $791,000,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for obligation on, or after, October 1, 2007. State grants support a variety of vocational education programs developed in accordance with the state plan. The Act concentrates Federal resources on institutions with high concentrations of low-income students. The populations assisted by Basic Grants range from secondary students in pre-vocational courses to adults who need retraining to adapt to changing technological and labor markets. The Committee believes that funding provided for this program should be dedicated to activities that ensure secondary and postsecondary students are prepared with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in today's globally competitive economy. The Committee urges states to utilize the accountability data collected under the program as a means to monitor success in achieving this goal. Further, the Committee expects states to direct the use of these funds to programs where there is a clear labor market demand. Tech-prep The bill includes $104,754,000 for tech-prep, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The budget request did not propose separate line item funding for this program. This appropriation includes activities under title II of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998. The tech-prep education program provides planning and demonstration grants to consortia of local educational agencies and postsecondary institutions to develop and operate model technical education programs. These programs begin in high school and provide students with the mathematical, science, communications and technological skills needed to enter a 2-year associate degree or 2-year certificate program in a given occupational field, and to make a successful transition into further postsecondary education or begin their careers. The purpose of tech-prep is to develop structural links between secondary and postsecondary institutions that integrate academic and vocational education and better prepare students to make the transition from school to careers. National programs For national programs, the Committee provides $9,164,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request separate funding for this program. This authority supports the conduct and dissemination of research in vocational education, and includes support for the National Centers for Research and Dissemination in Career and Technical Education and other discretionary research. State programs for adult education For state grants, the Committee provides $563,975,000, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. State formula grants support programs to enable all adults to acquire basic literacy skills, to enable those who so desire to complete a secondary education, and to make available to adults the means to become more employable, productive, and responsible citizens. Grants are provided on a formula basis to states under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. The formula provides an initial allotment of $250,000 for each state and $100,000 to each outlying area, with additional allotments distributed on the basis of population aged 16 through 60 who are without a high school diploma or equivalent who are not enrolled in secondary school. States may use 12.5 percent of their allotments for state leadership activities and may use an additional 5 percent or $65,000 for state administration. States and localities must give priority to adult education and literacy activities that are built on a strong foundation of research on effective practices and that effectively employ technology. Funds are provided on a forward-funded basis. The Committee bill retains language in the 2006 bill that guarantees a portion of the funding will be used to provide civics education services to new immigrants. National Programs--national leadership activities The Committee provides $9,005,000 for national leadership activities. This amount is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Through applied research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and program improvement activities, this program assists state efforts to improve the quality of adult education. The funds support such projects as evaluations on the status and effectiveness of adult education programs, national and international adult literacy surveys, and technical assistance on using technology to improve instruction and administration that show promise of contributing to the improvement and expansion of adult education. National Institute for Literacy For the National Institute for Literacy, the bill provides $6,572,000, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The Institute supports research and development projects, tracks progress made toward national literacy goals, supports research fellowships, disseminates information through a national clearinghouse, and coordinates literacy information data from national and state sources. The Committee commends the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) and the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) in its role as convener of the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP). The NELP report will be the centerpiece for scientifically-based research in early literacy. As the National Reading Panel examined reading for children in kindergarten through grade 3, this effort will guide the evolution of early literacy programs which reach younger children--from birth to age 5. Once the final report of the NELP is published, the Secretary is encouraged to review its findings in consultation with NIFL and NCFL toward the goal of informing the Federal government's work in early literacy through programs providing services to this age cohort, including Head Start and child care. Smaller learning communities The bill includes $50,000,000 for the smaller learning communities program, $43,531,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. The Administration did not request funding for this program. As in past years, the bill specifies that these funds shall be used only for activities related to the redesign of large high schools enrolling 1,000 or more students. Since 2000, nearly $1,000,000,000 in non-Federal funds has been invested in this reform effort. Many of the eligible schools have not chosen to create smaller learning communities, which may indicate that the program has already reached its maximum growth. The Committee directs that the Department consult with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations prior to the release of program guidance for the fiscal years 2006 and 2007 smaller learning communities grant competition. The Committee direct that a greater share of the five percent set-aside for national activities be used to support direct technical assistance to grantees through regional laboratories, university-based organizations, and other entities with expertise in high school reform, and direct that the Department submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations an operating plan outlining the planned use of the set-aside prior to the obligation of these funds. Further, the Committee strongly encourages the Department to enter into a jointly funded program with a private or public foundation with expertise in designing and implementing small schools in order to further leverage the Federal investment in smaller learning communities. State grants for incarcerated youth offenders The bill does not include funding for state grants for incarcerated youth offenders, the same as the budget request and $22,770,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level. This program makes grants to state correctional agencies to assist and encourage incarcerated youths to acquire functional literacy skills and life and job skills. The Committee provides $49,797,000 to the Delinquent and Neglect program, which is a similar program for State educational agencies to provide educational services in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Student Financial Assistance The Committee recommends $14,890,745,000 for student financial assistance programs, a reduction of $36,230,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $479,745,000 above the budget request. Pell grants.--The Committee recommendation increases the maximum Pell Grant to $4,150, which is $100 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. The Committee recommends $13,009,000,000 in new budget authority for the Pell Grant program, $349,287,000 above the request and $36,230,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Pell Grants provide portable education vouchers to postsecondary students who may use them at any of over 6,000 eligible schools. Federal supplemental educational opportunity grants (SEOG).--The Committee recommends $770,933,000 for SEOG, the same as the request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The SEOG program provides grants through postsecondary institutions to qualified students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Institutions have broad flexibility within the eligibility criteria for awarding these grants with the exception that priority must be given to Pell Grant recipients. Work-study.--The Committee recommends $980,354,000 for the work-study program, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. Funding for this program is provided through institutions to students who work part-time to meet the cost of education. Institutions receive funding according to a statutory formula and may allocate it for job location and job development centers. Perkins loans cancellations.--The Committee recommends $65,471,000 for federal Perkins loans cancellations, $65,471,000 above the budget request and the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The Federal Government reimburses institutional Perkins revolving loan funds for loan cancellations permitted under Federal law. Loans may be cancelled when the borrower pursues a career in 1 of 12 statutorily-designated professions including corrections, medical technical work, and Peace Corps or VISTA service. Leveraging educational assistance partnership (LEAP).--The Committee recommends $64,987,000 for the LEAP program, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $64,987,000 above the budget request. LEAP provides dollar-for-dollar matching funds to states as an incentive for providing need-based grant and work study assistance to eligible postsecondary students. Federally supported grants and job earnings are limited to $5,000 per award year for full-time students. By law, each state's allocation is based on its relative share of the total national population of students eligible to participate in the programs, except that no state is to receive less than it received in 1979. If LEAP amounts are below this level, each state is allocated an amount proportional to the amount of funds it received in 1979. If a state does not use all of its allocation, the excess funds are distributed to other states in the same proportion as the original distribution. States must, at a minimum, match LEAP grants dollar for dollar with state funds provided through direct state appropriations for this purpose. Student Aid Administration The bill includes $713,720,000 for the Student Aid Administration account. The Committee recommendation is $594,920,000 above the fiscal year 2006 discretionary appropriation and $20,000,000 below the request. Section 8015 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) shifted mandatory funding formerly available through Section 458 of the Higher Education Act to discretionary funding. The Federal Student Aid Office and the Office of Postsecondary Education have primary responsibility for administering Federal student financial assistance programs. Higher Education The Committee recommends $1,964,203,000 for higher education programs, an increase of $13,150,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $855,492,000 above the budget request. Strengthening institutions.--The Committee recommends $79,535,000 for the regular strengthening institutions program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program provides general operating subsidies to institutions with low average educational and general expenditures per student and significant percentages of low- income students. Awards may be used for faculty and academic program development, management, joint use of libraries and laboratories, acquisition of equipment, and student services. Strengthening Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs).--The Committee recommends $94,914,000 for the Hispanic-serving institutions program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The HSI program provides operating subsidies to schools that serve at least 25 percent Hispanic students of whom at least half are low-income students. The Committee is concerned about the acute shortage of Hispanics earning advanced degrees, and supports legislative efforts in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act to expand graduate opportunities for Hispanic students. Therefore, the Committee encourages the Department to submit a budget request for HSI graduate programs in the event that such a program is authorized under Title V of the Higher Education Act. Strengthening historically black colleges and universities.--The Committee recommends $238,095,000 for strengthening historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. This program provides operating subsidies to accredited, legally authorized HBCUs established prior to 1964 whose principal mission is the education of black Americans. Funds may be used to support both programs and management and are distributed through a formula grant based on the enrollment of Pell Grant recipients, number of graduates, and the number of graduates entering graduate or professional schools in which blacks are underrepresented. The minimum grant is $500,000. Strengthening historically black graduate institutions.-- The Committee recommends $57,915,000 for the strengthening historically black graduate institutions program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The program provides 5-year grants to 18 post-secondary institutions that are specified in section 326(e)(1) of the Higher Education Act. Awards may be used for building endowments as well as the same purposes for which the strengthening HBCU grants may be used. Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.--The Committee recommends $9,200,000 for strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, $2,585,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. Strengthening tribally controlled colleges and universities.--The Committee recommends $23,570,000 for the strengthening tribally controlled colleges and universities program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. International education and foreign languages studies Domestic programs.--The Committee recommends $91,541,000 for the domestic activities of the international education and foreign languages studies programs, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $1,000,000 below the budget request. The program assists graduate and undergraduate foreign language and area studies programs and students at institutions of postsecondary education. Programs include national resource centers, foreign language and area studies fellowships, undergraduate international studies and foreign language programs, international research and studies projects, business and international education projects, international business education centers, language resource centers, American overseas research centers, and technological innovation and cooperation for foreign information access. In general, the Secretary has discretion to allocate funding among these various activities. The Committee recommendation does not include funding to develop a centralized distance education clearinghouse of online language training materials, as proposed in the budget request. Overseas programs.--The Committee recommends $12,610,000 for the overseas programs in international education and foreign language studies authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, popularly known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The Committee recommendation is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Funding for these programs support group projects abroad, faculty research abroad, special bilateral projects, and doctoral dissertation research abroad. Institute for International Public Policy.--The Committee recommends $1,600,000 for the Institute for International Public Policy, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. This program provides a grant to an eligible recipient to operate the Institute through sub- grantees chosen among minority serving institutions. Fund for the improvement of postsecondary education.--The Committee recommends $90,115,000 for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), $68,126,000 above the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. FIPSE awards grants and contracts to a variety of postsecondary institutions and other organizations to improve the quality and delivery of postsecondary education. Within the amounts provided for FIPSE, the Committee includes funding for the following: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Talladega, AL for the Alabama Interpreter Training program............ $100,000 Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL for the Health Careers Awareness program........................... 100,000 Albany State University, Albany, GA, in partnership with Darton College, for an initiative to increase the success of minority males and nontraditional students in postsecondary education................. 300,000 Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute, Albuquerque, NM for a training program in captioning............. 200,000 Alfred State College, Alfred, NY for the Court Reporting School.............................................. 200,000 Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN for the implementation of a biomedical device manufacturing curriculum.......................................... 100,000 Antioch University McGregor, Yellow Springs, OH for technology equipment................................ 250,000 Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA to establish a nursing program..................................... 500,000 Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA, for nurse training equipment........................................... 150,000 Ball State University, Muncie, IN for the Center for School Innovation................................... 200,000 Bates Technical College, Tacoma, WA, for equipment and technology.......................................... 450,000 Bellevue Community College, Bellevue, WA for the Building Safer Information Technology Environments program to develop educational and training resources in risk management for information technology.......................................... 100,000 Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, for an engineering technology center....................... 350,000 Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, for development of a baccalaureate nursing program.................. 350,000 Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, NC, for technology improvements and professional development 350,000 Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL for technology upgrades................................. 490,000 Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Winchester, KY, for equipment and technology.................... 300,000 Brevard Community College, Cocoa, FL for telecommunications equipment........................ 750,000 Broward Community College, Broward County, FL, for an education and training program in emergency preparedness and response........................... 350,000 Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA for a campus technology initiative............................... 250,000 Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA for curriculum development......................................... 480,000 Butler County Community College, El Dorado, KS for technical training.................................. 200,000 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, NC for the Teacher Training Center.......... 150,000 California Community College System, Sacramento, CA, for a biophotonics program at Merced Community College.. 300,000 California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA for the National Center for the Advancement of Animation, including purchase of equipment..................... 220,000 California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, for an accelerated nursing degree program....... 100,000 California State University, Bakersfield, Department of Nursing, Bakersfield, CA for nurse training equipment........................................... 100,000 California State University-Fullerton Institute of Gerontology/Ruby Gerontology Center, Fullerton, CA for technology upgrades............................. 250,000 Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, for its School of Pharmacy............................................ 400,000 Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY for equipment for the Enhanced Art & Design Instruction Building.......... 350,000 Center for Rural Development, Somerset, KY for equipment purchases for the CenterNET2 Project................ 500,000 Central Arizona College, Coolidge, AZ for a bilingual nurse education program, including purchase of equipment........................................... 300,000 Central Florida Community College, Ocala, FL for campus technology upgrades................................. 300,000 Central Florida Community College, Ocala, FL for the Equine Studies program.............................. 200,000 Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC for curriculum development at the Center for Integrated Emergency Response Training......................... 250,000 Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA for laboratory equipment................................ 350,000 Cerritos College Foundation, Norwalk, CA, for its Project HOPE academic assistance and college preparation program................................. 205,000 Chadron State College, Chadron, NE for student recruitment and retention........................... 70,000 Charleston Southern University, North Charleston, SC for equipment........................................... 250,000 Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR, for personnel, curricula and equipment for a horticulture program.. 265,000 City College of New York, NY, for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service to prepare individuals for careers in public service, which may include establishing an endowment, library and archives for such center......................................... 3,000,000 Clark State Community College, Springfield, OH for the Connecting Our Students to the Future Project....... 250,000 Clayton College and State University, Morrow, GA, for development of a Master of Arts in Archive degree program, which may include student scholarships and community outreach.................................. 300,000 Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH for expansion of programs......................................... 50,000 Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC for equipment at its science center.................................. 300,000 College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL to develop and implement English as a Second Language instructional classes............................................. 350,000 College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID for the Pro- Tech program........................................ 600,000 College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY for technology upgrades................................. 300,000 Community College of Allegheny County, PA for technical education programs.................................. 850,000 Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA for the Allied Healthcare Institute, including purchase of equipment............................... 175,000 Connecticut State University, Hartford, CT, for a project to enhance teacher workforce diversity, recruitment and retention........................... 500,000 Consensus Organizing Center, San Diego, CA, for its Step Up college preparation initiative................... 100,000 Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, CA for equipment............ 350,000 Defiance College, Defiance, OH for the McMaster Citizen- Leader program...................................... 100,000 Delaware County Community College, Media, PA for purchase of equipment............................... 250,000 Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA for equipment at the Samuel P. Mandell Science Center................ 400,000 Denver Rescue Mission, Denver, CO for the Literacy and Education Center.................................... 100,000 Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA for the Story County Career Academy Consortium Project, including equipment................................. 400,000 Des Moines Area Community College, IA, for equipment and technology.......................................... 200,000 DeSales University, Center Valley, PA for technology upgrades............................................ 