Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2008 --Resumed--

Floor Speech

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008--Resumed -- (Senate - October 18, 2007)

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Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to respond to amendment No. 3322 offered by my good friend the junior Senator from Oklahoma. As you know, the amendment of the Senator from Oklahoma would, among other things, strike $150,000 in Federal funds that I helped provide for a worthy initiative in the Commonwealth of Virginia called the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center's Beyond the Aquarium Program.

The Beyond the Aquarium Program is a hands-on, educational outreach program that brings science directly into K-12 classrooms. As we know, school field trips have declined and teachers are struggling to motivate students to study the sciences. Our ability to remain ahead of the curve in scientific advancements is a key component to ensuring America's homeland security in the post-9/11 world of global terrorism. Yet alarmingly, the bottom line is that America faces a huge shortage of homegrown, highly trained scientific minds. The Beyond the Aquarium Program will inspire children to take an interest in science.

I applaud the Senator from Oklahoma in his efforts to obtain additional funding for IDEA. There is no Senator who is more supportive of fully funding IDEA than myself. Over the years, I have worked with Senators Hagel, Dodd, Roberts, and Harkin to ensure that Congress provide the highest possible funding for part B of IDEA. Unfortunately, Congress has never come close to meeting the 40-percent commitment to fund the cost associated with this legislation, although progress has been made the last several years. I encourage the good Senator from Oklahoma to join me and others as a cosponsor of S. 1159, the IDEA Full Funding Act.

I am proud to stand up in support of this worthy project.

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