Shea-Porter Responds to President's Veto of Funding for Labor, Health, and Education

Press Release

Shea-Porter Responds to President's Veto of Funding for Labor, Health, and Education

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) today issued the following statement in response to President Bush's veto of the appropriations bill providing funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education:

"I'm disappointed that the President is withholding funding from critical programs that impact the lives of real people," said Congresswoman Shea-Porter, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. "The President isn't willing to spend $9.8 billion on important programs like health care, education, job training, and home heating assistance, but he's asking for another $196 billion to continue his war in Iraq. It's not fiscally responsible, and it's not fair to make working people pay the costs and then to hold hostage the programs and dollars that their families need."

One of the issues in the debate between the White House and Congress is the funding level for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The President's budget request would cut LIHEAP by $379 million, meaning that New Hampshire families would receive even less assistance than last year to help offset the rising costs of home heating oil. In contrast, the bill passed by the Democratic-led Congress increased funding for the program, raising the investment in LIHEAP by $250 million over last year's budget.

Congresswoman Shea-Porter has strongly advocated for an increase in funding for LIHEAP - voting for a $500 million increase in the program and calling on House leaders to make the funding a priority.

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