400,000 Dowling College, Oakdale, NY, for development of curricula and a training program in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles............................ 200,000 Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, NY for instrument flight training programs, including purchase of equipment............................... 100,000 Dyersburg State Community College, Dyersburg, TN, for an online enrollment and information system initiative. 300,000 Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL for technology enhancements........................................ 200,000 Edison Community College at Charlotte, Punta Gorda, FL for nursing programs................................ 100,000 Elms College, Chicopee, MA, for equipment and technology for nursing and science programs.................... 150,000 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ for technology upgrades................................. 100,000 Erie Community College, Buffalo, NY, for a program in real time writing and captioning, which may include student scholarships................................ 175,000 Estrella Mountain Community College, Avondale, AZ, for its science and math pathways initiative, which may include student scholarships........................ 150,000 Everett Community College, Everett, WA, to plan, develop and implement one or more Early College High Schools, in conjunction with Whatcom Community College, Skagit Valley College and Northwest Indian College............................................. 150,000 Florida Campus Compact, Tallahassee, FL, for a project to enhance service learning on college campuses throughout Florida.................................. 350,000 Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL for technology upgrades................................. 500,000 Gateway Community and Technical College, Ft. Mitchell, KY for purchase of equipment at the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Competitiveness.............. 250,000 Gateway Community College, New Haven, CT, for radiography and radiation therapy programs.......... 130,000 Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA for forensic sciences for the purchase of equipment....................... 206,000 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Harrisburg, PA, for instructional programs, which may include equipment and technology................ 400,000 Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund, University of Michigan Depression Center, Ann Arbor, MI for the Postsecondary Education Campus Support Project...... 400,000 Hickory Metropolitan Higher Education Center, Hickory, NC for technology upgrades.......................... 100,000 Hillsborough Community College, Plant City, FL for equipment........................................... 200,000 Hiram College, Hiram, OH for curriculum development and equipment for the Carbon Conversion Initiative...... 300,000 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, for equipment, technology and technology training.................. 300,000 Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA, for nurse education programs.................................. 150,000 Hood College, Frederick, MD for bioinformatics programs. 250,000 Houston Community College, Houston, TX, for a project to enhance the quality of instruction in business management and entrepreneurship, which may include equipment and technology............................ 50,000 Houston Community College, Houston, TX, for development of an emergency medical technician certificate program............................................. 350,000 Huntington Junior College, WV, for an initiative to recruit and train students in closed captioning..... 250,000 I KNOW I CAN, Columbus, OH for a student recruitment and retention initiative................................ 100,000 Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID for a master's degree program in dental hygiene, including purchase of equipment........................................ 400,000 Illinois State University, Normal, IL, for Chicago teacher education pipeline programs in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago............................................. 100,000 Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN for the Northeast Indiana Science Education Network................................... 100,000 Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR for development of a bilingual cultural competency program............................................. 150,000 Iowa Valley Community College Education and Training Center, Marshalltown, IA for continuing education and job training.................................... 175,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Bloomington, IN for the Center for Mathematics and Science.......... 500,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Bloomington, IN for the Early College/Middle College initiative..... 1,000,000 Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL for the early childhood education and child care program.... 200,000 Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL for the accelerated nursing development program............. 150,000 James Rumsey Technical Institute, Martinsburg, WV for the Automotive Technology Program, including purchase of equipment............................... 100,000 Jefferson College, Jefferson County, MO, for equipment and technology...................................... 40,000 Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL for the Integrated Systems Technology program.......................... 700,000 Kent State University, Kent, OH for education programs for scientists collaborating at the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis.................................. 200,000 Kent State University, Kent, OH for the GED Scholars program............................................. 100,000 Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY for technology upgrades... 240,000 Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA to establish a program in environmental health, safety and security........................................ 150,000 La Sierra University, Riverside, CA for equipment for its chemistry and biochemistry laboratories......... 250,000 Lake City Community College, Lake City, FL for the 21st century mathematics initiative...................... 175,000 Lakeshore Technical College Bilingual Captioning/ Judicial Reporting Initiative, Cleveland, WI to train real time writers and captioners.............. 250,000 Laredo Community College, Laredo, TX for technology upgrades and programs at Zaffirini Library.......... 100,000 Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, for upgrades to the university wireless network......... 200,000 Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, IL, for its National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. 450,000 Lincoln College, Lincoln, IL for the Lincoln Barat Teacher Training Initiative......................... 100,000 Lincoln Memorial University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN for curriculum development.. 500,000 Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC, for teacher training, and for science and math academic services and mentoring for minority students................. 200,000 Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH, for its Learning Technology Center.......................... 300,000 Loyola University Center for Public Service, Chicago, IL for equipment and programming....................... 500,000 Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA for campus technology upgrades............................................ 400,000 MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL for technology upgrades............................................ 300,000 Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, KY for curriculum development and equipment at the Kentucky Coal Academy in conjunction with Henderson Community College, Henderson, KY.............................. 200,000 Madonna University Project LEARN, Livonia, MI for a disaster relief and recovery program................ 150,000 Maricopa County Community College, Phoenix, AZ, for the Bilingual Nursing Program at Gateway Community College............................................. 300,000 Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NY, for a minority teacher recruitment initiative............. 300,000 McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA for the Louisiana Academy for Innovative Teaching and Learning............................................ 200,000 Mercer University, Macon, GA for equipment for the Critical Personnel Development Program.............. 200,000 Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ for nursing recertification curriculum.......................... 125,000 Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ for the Enfermeras En Escalera program.................................... 175,000 Michigan Jewish Institute, Bloomfield, MI for curriculum development......................................... 100,000 MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS for teacher training programs................................... 150,000 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, for equipment and personnel for biotechnology training initiatives......................................... 440,000 Midland College Advanced Technology Center, Midland, TX for the purchase of equipment and campus-wide network infrastructure upgrades..................... 150,000 Mid-South Community College, West Memphis, AR, for the Crossroads Coalition higher education initiative.... 400,000 Mira Costa College, Oceanside, CA for a nursing education program, including the purchase of equipment........................................... 150,000 Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO for communications equipment............................ 320,000 Missouri State University-Springfield, Springfield, MO for equipment and programs at the Missouri Virtual School.............................................. 250,000 Missouri State University-West Plains, West Plains, MO for technology upgrades and programming at the Academic Support Center............................. 300,000 Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY for a special needs preparedness training program................. 450,000 Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY for the Advanced Technology Training Systems Program, including purchase of equipment............................... 200,000 Morehead State University, Morehead, KY for the Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy... 300,000 Murray State University, Murray, KY for equipment for the Animal Health Technology Program................ 350,000 Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, CT, for equipment and technology for its nursing program and laboratories........................................ 100,000 Nazareth College, Rochester, NY for equipment and technology upgrades for the Math/Science Teacher Enhancement project................................. 250,000 Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE for forensic science programs, including equipment............... 150,000 Nevada State College, Henderson, NV for the Accelerated Nursing Program..................................... 400,000 New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL for the Public Archaeology Laboratory, including the purchase of equipment........................................... 225,000 New Hampshire Community Technical College, Manchester, NH for the pharmacy technician program, including the purchase of equipment........................... 100,000 New York State Education and Research Network, Troy, NY, for expansion of a statewide fiber optic network to Binghamton to serve the State University of New York at Binghamton and create an entry point for the Southern Tier....................................... 300,000 New York University, New York, NY, for the John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress, which may include student scholarships and an endowment............... 750,000 Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY for laboratory equipment................................ 300,000 North Arkansas College, Harrison, AR for technology enhancements........................................ 350,000 North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies, Hickory, NC for engineering, applied science and management education programs....................... 150,000 North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, for a biomanufacturing training program................... 240,000 North Central College, Naperville, IL for the Community Connections Program................................. 100,000 North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND, for a Center for Nanoscience Technology Training........ 300,000 North Florida Community College, Madison, FL for the registered nursing program.......................... 125,000 North Shore Community College, Danvers, MA, for curricula, programming and equipment................ 100,000 Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, for its Vibration and Acoustics Center...................... 175,000 Northern Kentucky University Research Foundation, Highland Heights, KY for the purchase of equipment.. 150,000 Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, for an international education initiative, which may include student scholarships........................ 200,000 Northwest Shoals Community College, Phil Campbell Campus, Phil Campbell, AL for technology upgrades... 500,000 Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, for its nursing education program....................... 200,000 Oakland Community College, Bloomfield Hills, MI, for international education programs.................... 350,000 Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL, for its business school preparation initiative.............................. 50,000 Ohio Board of Regents, Columbus, OH for the School for Computational Science............................... 200,000 Owens Community College, Perrysburg Township, OH for Third Frontier Network and Emergency Preparedness Training & Equipment Initiative..................... 100,000 Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR, for equipment and technology for its health professions campus........ 100,000 Palm Beach Community College, Palm Beach County, FL, for equipment and technology............................ 250,000 Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism, Youngstown, OH, for distance learning technology and programs.................... 350,000 Peru State College, Peru, NE for the Adopt A High School Program............................................. 400,000 Pittsburg State University College of Technology, Pittsburg, KS for equipment......................... 250,000 Polk Community College Small Business Training Consortium (SBTC), Lakeland, FL to promote workforce development for small and medium business in Polk County, FL.......................................... 200,000 Portland State University, OR, for equipment and technology for its Science Research and Training Center.............................................. 125,000 Prince George's Community College, Largo, MD, for technology upgrades................................. 100,000 Radford University, Radford, VA, for a study of the feasibility of establishing a graduate program in optometry and/or dentistry.......................... 250,000 Redlands Community College, El Reno, OK for nursing curriculum.......................................... 150,000 Regis University, Henderson, NV for the Nevada Distance Learning Teacher Certification initiative, including purchase of equipment............................... 100,000 Rhode Island College, Providence, RI, for development of Portuguese and Lusophone Studies Program............ 200,000 Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ for curriculum development at Aviation Research and Technology Park..................................... 350,000 Richmond Community College, Hamlet, NC for equipment and programs at the Richmond Industrial Training Center. 200,000 Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA for curriculum development for the Fast-Track to the ADN program............................................. 300,000 Rose State College, Midwest City, OK for technology upgrades to the Atkinson Heritage Center............ 150,000 Round Rock Higher Education Center, Round Rock, TX for the Closing the Gaps program to increase graduates in education, science and math...................... 500,000 Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, NJ, for student scholarships and loan repayment, internships and public interest programming..................... 550,000 Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI for curriculum development at the Crisis Management Intervention Center................................. 100,000 Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, for equipment and technology for its library and information commons initiative.................................. 850,000 Sarasota County Technical Institute, Sarasota, FL for a training program in captioning and CART (Communications Access Realtime Translation) services............................................ 100,000 Seminole State College, Seminole, OK for technology equipment........................................... 500,000 Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH for purchase of equipment at the Motion Capture Facility............ 350,000 South Florida Community College, Avon Park, FL for laboratory equipment................................ 300,000 South Suburban College, South Holland, IL, for equipment and technology for its allied health and nursing programs............................................ 175,000 Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK, for materials, equipment and technology................. 300,000 Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, for its Louisiana Minority Institution Partnership in Science initiative.................................. 350,000 Sparks College, Shelbyville, IL for a closed captioner training program.................................... 200,000 St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY for science equipment................................... 425,000 St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN for the Science Initiative of Central Minnesota for curriculum development.............................. 400,000 St. Francis University, Loretto, PA, for an associates degree program in nursing, which may include technology and equipment............................ 150,000 St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, FL for the Orthotics and Prosthetics Bachelor's Degree program. 500,000 State University of New York at Geneseo, NY for equipment........................................... 300,000 State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY for technology infrastructure equipment............................ 200,000 Sun Area Career & Technology Center, New Berlin, PA for the purchase of equipment........................... 100,000 Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA to purchase lab equipment for a science facility.................... 750,000 Sweetwater Education Foundation, Chula Vista, CA, for its Compact for Success program, which may include student scholarships................................ 300,000 Texas College, Tyler, TX for the Regional Center for Career Development.................................. 100,000 Texas State Technical College, Waco, TX, for equipment for education and training programs................. 350,000 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX for the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery................. 350,000 Tohono O?Odham Community College, Sells, AZ, for equipment and technology for its multi-purpose learning center, laboratory and library complex..... 150,000 Trident Technical College, North Charleston, SC for nursing programs, including purchase of equipment... 100,000 Trinity University, San Antonio, TX for equipment and programs at the Educators Technology Teaching Laboratory.......................................... 200,000 Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV for a collaborative K-16 math and science program......... 150,000 University of Arkansas Fort Smith, Fort Smith, AR to conduct a study about the feasibility of creating a national center of excellence in information technology.......................................... 100,000 University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert, CA campus for computer lab equipment................... 250,000 University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, for a technology training and instruction initiative, which may include equipment......................... 350,000 University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL for the Lou Frey Institute of Politics.......................... 250,000 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH for the Teacher Quality Partnership................................. 250,000 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH for the Teacher Quality Partnership project......................... 100,000 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL for equipment for the Norman Hall project............................. 300,000 University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HA, for the American Samoa Community College marine science laboratory, administered by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program..................................... 300,000 University of Kansas Center for Research, Lawrence, Kansas, for a high-speed communications network, which may include personnel, equipment and technology.......................................... 400,000 University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL for the Teacher Leadership Initiative for School Improvement........ 420,000 University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, for an assistive technology center to develop equipment and techniques to improve educational and employment opportunities for students with disabilities........................................ 300,000 University of North Texas, Denton, TX for equipment at the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling............................................ 150,000 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL for graduate training in orthotics and prosthetics............... 550,000 University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, for the Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services in Minneapolis............................. 225,000 University of Texas at El Paso, TX, for development of curricula, courses and materials for its Center of Excellence in Border Security and Defense Systems Research............................................ 250,000 University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy, San Antonio, TX for equipment and programs 100,000 University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK for the Center for Information Security, including purchase of equipment........................................... 250,000 University of Virginia Center for Politics, Charlottesville, VA for the Youth Leadership Initiative.......................................... 1,025,000 University of Wisconsin-Baraboo, WI, for equipment and technology for its Living and Learning Center....... 150,000 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, WI, for equipment and technology...................................... 150,000 Utah Valley State College Center for the Study of Ethics, Orem, UT for the Democracy and Justice Project............................................. 150,000 Utica College, Utica, NY for the Convergence Media Center, including equipment......................... 300,000 Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA for equipment and technology upgrades for the teacher training program 250,000 Venango Technology Center, Oil City, PA for purchase of equipment........................................... 100,000 Ventura Community College, Ventura, CA for the Online Science Laboratory for the Visually Impaired........ 150,000 Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA for the homeland security scholars program.................. 150,000 Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA to establish a program in diplomacy and international economics.... 300,000 Waldorf College, Forest City, IA for science equipment for bachelors degree program........................ 120,000 Wallace Community College, Dothan, AL for technology upgrades............................................ 200,000 Washington Education Foundation, Issaquah, WA, for the Leadership 1000 Scholarship Program................. 530,000 Webster University Community Music School, St. Louis, MO for purchase of equipment........................... 200,000 Webster University, St. Louis, MO, for nursing and biological sciences education programs, which may include student financial assistance................ 410,000 Western Illinois University, Moline, IL, for a counselor education program................................... 100,000 Western Piedmont Community College Allied Health Program, Morganton, NC for equipment................ 250,000 Westminster College, Fulton, MO for curriculum development at the Bill Emerson Institute for Leadership and Service.............................. 100,000 Wichita State University, Wichita, KS for engineering programs............................................ 400,000 Widener University, Exton, PA for the Academy for Learning in Retirement.............................. 300,000 Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) to support continued implementation of the WAICU Collaboration Project... 600,000 Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH for technology upgrades............................................ 300,000 Minority science and engineering improvement.--The Committee recommends $8,730,000 for the minority science and engineering improvement program (MSEIP), the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. The MSEIP program awards grants to improve mathematics, science, and engineering programs at institutions serving primarily minority students and to increase the number of minority students who pursue advanced degrees and careers in those fields. Tribally controlled postsecondary vocational and technical institutions.--The Committee recommends $7,366,000 for grants for tribally controlled postsecondary vocational and technical institutions, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 amount. This program provides grants for the operation and improvement of training programs to ensure continuation and expansion of vocational training opportunities for Indian youth. TRIO.--The Committee recommends $828,178,000 for the TRIO programs, $448,078,000 above the budget request and the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The TRIO programs provide a variety of outreach and support services to encourage low- income, potential first-generation college students to enter and complete college. Discretionary grants of up to four or five years are awarded competitively to institutions of higher education and other agencies. At least two-thirds of the eligible participants in TRIO must be low-income, first- generation college students. GEAR UP.--The Committee recommends $303,423,000 for the GEAR UP program, the same as last year's level and $303,423,000 above the budget request. GEAR UP provides grants to states and partnerships of low-income middle and high schools, institutions of higher education and community organizations to target entire grades of students and give them the skills and encouragement to successfully pursue postsecondary education. The Committee encourages the Department to give favorable consideration in any competitions for GEAR UP funding to partnerships that, in addition to providing early intervention services, guarantee college scholarships to GEAR UP students. Byrd scholarships.--The bill does not include funding for the Byrd scholarships program, the same as the budget request and $40,590,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The Byrd scholarship program provides formula grants to States to award $1,500 scholarships to students who demonstrate academic excellence in high school. Javits fellowships.--The Committee recommends $9,699,000 for the Javits fellowship program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Under the Javits program, institutions receive Federal support to make fellowship awards to students pursuing doctoral study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Graduate assistance in areas of national need program.--The Committee recommends $30,067,000 for the graduate assistance in areas of national need (GAANN) program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The GAANN program awards grants to institutions of higher education to provide fellowships to economically disadvantaged students who have demonstrated academic excellence and who are pursuing graduate education in designated areas of national need. The Committee is pleased that the Secretary included nursing as an area of national need in its fiscal year 2006 program announcement for GAANN. Given the magnitude of the nursing shortage, this is an appropriate step in establishing a priority for a nursing program that focuses on the preparation of nurse scholars at the PhD level for educational leadership roles. The Committee encourages the Secretary to include nursing as an area of national need until such time as an adequate supply of nurses is prepared to enter the workforce. Teacher quality enhancement grants.--The Committee recommends $59,895,000 for teacher quality enhancement grants, $59,895,000 above the budget request and the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Teacher quality enhancement grants have three components: state grants, partnership grants and recruitment grants. By statute, state and partnership grants each receive 45 percent of the appropriation, and recruitment grants receive 10 percent. Under the state grant component, states apply to receive up to three years of funding to improve the quality of their teaching force through promoting reform activities such as teacher licensing and certification, accountability for high quality teacher preparation and professional development and recruiting teachers for high-need schools. States must match 50 percent of the federal award. Under the partnership component, partnerships apply to receive a five-year grant to strengthen the capacity of K-12 educators in designing and implementing effective teacher education programs, and by increasing collaboration among these practitioners and departments of arts and sciences and schools of education at institutions of higher education. Partnerships must match 25 percent of the federal grant in the first year, 35 percent in the second year, and 50 percent for the remaining years. The recruitment component supports the efforts to reduce shortages of qualified teachers in high-need school districts. States or partnerships may apply to receive these grants. Child care access means parents in school.--The Committee recommends $15,810,000 for child care access means parents in school program, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Under this program, institutions may receive discretionary grants of up to four years to support or establish a campus-based childcare program primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled at the institution. Priority is given to childcare programs that leverage significant local or institutional resources and utilize a sliding fee scale. Grants can only be used to supplement childcare services or start new programs. Advancing America through foreign language partnerships.-- The Committee recommends no funding for the advancing America through foreign language partnerships program, for which $24,000,000 was proposed in the budget request. Demonstration projects to ensure quality higher education for students with disabilities.--The Committee does not recommend funding for demonstration projects in disabilities, the same as the budget request. The program was funded at $6,875,000 in fiscal year 2006. This program provides discretionary grants for three years to support model demonstration projects that provide technical assistance and professional development activities for faculty and administrators in institutions of higher education in order to provide students with disabilities a high-quality postsecondary education. A number of models have now been developed and are being disseminated to other institutions. Furthermore, this activity is eligible under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program. Underground railroad program.--The Committee does not recommend funding for the underground railroad program, which is the same as the budget request. This program was funded at $1,980,000 in fiscal year 2006. The underground railroad program provides grants to non-profit institutions to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the underground railroad. GPRA data/HEA program evaluation.--The Committee recommends $970,000 for program evaluation and development of data required under the Government Performance and Results Act for Higher Education programs administered by the Department. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. The Committee understands that for many higher education programs, baseline and performance indicator data are sparse, nonexistent or difficult to collect. Funding under this activity will support the Department in developing high-quality data as required under the Government Performance and Results Act. Olympic Scholarships.--The bill includes $970,000 for Olympic Scholarships, the same as the fiscal year 2006 level and $970,000 above the budget request. This program provides financial assistance to athletes who are training at the U.S. Olympic Education Center or one of the U.S. Olympic Training Centers and who are pursuing a postsecondary education at an institution of higher education. Thurgood Marshall legal education opportunity program.--The bill does not include funding for the Thurgood Marshall legal education opportunity program, the same as the budget request. The program was funded at $2,946,000 in fiscal year 2006. This program provides low-income, minority and disadvantaged college students with the information, preparation and financial assistance needed to gain access to and complete law school study. Howard University The Committee recommends $237,392,000 for Howard University, the same as the budget request and $1,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The bill includes a minimum of $3,600,000 for the endowment, which is $74,000 above the current level and the same as the budget request. Howard University is a ``Research I'' university located in the District of Columbia. Direct appropriations for Howard University are authorized by 20 U.S.C. 123, originally enacted in 1867. Howard University provides undergraduate liberal arts, graduate and professional instruction to approximately 11,000 students from all 50 States. Masters degrees are offered in over 55 fields and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in 26 fields. College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program The Committee recommends $486,000 for the Federal administration of the college housing and academic facilities loan (CHAFL) program, the Higher Educational Facilities Loans program and the College Housing Loans program, the same as the budget request and $81,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Historically Black College and University Capital and Financing Program Federal administration.--The Committee recommends $190,000 for the administration of the historically black college and university capital financing program authorized under part D of title III of the Higher Education Act, the same as the budget request and $18,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. The program is intended to make capital available for repair and renovation of facilities at historically black colleges and universities. In exceptional circumstances, capital provided under the program can be used for construction or acquisition of facilities. Bond subsidies.--Under the HBCU capital program, a private, for-profit ``designated bonding authority'' issues construction bonds to raise capital for loans to historically black colleges and universities for construction projects. The Department provides insurance for these bonds, guaranteeing full payment of principal and interest to bond holders. Federally insured bonds and unpaid interest are limited by statute to $357,000,000. The letter of credit limitation establishes the total amount of bonds which can be issued by the designated bonding authority. The credit limitation must be explicitly stated in an appropriation Act according to the authorizing legislation. Institute of Education Sciences The bill includes $534,916,000 for the Institute of Education Sciences. This amount is $19,552,000 below the budget request, and $17,448,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. This account supports education research, statistics, and assessment activities. Research This bill includes $162,552,000 for educational research, the same as fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The Institute of Education Sciences supports research, development and national dissemination activities that are aimed at expanding fundamental knowledge of education and promoting the use of research and development findings in the design of efforts to improve education. Statistics This bill includes $93,022,000 for the activities of the National Center for Education Statistics, exclusive of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This amount is the same as the budget request and $3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. The funding increase would support a new secondary longitudinal study beginning with an eighth grade cohort. This study will provide important information about dropout rates. Statistics activities are authorized under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, title I of P.L. 107-279. The Center collects, analyzes, and reports statistics on all levels of education in the United States. Activities are carried out directly and through grants and contracts. Major publications include ``The Condition of Education'' and ``Digest of Education Statistics.'' Other products include projections of enrollments, teacher supply and demand, and educational expenditures. Technical assistance to state and local education agencies and postsecondary institutions is provided. Regional educational laboratories The Committee has included $65,470,000 for the regional educational laboratories, which is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The regional educational laboratories help states and education practitioners implement the requirements contained in the NCLB. This assistance includes product development, applied research, technical assistance and professional development. Research in special education The bill includes $71,840,000 for research in special education, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. This program supports competitive awards to produce and advance the use of knowledge to improve services and results for children with disabilities. The program focuses on producing new knowledge, integrating research and practice and improving the use of knowledge. Special education studies and evaluations The bill includes $9,900,000 for special education studies and evaluations, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. This program awards competitive grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to assess the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the effectiveness of state and local efforts to provide special education and early intervention programs and services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. Statewide data systems The bill includes $35,000,000 for statewide data systems development, $19,552,000 below the budget request and $10,448,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. This program awards grants, on a competitive basis, to state educational agencies to enable such agencies to design, develop, and implement statewide, longitudinal data systems to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, disaggregate, and use individual student data consistent with the No Child Left Behind Act. Assessment This bill includes $97,132,000 for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the same as the budget request, and $4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. The Assessment is authorized under section 303 of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act, and is the only nationally representative survey of educational ability and achievement of American students. The primary goal of the Assessment is to determine and report the status and trends of the knowledge and skills of students, subject by subject. Subject areas assessed in the past have included reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history, as well as citizenship, literature, art, and music. The Assessment is operated by contractors through competitive awards made by the National Center for Education Statistics; a National Assessment Governing Board formulates the policy guidelines for the program. Within the amounts provided, $5,037,000 is for the National Assessment Governing Board, which is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2006 level. The $4,000,000 increase is intended to support the beginning work on implementing in 2009 state level assessments at the 12th grade level. The Committee encourages the Department of begin planning aggressively in 2007 for the grade 8 arts assessment. In addition, the Committee urges the Department to include funding in its fiscal year 2008 request for the National Center for Education Statistics Fast Response Survey on arts education in public elementary and secondary schools. Departmental Management The bill includes $567,782,000 for departmental management (salaries and expenses) at the Department of Education. This amount is $17,511,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $4,195,000 below the budget request. These activities are authorized by the Department of Education Organization Act, P.L. 96-88, and include costs associated with the management and operations of the Department as well as separate costs associated with the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of the Inspector General. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The bill includes $423,916,000 for program administration. This amount is $12,766,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and $2,050,000 below the budget request. These funds support the staff and other costs of administering programs and activities at the Department. Items include personnel compensation and health, retirement and other benefits as well as travel, rent, telephones, utilities, postage fees, data processing, printing, equipment, supplies, technology training, consultants and other contractual services. The bill includes language requested by the Administration making $2,500,000 of the total funding provided available until expended for building alterations and related expenses for the move of Department staff to the Mary E. Switzer building in Washington, D.C. This is $2,050,000 below the amount requested by the Administration. OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS The bill includes $92,866,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Office for Civil Rights. This amount is $2,255,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. This Office is responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, membership in a patriotic society, and age in all programs and institutions that receive funds from the Department. These laws extend to 50 state educational agencies, 16,000 local educational agencies, 3,500 institutions of higher education, as well as to proprietary schools, state rehabilitation agencies, libraries, and other institutions receiving Federal funds. The Committee supports the tremendous strides for women made possible through title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, but is concerned about any possible unintended consequences from its enforcement. The Committee has heard complaints that some schools have chosen to eliminate teams as a mechanism to gain title IX compliance. The Committee requests the Department to report by February 1, 2007 on its activities to educate school administrators on the full scope of compliance strategies and its efforts to clarify that compliance does not require the elimination of teams or limitation of male participation in athletic programs. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL The bill includes $51,000,000 for the Office of the Inspector General. This amount is $2,490,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $2,145,000 below the budget request. This office has authority to inquire into all program and administrative activities of the Department as well as into related activities of grant and contract recipients. It conducts audits and investigations to determine compliance with applicable laws and regulations, to check alleged fraud and abuse, efficiency of operations, and effectiveness of results. Administrative Provisions Sec. 301. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits funds under this Act from being used for the transportation of students or teachers in order to overcome racial imbalances or to carry out a plan of racial desegregation. Sec. 302. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits funds under this Act from being used to require the transportation of any student to a school other than the school which is nearest the student's home in order to comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sec. 303. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits funds under this Act from being used to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in public schools. Sec. 304. The Committee continues and amends a provision that allows up to one percent of any discretionary funds appropriated for the Department of Education to be transferred between appropriations accounts, provided that no appropriation is increased by more than three percent by any such transfer. Sec. 305. The Committee recommends new language to preclude funds made available in this Act to the Department of Education in contravention of section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled The bill provides $4,995,000 for the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. This is $373,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled was established by the Wagner-O'Day Act of 1938 as amended. Its primary objective is to increase the employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities and, whenever possible, to prepare them to engage in competitive employment. Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service was established by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 to enhance opportunities for national and community service and provide national service educational awards. The Corporation makes grants to States, institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit organizations, and others to create service opportunities for a wide variety of individuals through full-time national and community service programs. DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMS The Committee recommends $313,050,000 for the Domestic Volunteer Service Programs that are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $8,000 below the budget request. VISTA.--The Committee recommends $95,464,000 for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, which is $2,188,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The VISTA program supports individuals who recruit volunteers and organize community volunteer activities but who do not provide direct volunteer services. National Senior Volunteer Corps.--The Committee recommends a total of $217,586,000 for the National Senior Volunteer Corps, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $6,000 below the budget request. Within the amount provided, the Committee recommends the following: Foster Grandparents Program............................. $110,937,000 Senior Companion Program................................ 46,964,000 Retired Senior Volunteer Program........................ 59,685,000 In addition, the Committee continues language that prohibits CNCS from providing stipends or other monetary incentives to volunteers or volunteer coordinators whose incomes exceed 125 percent of the national poverty level. NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS, OPERATING EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) The Committee recommends $437,457,000 for National and Community Service Programs operating expenses, including the Trust. This is $77,429,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $25,682,000 below the budget request. The Committee recommendation includes the following program levels: AmeriCorps grants....................................... $218,060,000 National Service Trust.................................. 124,720,000 Learn and Serve......................................... 34,155,000 National Civilian Community Corps....................... 26,730,000 Innovation and Demonstration............................ 3,966,000 Evaluation.............................................. 2,460,000 State Commissions....................................... 12,516,000 Points of Light Foundation.............................. 9,900,000 America's Promise....................................... 4,950,000 AmeriCorps grants.--The Committee recommendation includes $218,060,000 for AmeriCorps grants, which is $46,765,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $40,899,000 below the request. The Committee is concerned with the high levels of carry-over balances that the Corporation has accumulated over the past several fiscal years. According to budget appendices and reports published by OMB, the Corporation has carried over an average of $102,200,000 per fiscal year for the last ten fiscal years. While high carry-over balances are understandable early in a program's development, routine high balances appear to demonstrate that the Corporation has received significantly more funding than programs under the National and Community Service Act can absorb on an annual basis. For fiscal year 2006, the budget appendix indicates that the Corporation expects to carry $40,000,000 into fiscal year 2007. In fact, the Corporation's budget justification maintains that ``States have requested less than [a] full formula allocation for several years in a row.'' This circumstance is not unique, as the justification identifies eight other AmeriCorps grant programs in which appropriated funds have exceeded need. Accordingly, the Committee recommendation reduces funding for AmeriCorps grants by $40,899,000 below the budget request for fiscal year 2007, with reductions to the request distributed as follows: Formula grants to states................................ -$20,000,000 Competitive grants to states............................ -13,000,000 Direct national competitive grants to non-profits....... -4,500,000 Education award program................................. -3,399,000 Given that the fiscal year 2007 justification indicates that ``demand for EAP grant funds was lower than expected in fiscal year 2005,'' the Committee does not believe the requested increase of $3,399,000, or 42 percent, is warranted. National Service Trust.--The Committee recommends $124,720,000 for the National Service Trust, $13,880,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The Committee commends the Corporation for its plan to shift funding from unfilled slots awarded in prior years in order to cover the needs of the Trust in fiscal year 2007. Learn and Serve.--The Committee recommends $34,155,000 for the Learn and Serve America program, which is the same as the budget request and $2,970,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. National Civilian Community Corps.--The Committee recommends $26,730,000 for the National Civilian Community Corps, which is 21,780,000 above the request and the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Innovation, Demonstration and Assistance.--The Committee recommends $3,966,000 for Innovation, Demonstration and Assistance programs, which is $12,315,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $5,063,000 below the budget request. The Committee recommendation denies funding for all activities other than disability grants on the grounds that these activities were either one-time expenditures in fiscal year 2006 or should be carried out through other appropriate programs run by the Corporation. Evaluation.--The Committee recommends $2,460,000 for evaluation programs, which is $1,500,000 below both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. The Committee denies funding for the Longitudinal Study of AmeriCorps Members and the Volunteering in the United States projects. The Committee supports evaluation efforts aimed at improving the Corporation's management and the programs it offers, and has provided funding for both. State Commissions.--The Committee recommends $12,516,000 for state commission administrative grants, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. SALARIES AND EXPENSES The Committee recommends $67,483,000 for salaries and expenses associated with the administrative activities of the Corporation. This is the $1,400,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $2,832,000 below the budget request. The Committee approves funding for consolidation of CNCS administrative functions. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL The Committee recommends $4,950,000 for the Office of Inspector General, which is $990,000 below the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. The Committee directs the Inspector General to continue to review the Corporation's management of the National Service Trust. The Office of Inspector General is authorized by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. This Office provides an independent assessment of all Corporation operations and programs, including those of the Volunteers in Service to America and the National Senior Service Corps, through audits, investigations, and other proactive projects. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS Sec. 401. The Committee recommendation continues language regarding qualified student loans eligible for education awards. Sec. 402. The Committee recommendation continues language regarding the availability of funds for the placement of volunteers with disabilities. Sec. 403. The Committee recommendation continues language directing the Inspector General to levy sanctions in accordance with standard Inspector General audit resolution procedures, which include, but are not limited to, debarment of any grantee found to be in violation of AmeriCorps' program requirements, including using grant or program funds to lobby the Congress. Sec. 404. The Committee recommendation continues language that requires the Corporation to ensure that significant changes to program requirements or policy are made only through public notice and comment rulemaking. Sec. 405. The Committee recommendation includes language prohibiting the Corporation from making education awards in excess of the maximum Pell grant. Corporation for Public Broadcasting The Committee concurs with the budget request to provide no advance funding for fiscal year 2009 for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The Committee can no longer afford to provide public broadcasting with the preferential treatment associated with receiving a budget two years in advance while critical programs like elementary and secondary education, housing for extremely low-income families, including the elderly and disabled, homeland security, veterans medical care and biomedical research are required to compete with other priorities on an annual basis. Furthermore, the Committee cannot responsibly commit fiscal year 2009 resources given the difficulty in predicting the budget climate two years in advance. The Committee recommendation includes authority for CPB to spend up to $38,000,000 in previously appropriated fiscal year 2007 funds for digital conversion activities and up to $36,000,000 for the satellite interconnection system. The CPB ombudsmen were established to ensure that all recipients of CPB funding strictly adhere to the standard of objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. Review by the ombudsmen of substantive complaints is a key means of assuring programming meets that standard. The Committee expects the ombudsmen will ensure that recipients of CPB funding comply with this policy. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service The bill provides $42,842,000 for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), an increase of $241,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The FMCS attempts to prevent and minimize labor-management disputes having a significant impact on interstate commerce or national defense, except in the railroad and airline industries. The agency convenes boards of inquiry appointed by the President in emergency disputes and conducts dispute mediation, preventive mediation, and arbitration. In addition, the Service offers alternative dispute resolution services and training to other Federal agencies to reduce litigation costs and speed Federal administrative proceedings. The bill also includes provisions first enacted in the fiscal year 1996 Appropriations Act granting the agency the authority to accept gifts and to charge fees for certain services. Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission The bill provides $7,731,000 for the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $155,000 above the budget request. The Commission is responsible for reviewing the enforcement activities of the Secretary of Labor under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. The Commission's administrative law judges hear and decide cases initiated by the Secretary of Labor, mine operators, or miners. The five-member Commission hears appeals from administrative law judge decisions, rules on petitions for discretionary review, and may direct, of its own initiative, review of cases that present unusual questions of law. Institute of Museum and Library Services For the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Committee recommends $280,415,000. This is $33,271,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $18,175,000 more than the budget request. The Institute makes state formula grants for library services and discretionary national grants for joint library and museum projects. For library services, the Committee concurs with the budget request and recommends $171,500,000 for state grants, $3,675,000 for library services to Native Americans and Native Hawaiians, $12,930,000 for national leadership grants, and $25,000,000 for the Laura Bush 21st century librarian program for the recruitment and education of librarians. For museum services, the Committee concurs with the budget request and recommends $17,978,000 for museums for America, $3,000,000 for 21st Museum Professionals, $500,000 for museum assessment, $3,000,000 for conservation project support, $820,000 for conservation assessment, $8,500,000 for national leadership grants for museums, and $920,000 for Native American and Native Hawaiian museum services. For museum grants for African American history and culture, the Committee concurs with the budget request and recommends $1,500,000. For program administration, the Committee concurs with the budget request and recommends $12,917,000. The Committee is aware of the proposal to consolidate NCLIS and IMLS in fiscal year 2008. The Committee recognizes the important mission of both agencies and encourages them to foster a streamlined, combined agency by the close of fiscal year 2007. Within the funds provided for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Committee includes funding for the following items: Aerospace Museum of California Foundation, Inc., McClellan, CA for a new interactive exhibit......... $500,000 African American Museum of Philadelphia, PA, for exhibits, education programs and outreach........... 100,000 American Airpower Museum, Farmingdale, NY, for exhibits and education programs.............................. 300,000 American Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MO, for exhibits, education programs, and an archival project......... 200,000 American West Heritage Center, Wellsville, UT for the Lifelong Learning Initiative........................ 275,000 America's Black Holocaust Museum, Milwaukee, WI, for exhibits and education programs, which may include acquisition of interactive media center kiosks...... 75,000 Antiquarian & Landmarks Society of Connecticut, Hartford, CT for educational outreach programs at the Nathan Hale Homestead........................... 150,000 Apple Creek Historical Society, Apple Creek, OH for equipment for the Community Learning Center......... 50,000 Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana, Monroe, LA for equipment and display cases..................... 130,000 Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA, for exhibits, programming and equipment........................... 250,000 Brazos Valley African American Museum, Bryan, TX, for exhibits, education programs and/or operations...... 75,000 Capital City Development Corporation, Boise, ID for expansion and development of a permanent agricultural program and exhibition at the Discovery Center of Idaho..................................... 150,000 Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, for an archive and traveling photojournalism exhibit............... 250,000 Children's Museum of Manhattan, New York, NY, for exhibits and education programs..................... 200,000 Children's Museum of the East End, Bridgehampton, NY, for exhibits........................................ 125,000 Children's Museums of Portsmouth Virginia, Portsmouth, VA, for exhibits and education programs............. 75,000 Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati, OH for website development......................................... 500,000 City of Amory, MS for the Amory Regional Museum for collection care and digitalization.................. 300,000 City of Azusa Library, Azusa, CA, for library materials and equipment....................................... 150,000 City of Estacada Library, Estacada, OR, for technology and equipment....................................... 50,000 City of Fort Myers, FL for the Edison & Ford Winter Estates............................................. 200,000 Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH for technology... 50,000 Connecticut Historical Society Museum, Hartford, CT, for interactive school programs at the Old State House.. 100,000 Contra Costa County Library, Martinez, CA, for library services and its Technology for Teens in Transition volunteer mentor program at the Juvenile Hall Library............................................. 100,000 Daphne Library Expansion, Daphne, AL for computers, books and other library materials................... 180,000 Discovery Center, Boise, ID for educational exhibits and programs............................................ 350,000 Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, CT for programming........ 100,000 Downey City Library, Downey, CA, for the purchase of books............................................... 50,000 Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY for teacher training and support for a visual thinking strategies art education program.................... 225,000 Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, FL to support ongoing museum operations, educational programming, outreach, and collection preservation and conservation........................................ 500,000 George and Eleanor McGovern Library, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD, for cataloging, preparing, and archiving documents and artifacts relating to the public service of Senator Francis Case and Senator George McGovern............................. 50,000 George Washington University, Washington, D.C., for The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project.................... 150,000 Georgetown Visitation Monastery, Washington, DC for digitization and technology......................... 100,000 Harbor Heritage Society, Cleveland, OH for exhibits at the William G. Mather Maritime Museum............... 50,000 Health Care Foundation of Mississippi, Tupelo, MS for a Children's Health Science Center.................... 300,000 Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, for digitalization of collections and related activities 100,000 Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, NY, for education programs at Philipsburg Manor....................... 250,000 Historic Yellow Springs, Inc., Chester Springs, PA for technology upgrades................................. 25,000 History Makers, Chicago, IL, for digitization of an oral history archive of interviews with African Americans 100,000 History Museum of East Otter Tail County, Perham, MN, for its In Their Own Words exhibit.................. 150,000 Holbrook Public Library, Holbrook, MA, for equipment and technology.......................................... 100,000 Irwindale Public Library, Irwindale, CA, for a computer system to preserve historic materials............... 30,000 Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA for equipment, outreach and software development........ 250,000 Martinsburg Public Library, Martinsburg, WV for computer and technology equipment............................ 50,000 Massie Heritage Center, Savannah, GA for restoration of exhibits and equipment upgrades..................... 950,000 Massillon Museum, Massillon, OH for technology and digitization of collections......................... 50,000 Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center, Hilo, HI, for exhibits and education programs..................... 250,000 McKinley Museum, Canton, OH for exhibits................ 50,000 Miami University, Oxford, OH for digitization........... 30,000 Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum, Frankenmuth, MI, for preservation and display of collections, and for operating expenses.............................. 200,000 Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, for its math and science education project....................... 300,000 Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ for development of the Interactive Educational Workshop Center exhibit..... 500,000 Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, for its Science in Your World exhibit....................... 300,000 Museum of Science and Technology, Syracuse, NY for exhibits and operations............................. 500,000 National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Rapids, IA for upgrade of permanent collection.............. 80,000 National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem, PA for program development................................. 125,000 North Carolina Zoological Park, Ashboro, NC for exhibits 200,000 Oklahoma City, OK National Memorial Foundation for community education & outreach programs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.............. 300,000 Old Stone House of Brooklyn, Inc., NY, for education programs............................................ 50,000 Onondaga County, NY Public Library for technology and communications infrastructure upgrades.............. 250,000 Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR, for interpretive panels, displays and furnishings for exhibits............... 125,000 Orem Public Library, Orem, UT for technology upgrades... 200,000 Overton County Library, TN, for collections, technology and education programs.............................. 300,000 Pennsylvania State Police Historical and Educational Museum, Hershey, PA, for exhibits, education programs, and operating support..................... 100,000 Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, for its National Summer Teacher Institute............................ 100,000 Pico Rivera Library, Pico Rivera, CA, for books and materials, equipment and furnishings................ 100,000 Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Savannah, GA for exhibits and curriculum............................. 500,000 ReadNet Foundation, New York, NY for a literacy initiative in Erie and Niagara Counties, NY......... 100,000 Rhode Island Holocaust Museum, Providence, RI, for exhibits and education programs..................... 200,000 Rockwall Library, Rockwall, TX for books and other library materials................................... 100,000 Rust College, Holly Springs, MS for the digitalization of collections and equipment for the Leontyne Price Library............................................. 500,000 Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, for exhibits and programs.... 50,000 San Bernardino County Museum, San Bernardino, CA for new exhibits, care of collection, and new learning programs............................................ 200,000 Sci-Quest, the North Alabama Science Center, Huntsville, AL, for science and mathematics education programs and outreach activities............................. 250,000 Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, for exhibits, and for its community outreach and mentoring initiative......... 500,000 Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA, for exhibits and education programs.............................. 250,000 South Florida Science Museum, West Palm Beach, FL for the Dekelboum Science Center........................ 300,000 Stark County Park District, Canton, OH, for exhibits at the Canalway Learning Center........................ 50,000 Taft Museum of Art, Cinncinnati, OH for exhibitions and outreach............................................ 200,000 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX for Virtual Vietnam Archive............................................. 650,000 Tillamook County Library, Tillamook, OR, for equipment and technology...................................... 150,000 Tubman African American Museum, Macon, GA, for museum and education services.............................. 450,000 University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, for the James R. Slater Museum of Natural History for collections, education programs and outreach..................... 250,000 Veterans Research Center, Waterloo, IA for new exhibits. 250,000 Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation, Inc., Richmond, VA for four educational materials segments 200,000 Yolo County Library, Woodland, CA, for an after school assistance and literacy program at the Arthur F. Turner West Sacramento Branch Library............... 50,000 Young at Art Children's Museum, Davie, Florida, for its Global Village project.............................. 100,000 Zoo New England, Boston, MA, for its Living Classrooms initiative.......................................... 150,000 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission The Committee recommends $10,457,000 for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), an increase of $391,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. MedPAC advises Congress on payment and other policy issues affecting the Medicare program and on implications of changes in health care delivery and in the market for health care services on the Medicare program. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science The Committee recommends $983,000 for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS). This is the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. The Commission advises the Executive and Legislative branches, and other public and private organizations on national library and information policies and plans. The Committee is aware of the proposal to consolidate the Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library Services in fiscal year 2008. The Committee recognizes the important mission of NCLIS and encourages active planning by both agencies to foster a streamlined, combined agency by the close of fiscal year 2007. National Council on Disability The bill provides $3,180,000 for the National Council on Disability (NCD). This is $67,000 above as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $408,000 above the budget request. The Council monitors implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes recommendations to the President, the Congress, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research on public policy issues of concern to individuals with disabilities. National Labor Relations Board The bill provides $249,789,000 for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This is $44,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The NLRB receives, investigates, and prosecutes unfair labor practice charges filed by businesses, labor unions, and individuals. It also schedules and conducts representation elections. The five-member Board considers cases in which an administrative law judge decisions are appealed. National Mediation Board The bill provides $11,749,000 for the National Mediation Board (NMB). This is $237,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The NMB mediates labor disputes between employees and railroad and airline carriers subject to the Railway Labor Act. The Board also resolves representation disputes involving labor organizations seeking to represent railroad or airline employees. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission The bill provides $10,510,000 for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, $105,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and $164,000 above the budget request. The Commission adjudicates contested citations issues by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration against employers for violations of safety and health standards. The Commission's administrative law judges settle and decide cases at the initial level of review. The agency's three appointed Commissioners also review cases, issue rulings on complicated issues, and may direct review of any decision by an administrative law judge. Railroad Retirement Board DUAL BENEFITS ACCOUNT The bill provides $88,000,000 for dual benefits, a decrease of $8,030,000 below the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. These funds are used to pay dual benefits to those retirees receiving both railroad retirement and social security benefits. The bill includes a provision permitting a portion of these funds to be derived from income tax receipts on dual benefits as authorized by law. The Railroad Retirement Board estimates that approximately $6,000,000 may be derived in this manner. FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACCOUNT The bill provides $150,000 for the interest earned on unnegotiated checks, the same as the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the budget request. LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATION The bill provides a consolidated limitation of $103,518,000 on the expenditure of railroad retirement and railroad unemployment trust funds for administrative expenses of the Railroad Retirement Board, an increase of $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. The bill includes a provision from the fiscal year 1999 Appropriations Act prohibiting the transfer of resources formerly identified in a Memorandum of Understanding from the RRB to the Inspector General. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness insurance benefit programs for railroad workers and their families. This account limits the amount of funds in the railroad retirement and railroad unemployment insurance trust funds that may be used by the RRB for administrative expenses. The Committee prohibits funds from the railroad retirement trust fund from being spent on any charges over and above the actual cost of administering the trust fund, including commercial rental rates. The bill includes language (Sec. 516) limiting the availability of funds to the Railroad Retirement Board to enter into an arrangement with a nongovernmental financial institution to serve as disbursing agent for benefits payable under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974. The Committee is aware of a proposal to consolidate the financial statements and audit of the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust with the financial statements and audit of the Railroad Retirement Board. The Committee notes that the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 mandates that the Trust functions independently from the Railroad Retirement Board. Further, the Act specifically requires a separate audit of the Trust by a nongovernmental auditor, and requires that the results of this audit be included in the Trust's Annual Management Report to Congress. The Committee expects that the Trust be administered and audited solely in conformance with the Act of 2001. LIMITATION ON THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL The bill provides authority to expend $7,606,000 from the railroad retirement and railroad unemployment insurance trust funds for the Office of Inspector General, an increase of $482,000 above the fiscal year 2006 appropriation and the same as the budget request. This account provides funding for the Inspector General to conduct and supervise audits and investigations of programs and operations of the Board. The Committee compliments the work of the Office of the Inspector General of the Railroad Retirement Board for their work in obtaining information on actual collections, offsets, and funds put to better use as required in House Report 105- 635. This information is of great use to the Committee and the Committee understands the difficulty encountered by the OIG in obtaining it. The Committee expects that the Office of Inspector General will continue to report the information to it. Social Security Administration PAYMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS The Committee recommends $27,756,000 for mandatory payments necessary to compensate the Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds for special payments to certain uninsured persons (for which no payroll tax is received), costs incurred for administration of pension reform activities and interest lost on the value of benefit checks issued but not negotiated. This is $7,286,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. This appropriation restores the trust funds to the position they would have been in had they not borne these costs properly charged to the general funds. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM The Committee recommends $29,065,000,000 for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This is $304,174,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $60,000,000 less than the budget request. The Committee also provides $16,810,000,000 in advance funding for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 as requested. Beneficiary services The Committee concurs with the budget request to use the carryover funding to cover estimated obligations in fiscal year 2007 for beneficiary services. Therefore, the Committee has recommended no new budget authority for this program. In fiscal year 2006, $52,000,000 was provided for this program. These funds are made available to reimburse State vocational rehabilitation services agencies for successful rehabilitation of SSI recipients. Research and demonstration Within the appropriation for SSI, the Committee recommends $27,000,000 for research and demonstration activities conducted under section 1110 of the Social Security Act. This is the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. Administration Within the appropriation for SSI, the Committee recommends $2,944,000,000 for payment to the Social Security trust funds for SSI's share of the base administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration (SSA). This is $211,000,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $60,000,000 less than the budget request. LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES The Committee recommends a limitation on administrative expenses for SSA of $9,175,000,000 to be funded from the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. This is $186,394,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and the same as the budget request. Social Security Advisory Board The Committee recommends that not less than $2,000,000 within the limitation on administrative expenses be available for the Social Security Advisory Board, the same as both the fiscal year 2006 level and the budget request. User fees In addition to other amounts provided in the bill, the Committee recommends an additional limitation of $118,000,000 for administrative activities funded from user fees. This is $2,000,000 less than the fiscal year 2006 level and the same as the budget request. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) The Committee recommends $94,411,000 for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), $2,935,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,589,000 less than the budget request. The bill also provides authority to expend $67,976,000 from the Social Security trust funds for activities conducted by the Inspector General, $2,270,000 more than the fiscal year 2006 funding level and $1,024,000 less than the budget request. TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 501. The Committee continues a provision to allow the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to transfer unexpended balances of prior appropriations to accounts corresponding to current appropriations to be used for the same purpose and for the same periods of time for which they were originally appropriated. Sec. 502. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the obligation of funds beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided. Sec. 503. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit appropriated funds to be used to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress or any State legislature, except in presentation to the Congress or any State legislature itself. Sec. 504. The Committee continues a provision to limit the amount available for official reception and representation expenses for the Secretaries of Labor and Education, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the Chairman of the National Mediation Board. Sec. 505. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit funds to be used to carry out a needle distribution program. Sec. 506. The Committee continues a provision to require grantees receiving Federal funds to clearly state the percentage of the total cost of the program or project that will be financed with Federal money. Sec. 507. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit appropriated funds to be used for any abortion. Sec. 508. The Committee continues a provision to provide exceptions for Sec. 507 and adds a limitation prohibiting funds from the bill to be made available to a Federal, State or local government or program if they discriminate against institutional or individual health care entities if they do not provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. Sec. 509. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the use of funds in the Act concerning research involving human embryos. However, this language should not be construed to limit federal support for research involving human embryonic stem cells listed on an NIH registry and carried out in accordance with policy outlined by the President. Sec. 510. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the use of funds for any activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or substance included in schedule I of the schedules of controlled substances. Sec. 511. The Committee continues a provision to prohibit the use of funds to promulgate or adopt any final standard providing for a unique health identifier until legislation is enacted specifically approving the standard. Sec. 512. The Committee continues a provision related to annual reports to the Secretary of Labor. Sec. 513. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits the transfer of funds from this Act except by authority provided in this Act or another appropriation Act. Sec. 514. The Committee includes a provision to limit funds in the bill for public libraries to those libraries that comply with the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act. Sec. 515. The Committee includes a provision to limit technology funds in the bill for elementary and secondary schools to those schools that comply with the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act. Sec. 516. The Committee includes language limiting the availability of funds to the Railroad Retirement Board to enter into an arrangement with a nongovernmental financial institution to serve as disbursing agent for benefits payable under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974. Sec. 517. The Committee maintains a provision clarifying the procedures for reprogramming of funds. The Committee notes that this provision is consistent with reprogramming language included in other bills within the Committee's jurisdiction. Sec. 518. The Committee continues a provision pertaining to appointments to a scientific advisory committee. Sec. 519. The Act includes language requesting each Department and related agency to submit an operating plan within 45 days of enactment, detailing any reprogramming of funds which result in a different funding allocation than that in the fiscal year 2007 Act, the accompanying detailed table or budget request. Sec. 520. The Act includes language prohibiting the reprogramming or transfer of funds to the ``E-Gov'' Initiative without an approved reprogramming request from the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate. Sec. 521. The Act includes language requiring prior approval of Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) analyses and studies. Sec. 522. The Act includes language requiring the development of traditional Congressional Justifications. Fiscal year 2008 budget submissions shall not contain performance or performance integration information and shall not include Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) information or results. This information shall be submitted in separate documents. Sec. 523. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting use of funds in contravention of the energy efficiency performance goals and reporting requirements for Federal buildings contained in two statutes and an executive order. Sec. 524. The Committee recommends new language precluding funds made available by this Act from being used by the Social Security Administration to administer benefit payments under a totalization arrangement that would be inconsistent with existing law. Sec. 525. The Committee recommends new language amending existing law to establish a new minimum wage. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to report this legislation on clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the U.S. Constitution, which states: No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law * * *. COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, following is an explanation of compliance with section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, detailing how the new budget authority provided by the accompanying bill compares with the report submitted under section 302 of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This information follows: [In millions of dollars] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 302(b) allocation This bill --------------------------------------------------- Budget Budget Authority Outlays Authority Outlays ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discretionary............................................... $141,930 $145,631 $141,930 $145,488 Mandatory................................................... 444,429 445,140 444,429 445,140 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following information was provided to the Committee by the Congressional Budget Office: FIVE-YEAR PROJECTIONS In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains five-year projections associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill: [In millions of dollars] Outlays: 2007...................................................... $503,660 2008...................................................... 61,748 2009...................................................... 14,319 2010...................................................... 2,913 2011 and beyond........................................... 518 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the financial assistance to State and local governments is as follows: [In millions of dollars] New budget authority.......................................... $267,808 Fiscal year 2007 outlays resulting therefrom.................. 230,247 TRANSFER OF FUNDS Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the transfers of funds recommended in the accompanying bill. The table shows, by Department and agency, the appropriations affected by such transfers. APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Account from which Account to which transfer is made Amount transfer is made Amount ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor: Department of Labor: Special Benefits................. (\1\) Postal Service and (\1\) various agencies. Various Agencies................. (\1\) Energy Employees (\1\) Occupational Illness Compensation Fund. Employment Standards $33,578,000............ Black Lung Disability $33,578,000 Administration--Salaries and Trust Fund. Expenses. Departmental Management--Salaries 25,255,000............. Black Lung Disability 25,255,000 and Expenses. Trust Fund. Office of Inspector General...... 346,000................ Black Lung Disability 346,000 Trust Fund. Employment Benefits Security 7,000,000.............. Pension Benefits 7,000,000 Administration, Salary and Guaranty Corporation. Expenses. Department of Health and Human Department of Health Services: and Human Services: National Institutes of Health: National Institutes of Health: Various institutes and up to 3%............... Various institutes and up to 3% centers for AIDS. centers for AIDS. Various institutes and amount det'd to be AIDS Office of AIDS Research amount det'd to be AIDS centers for AIDS. Various institutes and up to 1%............... Various institutes and up to 1% centers. centers. Related Agencies: National Service Trust........... 124,720,000............ Corp. for National and 124,720,000 Community Service. National Service Trust........... (\1\) Corp. for National and (\1\) Community Service. Social Security Administration: Office of Inspector General.. 67,976,000............. Federal Old-Age and 67,976,000 Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Such sums RESCISSIONS Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill. Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule) In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): SECTION 6 OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938 minimum wages Sec. 6. (a) Every employer shall pay to each of his employees who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, wages at the following rates: (1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than $4.25 an hour during the period ending on September 30, 1996, not less than $4.75 an hour during the year beginning on October 1, 1996, [and] not less than $5.15 an hour beginning September 1, 1997, not less than $5.85 an hour beginning on January 1, 2007, not less than $6.55 an hour beginning on January 1, 2008, and not less than $7.25 an hour beginning on January 1, 2009; * * * * * * * RESCISSIONS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL Account Amount Department of Labor, Training and Employment Service.. -$325,000,000 Changes in Application of Existing Law Pursuant to clause 3(f) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill which may directly or indirectly change the application of existing law. The bill provides that appropriations shall remain available for more than one year for some programs for which the basic authorizing legislation does not so authorize such extended availability. In various places in the bill, an earmark of funds within appropriation accounts may not track the authorization language with the level of specificity required under clause 2 of rule XXI. In several instances, the bill provides advance appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for programs for which such advances are not authorized by law. Various pleonasms in the bill may violate clause 2. TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Training and Employment Services Language prohibiting the use of funds from any other appropriation to provide meal services at or for Job Corps centers. State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations Language allowing the use of funds for amortization payments to states which had independent retirement plans in their state employment service agencies prior to 1980. Language allowing the Labor Department to withhold from state allotments funds available for penalty mail under the Wagner-Peyser Act. Language providing that funds in this Act for one-stop career centers and unemployment insurance national activities may be used for contracts, grants, or agreements with non-state entities. Language providing that funds in this Act may be used by the states for integrated Employment Service and Unemployment Insurance automation efforts. Employment Standards Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES Language authorizing the Secretary of Labor to accept and spend all sums of money ordered to be paid to the Secretary, in accordance with the terms of a Consent Judgment in U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Language authorizing the Secretary of Labor to collect user fees for processing certain applications and issuing certain certificates and registrations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. SPECIAL BENEFITS Language providing funds may be used under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act in which the Secretary of Labor may reimburse an employer, who is not the employer at the time of injury, for portions of the salary of a reemployed, disabled beneficiary. Language allowing the Secretary of Labor to transfer certain administrative funds from the Postal Service fund and certain other government corporations and agencies related to the administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. Language allowing the Secretary of Labor to require any person filing a claim for benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to provide such identifying information as the Secretary may require, including a Social Security number. Occupational Safety and Health Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES Language establishing a maximum amount available for grants to states under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which grants shall be no less than 50 percent of the costs of state programs required to be incurred under plans approved by the Secretary under section 18 of the Act. Language authorizing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to retain and spend up to $750,000 of training institute course tuition fees for training and education grants. Language allowing the Secretary of Labor to collect and retain fees for services provided to Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. Language prohibiting OSHA from obligating or expending any of these funds to enforce the annual fit test requirement of the General Industry Respiratory Protection Standard with respect to exposure to tuberculosis. Mine Safety and Health Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES Language allowing the Mine Safety and Health Administration to collect up to $750,000 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy for room, board, tuition, and the sale of training materials, otherwise authorized by law to be collected, to be available for mine safety and health education and training activities, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302. Language allowing the Mine Safety and Health Administration to accept land, buildings, equipment, and other contributions from public and private sources; to prosecute projects in cooperation with other agencies, Federal, state, or private; and to promote health and safety education and training in the mining community through cooperative programs with states, industry, and safety associations. Language allowing the Secretary of Labor to use any funds available to the Department to provide for the costs of mine rescue and survival operations in the event of major disasters. Departmental Management SALARIES AND EXPENSES Language providing that no funds made available by this Act may be used by the Solicitor of Labor to participate in a review in any United States court of appeals of any decision made by the Benefits Review Board under section 21 of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act where such participation is precluded by the decision of the Supreme Court in Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs v. Newport News Shipbuilding, 115 S. Ct. 1278 (1995), notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Language providing that any decision under the Longshore Act pending before the Benefits Review Board for more than one year shall be considered affirmed by the Board and shall be considered the final order of the Board. Administrative Provisions Language requiring the Secretary of Labor to issue certain monthly transit subsidies. TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES Language providing that $40,000,000 from general revenues, not-withstanding section 1820(j) of the Social Security Act, shall be available for carrying out the Medicare rural hospital flexibility grants program under section 1820 of such Act. Language providing that in addition to fees authorized by section 427(b) of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, fees shall be collected for the full disclosure of information under the Act sufficient to recover the full costs of operating the National Practitioner Data Bank, and shall remain available until expended to carry out that Act. Language providing that fees collected under the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Data Collection Program, authorized by section 1128E(d)(2) of the Social Security Act shall be sufficient to recover the full costs of operating the program, and shall remain available until expended to carry out that Act. Language providing that all pregnancy counseling under the family planning program shall be nondirective. Language providing $70,000,000 for awards to states for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services under subpart I of Part B of the Public Health Service Act, notwithstanding sections 2616 through 2620. Language making $25,000,000 available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to fund special programs for the care and treatment of individuals with HIV disease. Language identifying a specific amount for maternal and child health SPRANS activities, notwithstanding current law. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Language permitting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to purchase and insure official motor vehicles in foreign countries. Language permitting CDC to purchase, hire, maintain and operate aircraft. Language providing that $29,700,000 is available until expended for equipment and construction and renovation of facilities. Language providing that $121,952,000 is available until September 30, 2007 for International HIV/AIDS. Language providing that collections from user fees may be credited to the CDC appropriation. Language making specific amounts under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act available to carry out: National Immunization Surveys and the National Occupational Research Agenda. Language providing up to $31,800,000 for Individual Learning Accounts for full-time equivalents employees of CDC. Language allowing the Director of CDC to redirect certain funds appropriated under Public Law 101-502. Language providing that not to exceed $12,500,000 may be made available for grants under section 1509 of the Public Health Service Act to not more than 15 States, tribes, or tribal organizations. Language permitting CDC to exempt from any personnel ceiling applicable to the Agency both civilian and Commissioned Officers detailed to the states, municipalities, or other organizations under authority of section 214 of the Public Health Service Act for purposes related to homeland security during the period of detail or assignment. National Institutes of Health NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Language providing that the National Library of Medicine may enter into certain personal services contracts. Language making $8,200,000 available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to carry out National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology and related health services. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR Language providing that the National Institutes of Health is authorized to collect third party payments for the cost of the clinical services that are incurred in NIH research facilities and that such payments shall be credited to the NIH Management Fund and shall remain available for one fiscal year after they are deposited. Language providing the Director of NIH authority to transfer funds between appropriation accounts in this or any other Act. Language providing that a uniform percentage of the amounts appropriated to the Institutes and Centers may be transferred and utilized for the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Language providing that notwithstanding section 520A(f)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, no funds appropriated for carrying out section 520A are available for carrying out section 1971. Language making specific amounts available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to fund technical assistance, National data, data collection and evaluation activities; national surveys on drug abuse; and, to evaluate substance abuse treatment programs. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Language is included to permit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to retain and expend amounts received from Freedom of Information Act fees, reimbursable and interagency agreements, and the sale of data tapes. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID Language providing that in the administration of title XIX of the Social Security Act, payments to a State for any quarter may be made with respect to a State plan or plan amendment in effect during any such quarter, if submitted in, or prior to, such quarter and approved in that or any such subsequent quarter. PAYMENTS TO THE HEALTH CARE TRUST FUNDS Language providing indefinite authority for paying benefits if the annual appropriation is insufficient. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Language providing that all funds collected in accordance with section 353 of the Public Health Service Act, together with such sums as may be collected from authorized user fees, administrative fees collected relative to Medicare overpayment recovery activities, and the sale of data, shall be available for expenditure by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Language allowing fees charged in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 9701 to be credited to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrative account. Language providing that funds under this heading are available for the Healthy Start, Grow Smart program. Language permitting the collection of fees associated with conducting revisit surveys of health care facilities and that such fees shall be credited to this appropriation as an offsetting collection and shall remain available until expended. Administration for Children and Families PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS Language providing that the sum of the amounts available to a state with respect to expenditures under title IV-A of the Social Security Act in fiscal year 1997 under this appropriation and under such title IV-A as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 shall not exceed the limitations under section 116(b) of such Act. LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE Language waiving existing law. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES PROGRAMS Language making $6,000,000 available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to carry out provisions of section 1110 of the Social Security Act. Language requiring the Secretary to establish certain procedures regarding the disposition of intangible property. Language imposing certain requirements on grantees under the abstinence education program. Office of the Secretary GENERAL DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT Language making $39,552,000 available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to carry out national health or human services research and evaluation activities. Language providing $13,120,000 for prevention service demonstration grants under the Adolescent Family Life program, notwithstanding current law. OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Language making $11,930,000 available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to carry out health information technology network development activities. TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Impact Aid Language ensuring that schools serving the children of military personnel continue to receive Impact Aid funds when the military parents who live on-base are deployed and the child continues to attend the same school and in cases in which an on-base military parent is killed while on active duty and the child continues to attend the same school. School Improvement Programs Language allowing the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia to reserve up to five percent of their supplemental education grants for technical assistance, administration and oversight purposes. Innovation and Improvement Language allowing the Secretary to retain up to three percent of the funding for the Teaching American History program for technical assistance and the dissemination of information. Language permitting stipends and bonuses under the Troops to Teachers program to be made available to those serving in schools receiving title I funds. Special Education Language identifying $11,880,000 for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Inc., the general purposes of which are authorized in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Language limiting the increase in the amount of funds required to be transferred to the Department of the Interior under the Grants to States program to the lesser of an amount equal to the amount transferred to the Department of the Interior for fiscal year 2006 plus inflation or the percentage increase in the appropriation for the Grants to States program. Vocational and Adult Education Language specifying an allocation formula for awarding State grants for English literacy and civics education, which is not otherwise authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Language stating that a portion of the amount provided for Adult Education State Grants shall be for integrated English literacy and civics education services to immigrants and other limited English proficient populations, and specifying the distribution of such funds. Language identifying specific funding levels for the National Institute for Literacy and national leadership activities under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, overriding the statutory set-aside of 1.5 percent of the adult education appropriation. Student Financial Assistance Language providing that the maximum Pell Grant a student may receive in the 2006-2007 academic year shall be $4,150. Higher Education Language providing that funds are available to fund fellowships for academic year 2006-2007 under part A, subpart 1 of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965, under the terms and conditions of part A, subpart 1. Language providing that notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available to carry out title VI of the Higher Education Act and section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 may be used to support visits and study in foreign countries by individuals who are participating in advanced foreign language training and international studies in areas that are vital to United States national security and who plan to apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries in the fields of government, the professions, or international development. Howard University Language providing that Howard University shall use not less than $3,524,000 for the endowment program pursuant to the Howard University Endowment Act. TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES Corporation for National and Community Service DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMS, OPERATING EXPENSES Language prohibiting certain funds from being used for stipends or other monetary incentives for volunteers or volunteer leaders whose incomes exceed 125 percent of the national poverty level. NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS, OPERATING EXPENSES Language allowing certain funds to be used for education award-only grants. Language allowing certain additional funds to be transferred to the National Service Trust, upon a determination that it is necessary to support the activities of national service participants and after notice is transmitted to the Congress. Language prohibiting certain funds from being used to support salaries and related expenses (including travel) attributable to employees of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Language requiring certain funds to be provided in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations of peer review panels in order to ensure that priority is given to programs that demonstrate quality, innovation, replicability, and sustainability. Language allowing certain funds to support an endowment fund and permitting certain investments of the endowment fund. Language prohibiting funds for national service programs run by certain other Federal agencies. Language requiring the Corporation for National and Community Service to increase significantly the level of matching funds and in-kind contributions provided by the private sector and to reduce the total Federal costs per participant in all programs. Language allowing certain funds to be made available to provide assistant to state commissions on national and community service. Language allowing certain funds to be used for grant application reviews. Administrative Provisions Language allowing certain loans to be considered qualified student loans. Language allowing certain grantees to be eligible for grants targeted to individuals with disabilities. Language requiring the Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service to conduct random audits of the grantees that administer activities under the AmeriCorps programs, to levy sanctions for violations, and to obtain reimbursements of misused funds from grantees committing substantial violations. Language requiring the Corporation for National and Community Service to make significant changes to program requirements or policies only through public notice and comment rulemaking. Language prohibiting personnel of the Corporation for National and Community Service from making unauthorized disclosures of covered grant selection information. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service SALARIES AND EXPENSES The bill includes language specifying that notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302 fees charged by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, up to full-cost recovery, for special training activities and for arbitration services shall be credited to and merged with its administrative account and shall remain available until expended; that fees for arbitration services shall be available only for education, training, and professional development of the agency workforce; and that the Director of the Service is authorized to accept on behalf of the United States gifts of services and real, personal, or other property in the aid of any projects or functions within the Director's jurisdiction. National Labor Relations Board SALARIES AND EXPENSES The bill includes a provision requiring that appropriations to the NLRB shall not be available to organize or assist in organizing agricultural laborers or used in connection with investigations, hearings, directives, or orders concerning bargaining units composed of agricultural laborers as referred to in 2(3) of the Act of July 5, 1935 (29 U.S.C. 152), and as amended by the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947, as amended, and as defined in 3(f) of the Act of June 25, 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203), and including in said definition employees engaged in the maintenance and operation of ditches, canals, reservoirs, and waterways, when maintained or operated on a mutual non-profit basis and at least 95 per centum of the water stored or supplied thereby is used for farming purposes. Railroad Retirement Board DUAL BENEFITS PAYMENTS ACCOUNT The bill includes language providing that the total amount provided for railroad retirement dual benefits shall be credited to the Dual Benefits Payments Account in 12 approximately equal amounts on the first day of each month in the fiscal year. LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATION The bill includes language providing that the Railroad Retirement Board shall determine the allocation of its administrative budget between the railroad retirement accounts and the railroad unemployment insurance administration fund. Social Security Administration SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM Language requiring States to return to the Treasury funds unobligated at the end of the current fiscal year. LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES Language providing that unobligated balances at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall remain available until expended for the agency's information technology and telecommunications hardware and software infrastructure, including related equipment and non-payroll administrative expenses associated solely with this information technology and telecommunications infrastructure. Language providing that reimbursement to the trust funds under this heading for expenditures for official time for employees of the Social Security Administration pursuant to section 7131 of title 5, United States Code, and for facilities or support services for labor organizations pursuant to policies, regulations, or procedures referred to in 7135(b) of such title shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, with interest, from amounts in the general fund not otherwise appropriated, as soon as possible after such expenditures are made. Language providing that funds derived from administration fees collected pursuant to 1616(d) of the Social Security Act or 212(b)(3) of Public Law 93-66 over $117,000,000 shall be available in fiscal year 2008 only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Language permitting the transfer of a certain amount of funds into this account from the SSA administrative account provided that the Appropriations Committees are promptly notified. Administrative and General Provisions Sections 102, 208, 209, 210, 217, 304, and 501 include legislative transfer authorities. Sections 204, 206, 211, 212, 214, 301, 302, 303, 405, 502, 503, 505, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 520, and 521 may be construed as placing legislative limitations on the use of funds in the bill. Sections 105, 201, 202, 207, 215, 216, 218, 219, 220, 403, 404, 501, 504, 506, 519, and 522 establish affirmative directions, confer new authorities, or impose new responsibilities on departments or agencies funded by the bill. Section 104 repeals existing law. Sections 213, 401, and 402 explicitly waive existing law. Section 525 amends existing law. DEFINITION OF PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY During fiscal year 2007 for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the following information provides the definition of the term ``program, project, and activity'' for departments and agencies under the jurisdiction of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The term ``program, project, and activity'' shall include the most specific level of budget items identified in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007, the accompanying House and Senate Committee reports, the conference report and accompanying joint explanatory statement of the managers of the committee of conference. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding: The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance in developing funding recommendations, including a program's success in developing and attaining outcome-related goals and objectives. Appropriations Not Authorized by Law Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appropriations in Agency/Program Last Year of Authorization Level Last Year of Appropriations in Authorization Authorization this Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ETA: Training and Employment 2003............... Such Sums.......... $5,115,411,000 $4,967,209,000 Services. Community Service Employment 2005............... Such Sums.......... 436,678,000 420,000,000 for Older Americans. VETS: Homeless Veterans' 2006............... $50,000,000........ 29,500,000 29,263,000 Reintegration Program. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HRSA: Health Centers.............. 2006............... Such Sums.......... 1,737,758,000 1,988,000,000 National Health Service 2006............... Such Sums.......... 125,528,000 131,528,000 Corps. Health Professions, except 2002............... Such Sums.......... 295,111,000 236,745,000 certain nursing programs. Children's Hospital Graduate 2005............... Such Sums.......... 300,730,000 300,000,000 Medical Education. Traumatic Brain Injury...... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 9,297,000 8,910,000 Healthy Start............... 1995............... Such Sums.......... 102,543,000 101,518,000 Newborn Hearing Screening... 2002............... Such Sums.......... 9,995,000 10,000,000 Emergency Medical Services 2005............... Such Sums.......... 19,831,000 19,800,000 for Children. HIV Health Care Services 2005............... Such Sums.......... 2,073,296,000 2,107,713,000 Program (Ryan White). Organ Transplantation....... 1993............... Such Sums.......... 2,767,000 23,049,000 Rural Health Outreach Grants 2006............... Such Sums.......... 38,885,000 40,000,000 Rural and Community Access 2003............... 25,000,000......... 12,419,000 1,500,000 to Emergency Devices. State Offices of Rural 2002............... Such Sums.......... 7,996,000 8,400,000 Health. Denali Commission........... 2003............... Such Sums.......... 27,321,000 0 Family Planning............. 1985............... 158,400,000........ 142,500,000 283,103,000 Hospital Preparedness-- 2002............... Such Sums.......... 3,499,000 486,606,000 Trauma/Emergency Medical Services. Telehealth.................. 2006............... Such Sums.......... 6,819,000 10,000,000 CDC: Birth Defects............... 2002............... Such Sums.......... 89,946,000 117,722,000 Cancer Registries........... 2003............... Such Sums.......... 45,649,000 47,490,000 Prostate Cancer............. 2004............... Such Sums.......... 14,091,000 13,842,000 Breast and Cervical Cancer 2003............... Such Sums.......... 199,371,000 202,882,000 Prevention. Wisewoman................... 2003............... Such Sums.......... 12,419,000 13,116,000 Prevention Centers.......... 2003............... Such Sums.......... 26,830,000 29,700,000 Health Statistics........... 2003............... Such Sums.......... 25,899,000 109,421,000 Infectious Disease Control.. 2005............... Such Sums.......... 225,589,000 225,938,000 Diabetes.................... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 63,457,000 69,000,000 Safe Motherhood/Infant 2005............... Such Sums.......... 44,738,000 44,009,000 Health Promotion. Oral Health Promotion....... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 11,204,000 11,022,000 Preventive Health Services 1998............... Such Sums.......... 194,092,000 100,000,000 Block Grant. HIV/AIDS Prevention......... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 662,267,000 706,316,000 Sexually Transmitted 1998............... Such Sums.......... 113,671,000 157,383,000 Diseases Grants. Tuberculosis Grants......... 2002............... Such Sums.......... 132,403,000 137,423,000 Asthma Prevention........... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 32,422,000 31,994,000 Lead Poisoning Prevention... 2005............... Such Sums.......... 36,474,000 35,747,000 Injury Prevention and 2005............... Such Sums.......... 138,237,000 138,561,000 Control. NIH: National Institutes of 1996............... Such Sums.......... 416,992,000 0 Health--Research Training. National Cancer Institute... 1996............... Such Sums.......... 2,248,000,000 4,753,609,000 National Heart, Lung, and 1996............... Such Sums.......... 1,354,945,000 2,901,012,000 Blood Institute. National Institute on Aging. 1996............... Such Sums.......... 453,541,000 1,039,828,000 National Institute on 1994............... Such Sums.......... 185,538,000 433,318,000 Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. National Institute on Drug 1994............... Such Sums.......... 424,315,000 994,829,000 Abuse. National Institute of Mental 1994............... Such Sums.......... 613,352,000 1,394,806,000 Health. National Institute of 2003............... Such Sums.......... 280,100,000 294,850,000 Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. National Library of Medicine 1996............... Such Sums.......... 140,936,000 313,269,000 SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental FY 2003............ Such Sums.......... 3,161,951,000 3,160,576,000 Health Services programs, except Post Traumatic Stress and State and Campus Suicide Prevention programs. AHRQ*:.......................... FY 2005............ Such Sums.......... 0 318,695,000 ACF: Office of Refugee FY 2002............ Such Sums.......... 439,894,000 478,006,000 Resettlement, except: Unaccompanied Alien Children, Trafficking Victims and Torture Victims. Adoption Awareness.......... FY 2005............ Such Sums.......... 12,802,000 12,674,000 Child Care Development Block FY 2002............ 1,000,000,000...... 2,099,994,000 2,082,910,000 Grant. Head Start.................. FY 2003............ Such Sums.......... 6,815,570,000 6,899,000,000 Voting Access for FY 2005............ 35,000,000......... 14,879,000 14,879,000 Individuals with Disabilities. Native American programs.... FY 2002............ Such Sums.......... 45,946,000 44,780,000 Community Services Block FY 2003............ Such Sums.......... 739,315,000 389,672,000 Grant programs. Rural Facilities............ FY 2003............ Such Sums.......... 7,250,000 7,367,000 Individual Development FY 2003............ 25,000,000......... 24,990,000 24,452,000 Account. Promoting Safe and Stable FY 2006............ 545,000,000........ 434,100,000 434,100,000 Families. AOA: Aging Services Programs..... FY 2005............ Such Sums.......... 1,393,342,000 1,376,217,000 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Adolescent Family Life (Title FY 1985............ 30,000,000......... 14,716,000 30,277,000 XX). DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Education for the Disadvantaged-- FY 2006............ Such Sums.......... 33,927,000 33,927,000 Migrant Education. Innovation and Improvement-- FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 37,279,000 36,611,000 Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities. Rehabilitation Services and FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 3,011,270,000 3,242,707,000 Disability Research. Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities: National Technical Institute FY 2006............ Such Sums.......... 56,141,000 57,000,000 for the Deaf. Gallaudet University........ FY 2006............ Such Sums.......... 106,998,000 110,500,000 Vocational and Adult FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 2,109,172,000 1,925,858,000 Education. Student Financial Assistance FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 14,007,296,000 15,281,752,000 Student Aid Administration.. FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 116,727,000 124,084,000 Higher Education: Aid for Institutional FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 485,065,000 503,229,000 Development. International Education and FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 103,680,000 105,751,000 Foreign Language. Domestic Programs........... FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 89,211,000 91,541,000 Institute for International FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 1,629,000 1,600,000 Public Policy. Fund for Improvement of Post FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 157,700,000 91,165,000 Secondary Education. Minority Science and FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 8,889,000 8,730,000 Engineering Improvement. Tribally Controlled Post- FY 2004............ 4,000,000.......... 7,185,000 7,366,000 Secondary Vocational and Technical Institutions. Federal TRIO Programs....... FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 832,559,000 828,178,000 GEAR UP..................... FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 298,230,000 303,423,000 Javits Fellowships.......... FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 9,876,000 9,699,000 Graduate Assistance in Areas FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 30,616,000 30,067,000 of National Need. Teacher Quality Enhancement FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 88,887,000 59,895,000 Grants. Child Care Access Means FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 16,098,000 15,810,000 Parents in School. GPRA Data/HEA program FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 988,000 970,000 evaluation. B.J. Stupak Olympic FY 2004............ Such Sums.......... 988,000 970,000 Scholarships. Howard University--Endowment FY 1985............ 2,000,000.......... 2,000,000 3,600,000 Program. RELATED AGENCIES Corporation for National and FY 1996............ Such Sums.......... 600,385,000 822,940,000 Community Service. Corporation for Public FY 1993............ 200,000,000........ 65,327,000 36,000,000 Broadcasting, Interconnection. Corporation for Public FY 2001............ 20,000............. 20,000,000 38,000,000 Broadcasting Digitalization. National Council on Disability.. FY 2003............ Such Sums.......... 3,144,000 3,180,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Since fiscal year 2003, AHRQ has been funded entirely through the Public Health Service Evaluation Tap. MINORITY VIEWS Today, average families are paying more to heat their homes, send their kids to college, and obtain health care. At the same time, wages are down in real terms for middle- and lower-income workers, and the earnings gap between them and the highest income workers is growing. The population continues to increase, and schools and colleges must find the resources to educate a record number of students. The number of Americans without health insurance has increased to 45.8 million--the highest number on record. Since 2000, the number of uninsured has risen by 6 million. Poverty in America has risen for four straight years. In 2004 (the latest year data is available), 37 million people were in poverty--up from 32 million in 2000. This is the appropriations bill where we fund programs directed at alleviating these problems, but the version reported by the Committee this year moves us backward rather than forward. To understand what is happening to middle class and underprivileged families who rely on key programs in this bill, it is necessary for us to look not just at the changes in this bill from last year, but to put those changes in the context of what has happened to them over time. Most of the budget cuts enacted last year are left in place by this bill, and some new cuts are added. Further, we cannot ignore the effect of rising population and rising costs, particularly for things like health care and energy where prices are rising especially quickly. Many key programs in this bill have had funding frozen or cut for several years in a row, and the cumulative effect is becoming a serious problem. Many now have considerably less purchasing power and are meeting a much smaller fraction of national needs than they did five years ago. In terms of programmatic funding, the total in this bill is about $2.2 billion less than provided two years earlier in actual dollar terms, before adjustment for inflation or anything else. More to the point, the measure is about $11 billion below what would be needed to keep us level with where we were two years ago after adjusting for general inflation and population growth. The main reason for these cuts is not that the programs involved have been found to be ineffective or that the needs they address are not considered important. Rather, this pattern of erosion and decline is forced by the overall budget policies that have been adopted by this Congress year after year, policies that are shrinking government services in order to provide successive rounds of tax cuts targeted to the highest end of the income scale. In 2007, the major tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 will cost at least $240 billion. Of that total, it is estimated that over $40 billion will go to people with annual incomes of $1 million or more. The average tax cut for people in that $1 million plus income group is about $114,000 in 2007. At the same time, the House Majority insists that we cannot provide even the very modest $3 billion addition to this bill that the Senate voted on a bipartisan basis to support. This bill is the clearest example of the devastating consequences of the Republican economic policy on America's families and our most vulnerable citizens. Following is a summary of some of those effects. Critical Failures in the LHHS Bill for America's Workers Under this Administration, we have seen two years of job losses followed by three years of inadequate economic growth. As a result, seven million Americans remain unemployed--one million or 17 percent more than in 2001. More than 1.3 million Americans have been jobless for more than 26 weeks--nearly double the number in 2001. Key Unemployment Indicators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change January-01 May-06 -------------------------- number percent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of unemployed................................. 5,997,000 7,015,000 1,018,000 17 Unemployment rate.................................... 4.2% 4.6% 0.4% 10% Long-term unemployed................................. 675,000 1,329,000 654,000 97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meaningful job training programs and support for jobless workers should be among our highest priorities. These investments are necessary--not only to help unemployed Americans get back on their feet, but also to increase the skills and competencies of the nation's workforce for 21st century jobs. Yet, in real terms, training and employment service programs will have been cut $1.3 billion in just two years. This bill cuts Workforce Investment Act Programs by $431 million, including $325 million already disbursed to local communities. The $325 million rescinded in this bill would especially undermine the ability of States and local workforce boards to respond rapidly and effectively to unanticipated plant closings, mass layoffs of workers and natural disasters. That is because nearly half of the rescission comes from Dislocated Worker funds. The bill rescinds these funds even though the Government Accountability Office previously determined that the Labor Department consistently underestimates the amounts that States and localities have already committed to job training and other employment services. This bill cuts $28 million (3.7 percent) from the U.S. Employment Service, which matches jobless people to employers seeking workers. Since FY 2001, 5.5 million or 29 percent fewer people have been served by the Employment Service due to budget cuts. This bill eliminates America's Job Bank. Thousands of job seekers find work through America's Job Bank and thousands of employers use it. It is the backbone for more than 20 state job banks as well as the electronic version of a national employment service, but this bill terminates this important service. This bill cuts $145 million from programs to help at-risk youth find work. Nearly four million youth are high school dropouts who face a limited future with little hope of obtaining the skills they need to become a productive part of the workforce.
The successful YouthBuild program puts unemployed young men and women to work building affordable housing while providing them with education and job training assistance. Plans to transfer this program from HUD to the Department of Labor will cost $50 million. Rather than provide a direct appropriation for YouthBuild, the funds for this program would come out of appropriations for formula grants that help localities provide basic education and occupational skills for at-risk and troubled youth. As a result, these youth training formula grants would be cut by $55 million (5.8 percent). Job Corps, a highly successful residential program that gives disadvantaged youth an opportunity to gain the educational, vocational and social skills needed to succeed in the 21st century economy, is cut $41 million (2.6 percent) in this bill. While Job Corps operating expenses receive a small $8.7 million increase, the bill cuts nearly in half appropriations for Job Corps dormitories, classrooms and other facilities, from $108 million FY 2006 to only $58 million in FY 2007--which would exacerbate a $350 million backlog of needed facility repairs and renovations. The youthful offenders training program, which helps only a small fraction of some 120,000 juvenile offenders get necessary basic education and occupational skills, is eliminated. The bill eliminates Title V community service jobs for nearly 3,000 seniors. Nearly 10 million, mostly female, seniors scrape by with incomes barely sufficient to meet their essential needs. They are eligible for the part-time, minimum wage community service jobs that the Title V senior employment program provides. Four years of funding cuts to this program have resulted in a 16.7 percent drop in the number of participants, from 109,900 in FY 2002 to 91,500 in FY 2006. Although the program provides needed income and allows low- income seniors to serve their local communities, the bill cuts the Title V program again, by $12.3 million (2.8 percent). The bill cuts the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) by $60 million (83 percent) to $12.4 million. ILAB promotes core labor standards, removes children from hazardous labor, and strengthens social safety nets for disadvantaged workers around the world. In recent years, ILAB assistance has removed 250,000 children from exploitive work in more than 60 developing countries, and helped impoverished children enter and complete school in such countries as Mozambique, Angola, Liberia, Ecuador and Bolivia. ILAB has supported labor law enforcement in Central America and the Dominican Republic and other developing countries. The bill fails to provide a meaningful increase to protect the safety and health of over 111 million Americans. The 2.9 percent increase in the bill for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will not reverse an 8.6 percent decline in OSHA positions, from 2,370 in FY 2001 to 2,165 in FY 2006. While not eliminated as proposed by the Administration, OSHA's Susan Harwood training grants are cut in half to $5 million. Industry groups, unions, and nonprofits use these grants to train workers and employers on ways to prevent workplace safety and health hazards. The bill also continues the current prohibition on OSHA regulations requiring annual testing of respiratory protection for occupational exposure to tuberculosis. The bill provides $9 million less than requested for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), including a cut of $2.1 million from the request for coal mine enforcement. This cut will partially negate the $25.6 million FY 2006 supplemental appropriation MSHA recently received in order to reverse a loss of 217 coal mine inspector positions since FY 2001, a drop of 17.6 percent. The bill inexplicably denies $10 million requested for enforcement of wage and hour laws. Most of these funds were requested for 39 new positions to support Labor Department- initiated investigations to help low-wage workers receive the pay to which they are entitled and for employer compliance assistance under the Fair Labor Standards Act. While cutting these funds to protect worker wages, the bill approves 22 new positions for expanded enforcement actions under the Labor- Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) regarding union financial reporting. LMRDA enforcement positions will have increased 40 percent since FY 2001. The bill freezes the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program and the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program at $7 million and $22 million, respectively. In addition, the Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program, which supports 2,000 specialists in local communities to provide outreach and employment services, is frozen at $161 million. Critical Failures in the LHHS Bill for Vulnerable Populations Despite extraordinarily high energy prices, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is cut by one third, from $3.2 billion in FY 2006 to $2.1 billion in FY 2007. This program helps low-income people afford to heat their homes, especially when energy costs rise far faster than ability to pay. While funding would go down by one third, there's no expectation of any significant reduction in prices. On the contrary, the Energy Department now forecasts that prices for electricity and heating oil will actually be higher next winter than last, and that natural gas prices will come down by only about five percent. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is cut by almost one third, from $630 million to $449 million. These grants go to 1,100 local agencies operating in almost every county of the United States to serve some of the poorest people in the nation, many of whom have nowhere else to turn for assistance. Example of services provided include child care, job training and job placement, emergency help with food and rent, programs for youth and senior citizens, home weatherization, parenting education, and adult literacy classes. The squeeze on Head Start continues, with funding frozen in FY 2007 after a cut in FY 2006. The net result is FY 2007 appropriations just three-tenths of one percent higher than three years earlier, creating real dilemmas for Head Start agencies facing rising utility bills, higher costs to put gas in their school buses, and the need to give their teachers and other staff modest cost-of-living raises. To cope, Head Start programs have had to reduce hours (a serious problem for working parents), curtail transportation, and discontinue some services. The National Head Start Association estimates that another year without any funding increase could force enrollment to be cut by 19,000 children. Frozen funding for child care grants will mean fewer children served, for the fifth year in a row. Parents working at low wages desperately need help obtaining safe and affordable child care, but appropriations for the Child Care Block Grant have been frozen or cut for the past four years. The bill freezes funding again in FY 2007, leaving the appropriated Block Grant $38 million smaller than it was five years earlier in actual dollar terms. Based on average costs per child, the number of children served will have fallen by about 20 percent over this period. Critical Failures in the LHHS Bill for Health Care Access and Services For health programs, this bill falls short. It leaves in place most of the cuts made last year and lets many key programs continue to fall further behind rising costs and rising needs. Support for medical research at the National Institutes of Health continues to go backward in terms of purchasing power and research projects supported. The bill provides no increase at all for NIH, after a small cut last year. In inflation adjusted terms, it represents a 3.7 percent loss of purchasing power since FY 2006 and an 11 percent loss since the doubling of the NIH budget was completed in FY 2003. The proposed funding level is estimated to support 656 fewer research project grants than last year and 1,570 fewer grants than three years ago. With NIH slowly shrinking in real terms, momentum is being lost in translating advances in basic fields like genetics into new therapies for diseases like cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. The $239 million overall increase for programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) doesn't even restore the $271 million cut made last year. HRSA is the agency whose mission it is to improve access to health care. Despite rising numbers of uninsured and continuing health disparities, HRSA's basic budget is $32 million less than two years ago in actual dollar terms. Adjusted for inflation and population growth, HRSA will have lost 8 percent of its purchasing power since FY 2005. Efforts to combat health disparities by increasing the number of minority health professionals are cut in half. HRSA has a group of programs that try to increase the number of minorities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds attending medical, dental and other health professions schools, based on the observation that these are the students most likely to practice in minority and underserved communities after they graduate. Last year's bill cut this group of programs by 46 percent. This year's bill eliminates two of the four programs entirely, including the Health Careers Opportunity Program, which works with minority high school and college students to help them prepare to enter health professions schools. The National Health Service Corps is shrinking. This program provides scholarships and help with loan repayments for health professions students and graduates who agree to practice in underserved areas. The bill does provide an increase for the Corps, but just enough to reverse the cut made last year. Funding will be no higher than two years earlier, while the cost of medical education keeps rising. As a result, the number of doctors, dentists and other practitioners serving in the Corps appears likely to decrease by at least 15 percent between FY 2005 and FY 2007. The bill restores only one quarter of the cuts made last year to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant, resulting in a 24 percent net loss in purchasing power since FY 2002. States use the MCH Block Grant for a variety of needs, including providing prenatal and child health services for people lacking other sources of care, financing dental care for uninsured children, and supporting screening of newborn babies for genetic disorders. A very important set of uses involves children with disabilities and other special health needs, where block grant funds often support services not covered by families' insurance. Despite the looming shortage of nurses, the bill freezes funding for nursing education programs for the second year in a row. Last year, the scholarship program for nursing students had funds to provide aid to only about 6 percent of those who applied, and nursing student loan repayment programs made awards to only about 13 percent of applicants. Last year's cuts in public health and hospital preparedness programs are left in place. Funding to improve the preparedness of state and local health departments to deal with both bioterrorist attacks and naturally occurring health emergencies was cut by $95 million (10 percent) last year (though some additional funding to prepare specifically for a flu pandemic was provided in supplemental appropriations). Similarly, grants to improve the capacity of hospitals to deal with mass casualties or epidemics were cut $13 million (2.6 percent) last year, following a $28 million cut the year before. The basic preventive health block grant for states health departments has been cut by $32 million (24 percent) since FY 2004. The Committee's bill leaves all these cuts in place, meaning less federal help for the state and local health departments that are on the front lines in protecting the public against infectious diseases and other threats to health. No real increases are provided to fight drug abuse or improve mental health. The need to expand substance abuse treatment is clear, with growing alarm about methamphetamine and continuing problems with other drugs, and the state block grant and other programs funded in this bill are the largest source of public funding for treatment. Nevertheless, overall appropriations for substance abuse prevention and treatment would be about $40 million less than three years earlier in nominal dollar terms, representing an 11 percent loss in per capita purchasing power. Similarly, the community mental health block grant will have lost 10 percent of its purchasing power since FY 2004. The U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is cut by $100 million (18 percent). The bill eliminates the $100 million contribution to the Global Fund made through the HHS budget. With the $445 million provided in the FY 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act as passed by the House, the overall U.S. contribution would drop from $545 million in FY 2006 to $445 million in FY 2007. Critical Failures in the LHHS Bill for America's Students America's schools and colleges face the ``perfect storm'' of record student enrollments, greater accountability for student academic achievement, and continuing fiscal pressures. In the 2007 school year funded by this bill, all public schools will be held accountable for NCLB mandates, including: Reading and math testing in each of grades 3 through 8, Science testing at least once in each of three grade spans, Assessing all students for their ability to read and speak English, Ensuring ``highly qualified'' teachers for core academic subjects, and Continued progress toward reaching academic proficiency for all students by 2014. At a time when America's economic preeminence is threatened and human capital is a key to success in the global economy, college is out of reach for millions of Americans. Our international competitors--China, India, South Korea and others--are producing the intellectual capital they will need to boost their economic growth and catch up to the United States. Meanwhile, America is a falling behind. Economic opportunity and upward mobility are at stake as well. Over a lifetime, workers who complete a bachelor's degree will earn one million dollars more than those with only a high school diploma. Yet, only about 18 of every 100 9th graders will make it through high school and earn a college degree on time--due to inadequate preparation and financial barriers. Despite the need to address these challenges, this bill continues a damaging decline in new education investments-- cutting the Department of Education for the second year in a row, $404 million below FY 2006 and $1.0 billion below FY 2005.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ These figures provide an ``apples-to-apples'' comparison of education program levels, with adjustments to reflect the reclassification of $600 million in student financial aid administration funds. These funds were mandatory in FY 2006 and FY 2005 but are reclassified to discretionary in FY 2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY The bill cuts No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for the second year in a row, nearly $500 million (2.1 percent) below FY 2006 and $1.5 billion (6.2 percent) below FY 2005. Schools are getting less than they received in 2006, 2005, 2004 and even 2003, as the government asks them to do more. The bill falls $16.4 billion short of our NCLB funding promises in FY 2007, creating a cumulative shortfall of $56.8 billion. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND BUDGET SHORTFALLS [Program level, Dollars in millions, Totals may not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2007 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 LHHS Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NCLB Authorization................ $26,417 $29,217 $32,017 $34,317 $36,867 $39,442 NCLB Appropriations............... $22,195 $23,837 $24,463 $24,521 $23,504 $23,010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shortfall..................... -$4,222 -$5,381 -$7,554 -$9,797 -$13,363 -$16,432 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The bill freezes Title I formula grants, denying extra reading and math instruction for an additional 3.7 million low- income children. Title 1 helps ensure that the nation's most disadvantaged children meet rigorous NCLB academic standards by supporting intensive reading and math instruction for low- income children. Although the bill provides a welcome $200 million in first-time targeted assistance for some schools, all schools are accountable under NCLB. At a $12.7 billion for Title 1 formula grants, the bill falls $12.3 billion short of the $25 billion promised under NCLB to serve an additional 3.7 million low-income children. Under this bill, over two thirds of all school districts--9,500 districts--will see Title I formula grant cuts next year, following a round of cuts in most districts in FY 2006. In real terms, Title I formula grants will have been cut nearly $800 million since FY 2005. The bill cuts the federal share of IDEA to 17 percent. Congress promised to pay 40 percent of the costs of educating 6.9 million students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). Instead, the federal share will continue to decrease from 18.6 percent in FY 2005 and 17.8 percent in FY 2006 to 17 percent in FY 2007. An additional $1 billion would be needed to restore the federal share to its FY 2005 level. The bill fails to pay for NCLB teacher quality mandates, by cutting teacher training grants by $300 million. Teacher quality grants are NCLB's primary means of helping schools recruit, hire and train teachers to meet NCLB's requirement that 100 percent of teachers of core academic subjects are ``highly qualified.'' Although no State has met these requirements, the $300 million (10.4 percent) cut in the bill would result in 73,500 fewer teachers receiving high quality training compared to FY 2006. The Education Trust reports that high-poverty and high-minority schools, in particular, are shortchanged when it comes to getting teachers with strong background in the subjects they teach. These teacher grants will have been cut in real terms by $500 million since FY 2005. Education Technology State Grants are eliminated ($272 million in 2006 and $496 million in 2005). NCLB authorized $1 billion to help teachers make the most effective use of classroom technology. These education technology grants help schools, universities and technical colleges share classes through regional and statewide distance learning networks, provide online professional development for teachers, and assist schools in keeping up with ever-changing technologies. Schools in AR, AZ, DE, MD, MI, MN, MO, ND, NH, OR, VT, and WI are especially impacted by the bill's elimination of education technology grants because their states do not have dedicated funds for technology. Safe and Drug Free Schools (SDF) State Grants are cut nearly $40 million (10.5 percent). SDF grants help more than 16,000 school districts implement anti-drug, violence prevention, and school safety measure, including measures to address the methamphetamine crisis. SDF funds are being used to help law enforcement, education and social service agencies implement methamphetamine prevention programs and youth mentoring to reduce methamphetamine abuse. In real terms, SDF funds will have been cut $150 million or 33 percent since FY 2005. The bill freezes the Language Acquisition Program at $669 million, which helps schools hire and train bilingual teachers, provide research-based English language instruction, and raise the academic skills of 5 million students who need to learn to speak and read English. In 15 states (AL, AR, CO, GA, IN, KS, KY, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NC, OR, SC, and TN) the population of English language learners has exploded, more than tripling since 1993. Yet, English language learning grants have been cut or frozen for four years in a row. In real terms, these grants will have been cut $47 million or 6.7 percent since FY 2005. The bill freezes after school centers at $981 million, denying extended learning opportunities for an additional 2 million children. The tutoring, arts enrichment and mentoring that after school centers provide are in high demand from working parents who want their children engaged in interesting, challenging and safe activities in the hours after school. However, states could fund only one-third of all after school applications in FY 2005, and the number of children served has been frozen at about 1.3 million for five years. With the additional $1.5 billion authorized by NCLB for after school programs, two million of the 6.9 million children who are regularly unsupervised in the after school hours could be served. Impact Aid payments to 1,300 school districts enrolling over 12 million students are frozen. The bill provides $1.2 billion for Impact Aid, freezing basic support payments for the first time in a decade. Through Impact Aid, school districts enrolling 12.1 million children receive grants to replace operating revenue lost due to the presence of military and other Federal facilities in their communities. These funds pay for teachers, books, computers and other essential educational services. Under the bill, 1,300 school districts would receive only 60 percent of the $1.8 billion needed to fully fund Impact Aid basic support payments. The bill rejects most of the Administration's math and science competitiveness initiatives. Although the President requested $412 million to boost the math and science performance of America's students, nearly 80 percent of these initiatives were rejected with the notable exception of funding for Advanced Placement programs, which was doubled to $80 million. Instead of the proposed Math Now initiatives, the bill expands by 23.5 percent the existing Math and Science Partnership Program (not part of the President's initiative) to $225 million. The bill even rejects a modest $35 million increase for the President's national security foreign language initiative to boost language study in critical languages such as Chinese and Arabic. The bill freezes vocational education grants. The bill provides $1.3 billion for vocational education grants, the same level as last year. This action is an improvement over the Administration's proposal to terminate all federal support for career and technical education grants and shift these resources into a new high school intervention program. Nevertheless, under the bill, vocational education grants will have lost $83 million in real purchasing power since FY 2005. Nearly half of all high school students and about one-third of college students take the vocational courses to be ready for the world of work. The bill freezes adult education state grants. The bill freezes adult education grants at $564 million, sustaining cuts the program received in FY 2006 and FY 2005. Adult education grants support basic education, GED, English as a Second Language, and family literacy services for 2.8 million adults, including recent immigrants--only a tiny fraction of the 30 million American adults who have below basic literacy skills (meaning that they lack the skills to do basic tasks such as filling out a job application). Although the Administration admits that there is a ``significant and ongoing need for adult education services'', these grants have lost $40 million in purchasing power since FY 2005. The bill cuts other important education programs. These include: Even Start is cut $29 million (29 percent), after being cut $127 million (56 percent) last year. Over 60 percent of the people receiving Even Start's family literacy services, including immigrants seeking basic reading instruction, are at the lowest levels of poverty. School Counseling, which expands elementary school students' access to counseling services, is cut $12.7 million (36.5 percent). The Mentoring Program, which provides mentoring for disadvantaged youth, is cut $29.8 million (61.1 percent). Civic Education, which teaches students about the Constitution and democracy, is cut $4.1 million (14.1 percent). Smaller Learning Communities, which is one of the few education programs targeted to high school reform and improvement, is cut $43.5 million (46.5 percent). Teaching American History, which helps teachers expand their knowledge and instruction of history, is cut $69.8 million (58.3 percent). The Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) is cut $54 million (33.8 percent) after Congressionally-earmarked projects are subtracted. This remaining funding is sufficient to fund only a few programs; for example, the Committee Report mentions Reading is Fundamental, Arts Education, Reach Out and Read, and the Mathematics Panel. This means that Star Schools, Ready to Teach, Education Through Cultural and Historical Organizations, Foundations for Learning, Parental Assistance Centers, Women's Educational Equity, and Mental Health Integration are likely to be eliminated under this bill. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY The bill cuts the share of college costs paid by the Pell Grant to a new low. Pell Grants are the foundation of the nation's efforts to expand college access. Under this bill, the share of 4-year public college costs paid by the maximum Pell Grant will drop to 30 percent in FY 2007--a new low--compared to 42 percent in FY 2001, and 72 percent in 1976. Due to rising costs, a $300 increase in the maximum Pell award is needed just to maintain last year's purchasing power compared to the $100 increase provided in the bill. An even larger increase of $1,650 is needed to restore Pell's purchasing power to the level that existed at the start of the Bush Administration. The bill freezes other college access programs. College Work-Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) and Perkins Loan cancellations are frozen at last year's levels. While the bill rejects the Administration's proposal to recall $664 million from Perkins Loan revolving funds, these campus-based programs will still see a loss of purchasing power after being cut last year. The bill does not eliminate GEAR UP or dramatically cut TRIO as the President requested. Nevertheless, at the bill's freeze level, GEAR UP and TRIO will continue to lose purchasing power when it is particularly important that minority and low-income students--whose ranks are too thin on college campuses--receive a fair shot at a 4-year college degree. For example, lack of funding has caused the number of at-risk middle grade students served by GEAR UP to drop 42 percent, from 1.2 million in FY 2002 to 709,000 in FY 2006. The bill cuts $20 million needed to effectively administer student loan programs. Now that once mandatory student aid administration funds are on the discretionary side of the budget ledger, the bill cuts the Administration's request to administer guaranteed student loan programs by $20 million below the request and $5.1 million below last year. These cuts will hurt efforts to improve the delivery of student financial assistance to needy students, increase the efficiency of the program and enhance student loan monitoring. Critical Failures in the LHHS Bill for Public Broadcasting While the Committee took the welcome action of reversing a $20 million rescission in FY 2007 funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), this bill still delivers multiple blows to the nation's public broadcasting system. The bill contains $99.5 million in cuts to public broadcasting. The bill fails to provide the final federal payment for replacement of the public television satellite interconnection system--the distribution backbone of public television. It also fails to provide new resources for the FCC- mandated conversion from analog to digital broadcasting. In addition, the bill eliminates two programs in the Education Department that support priority public broadcasting activities: Ready To Learn, which has produced such acclaimed children's programs as Sesame Street, Between the Lions and Maya & Miguel, and Ready To Teach, which supports Internet- based teacher professional development. The bill also ends a 30-year practice of providing appropriations for public broadcasting two years in advance. The bill fails to restore a $400 million FY 2009 advance appropriation for CPB, even though this advance funding is permitted under the FY 2007 budget resolution. THE DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE During Committee consideration of this legislation, Democrats offered an amendment demonstrating what could be done by reordering budget priorities to do less tax cutting for the wealthiest in America in order to invest more in education, college student aid, job training, medical research, health care and other national priorities. Regrettably, the Democratic amendment was defeated on a party line vote of 26 to 36. That amendment would have added $6.3 billion to the bill. The cost would have been offset by an 11.7 percent reduction in tax cuts for people with incomes above $1 million, meaning that millionaires would have their 2007 tax cuts reduced, on average from about $114,000 to $101,000. The amendment was fully consistent with the alternative that Democrats offered when the budget resolution was considered by the House--an alternative that produced lower deficits than the Majority party's budget while doing better for programs like those in this bill. Some of the major improvements proposed by the Democratic amendment to this bill, to be financed by a modest scaling back of upper-income tax cuts, include the following: Workforce Investment Act prior-year appropriations would be restored by reversing the $325 million rescission in the bill in order to maintain key training and employment services to the unemployed. In addition, $28 million for 1,800 State and local Employment Service offices that have lost 20 percent in real purchasing power in just two years would be restored. The Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program would be restored to its FY 2006 level so that nearly 3,000 seniors across the country do not lose needed employment, income, and the opportunity to serve their communities. Youth training programs, including Job Corps, would receive an additional $91 million, in order to help more of the four million out-of-school and unemployed youth earn a decent living and make a contribution to their communities. Occupational safety and health activities, including mine safety activities, would receive an additional $25 million to help ensure safe working conditions. A damaging $60 million cut to the International Labor Affairs Bureau would be restored, allowing continued assistance to developing countries for improvement and enforcement of their labor standards, and elimination of abusive child labor. Both the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Community Services Block Grant would be restored to the FY 2006 level, and Head Start and child care grants would receive increases to partially catch up with inflation. The National Institutes of Health would receive a 2.7 percent increase above FY 2006, to eliminate cuts in the number of research grants funded and allow some room to pursue high priority medical research opportunities. Most health professions training programs would be restored to their levels of two years ago, and $25 million would be added to help alleviate the shortage of nurses. The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant would receive a 16 percent increase to reverse part of its 24 percent loss in purchasing power since FY 2002, and Healthy Start would receive an additional $25 million to help improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in communities with high infant mortality. Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs would get $100 million more than provided in the Committee's bill, including funds to double the Committee's $25 million initiative to expand availability of treatment for methamphetamine users. Title 1 would receive $300 million more than the Committee bill to lessen cuts that two-thirds of all school districts will see next year, and to provide intensive reading and math instruction to an additional 90,000 low-income children. Teacher quality and education technology grants would be restored to their FY 2006 levels, while $50 million more than in the bill would be provided for English language learning grants to better serve the 5 million children who must learn English. After school centers would see their first significant increase, $50 million, in five years. This increase would benefit an additional 70,000 children with homework assistance, physical activities, and arts education when too many children are left to fend for themselves in the hours after school. Special education would receive an additional $420 million in order to maintain the federal share of special education costs at last year's level, and prevent further backtracking on the federal commitment to contribute 40 percent toward the costs of educating children with disabilities. The maximum Pell Grant would be increased $200 to $4,350 in FY 2007--the amount needed to maintain the Pell Grant's purchasing power at last year's level. In order to compete in the 21st century, all students will need some type of postsecondary education. Public broadcasting would receive a $400 million FY 2009 advance appropriation, returning to the practice of funding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting two years in advance, first begun in 1975. Real World Actions To Reduce Abortions There is one other perspective from which this amendment should be viewed--that of facing what real world investments can be made in order to reduce the perverse incentives for abortion. We spend a lot of time arguing with one another about whether abortion should be legal, and under what circumstances, and whether we need a constitutional amendment to ban the practice. While we are having that argument, though, we should all be able to agree on doing things that help reduce the economic pressures and other real life conditions that can sometimes cause a woman to decide not to carry a pregnancy to term. A number of the programs covered by the amendment are directly relevant to the needs of young women in difficult circumstances who may be deciding whether they really are in a position to raise a child. This group includes the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and the Healthy Start program, which help provide health care and other services for pregnant women and young children lacking other access to care. Other relevant programs include child care assistance, domestic violence prevention programs, and the variety of family supports financed through the Community Services Block Grant. All of these programs have been seriously eroded over the past several years, and the amendment begins to reverse that erosion. Since access to contraceptive information and services is an important element of preventing pregnancy, the amendment includes a 4.8 percent increase to help the title X family planning program recoup some of the ground lost to inflation. It also includes a 4.8 percent increase for the community based abstinence education program, for teenagers and families who wish to follow that approach. Both programs would receive the same percentage increase. The amendment contains other modest initiatives such as funding for information and outreach to help expectant mothers and new families understand and gain access to resources that are available to help them care for their children. It also provides for counseling for families who have received the results of prenatal testing that indicate possible serious disabilities, in order to help understand those results and the implications and alternatives. We hear many expressions of concern for life. These concerns need to go beyond the rhetorical and attack the real life conditions that can lead a woman to make another choice. Lectures from politicians will not help unless we extend a hand to assist women to overcome economic pressures and other life challenges that sometimes make a pregnancy and the thought of another child seem overwhelming. Attached to these Minority Views are tables providing further details regarding the Democratic amendment. Also attached are tables showing the impact of cuts made in the bill to selected State grant programs and grants to public broadcasting stations. Democratic Amendment: Strengthening America's Future Critical Investments by Program: Dollars in millions Make Progress on Our Promises to America's School Children $1,171 Provide an additional 90,000 low-income children the opportunity to succeed in school (Title 1).......... 300 Help schools meet NCLB's ``highly qualified'' teacher mandate............................................. 300 Expand after school learning opportunities for an additional 70,000 children.......................... 50 Enhance English language instruction to 5 million children............................................ 50 Restore the Federal share of special education costs to its FY 2006 level (IDEA)......................... 420 Alleviate the impact of BRAC and global rebasing on local communities (Impact Aid)...................... 50 Enhance Competitiveness and College Access................ 1,085 Restore Pell Grant's purchasing power to FY 2006 level ($4,350 maximum grant).............................. 813 Invest in education technology and competitiveness.... 272 Help America's Workers Compete in the Global Economy...... 541 Restore rescission of Workforce Investment Act training and employment assistance.................. 325 Provide job placement assistance to the unemployed (U.S. Employment Service)........................... 28 Provide skills training for out-of-school youth (Job Corps and YouthBuild)............................... 91 Restore part-time, minimum wage jobs for 3,000 seniors (Title V Older Americans Act)....................... 12 Protect worker rights at home and abroad (International Labor Affairs Bureau)................ 60 Protect worker safety and health (MSHA and OSHA)...... 25 Support Medical Research (NIH)............................ 750 Improve Access to Health Care (HRSA)...................... 339 Restore health professions programs, to relieve shortages in rural and urban under-served areas and increase numbers of minority health professionals... 125 Help alleviate the nursing shortage................... 25 Increase funds to states for child health (Maternal & Child Health Block Grant)........................... 104 Combat infant mortality and promote infant health (Healthy Start)..................................... 25 Add doctors and dentists in underserved areas (Nat'l Health Service Corps)............................... 10 Improve access to dental care......................... 15 Maintain access to family planning services (title X). 14 Provide information, counseling and support regarding prenatally diagnosed disabilities................... 15 Collect and analyze data regarding abortions, including reasons women choose to have them......... 6 Protect Public Health Against Infectious Diseases and Environmental Hazards (CDC)............................. 50 Support Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention (SAMHSA)..................................... 150 Improve mental health services........................ 50 Increase substance abuse treatment funds, including methamphetamine initiative.......................... 100 Provide Services to Children, Families and Seniors (ACF and AOA)................................................ 684 Help working families obtain childcare for 27,500 more children............................................ 185 Maintain Head Start enrollment and services........... 223 Preserve the Community Services Block Grant........... 181 Expand domestic violence prevention................... 25 Provide ``meals on wheels'' and other services for seniors (AOA)....................................... 50 Increase community-based abstinence education......... 5 Increase awareness of resources for pregnant women and new families........................................ 15 Maintain Contribution to Global Fight Against AIDS........ 100 Subtotal, Investments in America's Future (Regular FY 2007 Appropriations)......................................... 4,870 Continue Home Energy Assistance at FY 2006 Level (LIHEAP Emergency Appropriation)................................ 1,050 Restore FY 2009 advance appropriation for Corporation for Public Broadcasting..................................... 400 -------------------------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________ Total, Investments in America's Future.................... 6,320 Real World Actions to Reduce Abortions Among the critical investments made by this amendment are a cluster of programs that would make it economically easier for low-income and vulnerable women to choose to carry pregnancies to term, as well as to expand the availability of contraception, education and counseling. Dollars in millions Maternal and infant health care............................... +104 Childcare..................................................... +185 CSBG assistance to provide people with the opportunity for education, training, and work, and to live in decency and dignity................................................... +181 Domestic violence prevention.................................. +25 Healthy Start................................................. +25 Family Planning............................................... +14 Abstinence Education.......................................... +5 Grants to increase awareness of resources for pregnant women and new families.......................................... +15 Information, counseling and support regarding prenatally diagnosed disabilities.................................... +15 Data collection and analysis regarding abortion and reasons women choose to have abortions............................ +6 -------------------------------------------------------------- Total_______________________________________________ 575 Dave Obey. Steny Hoyer. Nita M. Lowey. Rosa L. DeLauro. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Patrick J. Kennedy. Lucille Roybal-Allard. ADDITIONAL VIEWS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE We are pleased that during Appropriations Committee consideration of this bill, the Committee adopted, on a bipartisan basis, the Hoyer-Obey Amendment to raise the minimum wage by $2.10 per hour, from $5.15 to $7.25. This amendment provides an hourly minimum wage of $5.85 on January 1, 2007; $6.55 on January 1, 2008, and $7.25 on January 1, 2009. Americans are struggling with rising fuel prices, ballooning college tuition costs, and a lack of access to affordable housing. Last year, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that annual premiums for family health care coverage had exceeded the annual income of a minimum wage worker. That is why Democrats have made raising the minimum wage a top priority. The modest minimum wage increase provided in this bill is long overdue. It has been nine years since the last increase in the minimum wage, the second longest period without a wage increase since the federal minimum wage law was first enacted in 1938. As a result of the failure of the minimum wage to keep pace with rising costs, the national minimum wage of $5.15 an hour is now at its lowest level in 50 years when adjusted for inflation. It is worth noting that when the minimum wage fell to an exceptionally low level in 1989, early the next year, Congress adopted an increase in the minimum wage of 27 percent over two years with the support of then-President George H. W. Bush. People who work full-time in America should not be poor. However, in 2003 there were 3.7 million workers who worked full-time, year-round, and still lived in poverty. During the 1960s and 1970s, the yearly earnings of a full-time, year-round worker earning the minimum wage were roughly equal to the poverty level for a family of three. To reach the poverty level for a family of three in 2006 ($16,600), a full-time, year- round worker would need to earn $7.98 an hour--$2.83 more than the current minimum wage. The minimum wage increase of $2.10 per hour over 26 months in this bill would directly benefit about 7 million low-wage workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute, and its spillover effects would benefit an additional 8 million workers. Moreover, this increase would benefit poor workers who need it most: 59 percent of the gains from the proposed $2.10 hourly increase would go to working households in the bottom 40 percent of the income scale. Most Americans support the minimum wage increase provided by the Democratic amendment included in this bill. Congress should pass this minimum wage increase at the earliest possible date. Dave Obey. Steny Hoyer. Nita M. Lowey. Rosa L. DeLauro. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Patrick J. Kennedy. Lucille Roybal-Allard.