Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 23, 2007)

[Page: E1591]

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SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.
OF MICHIGAN
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3043) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

* Mr. CONYERS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3043, the Federal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. By passing this legislation today the House of Representatives is taking a significant step forward toward investing in our Nation's long-term future. This $152 billion investment marks a $10 billion increase over President Bush's 2008 request and a $7 billion increase over the Federal Year 2007 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. The increases in the appropriation's legislation before us today, will translate into more help for those in need of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, more affordable higher education, and health care for the uninsured.

* Home heating costs have skyrocketed over the last few years. Many people are finding themselves unable to keep up. We in Congress believe that no American should be forced to choose between whether to eat or heat your home. This is why we are increasing Low-Income Home Energy Assistance to $501 million in 2008, an increase that will ensure 1.3 million families are not left out in the cold this winter.

* We have also used this appropriation to demonstrate the Democratic Party's commitment to reining in the sharp rise in college costs that continue to be a barrier to so many students. By increasing the Pell Grant from $4,050 to $4,700, an increase which will benefit more than 5.5 million low- and middle-income students, we have taken another major step in the 110th Congress toward making higher education more accessible.

* Finally, it is a disgrace that there are 46.6 million Americans without health insurance; in this year's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill we have taken major steps to expand access to health care for the uninsured. For example, the bill provides a $200 million increase in funds allocated to community health center initiatives--enabling these centers to serve an additional 1 million uninsured Americans. Furthermore, the bill provides $75 million for a new initiative to state health access grants--providing start-up grants to states that are ready with plans to expand health care coverage to targeted groups. Finally, H.R. 304 also includes $50 million for an initiative to assist states in providing high-risk insurance pools to support affordable insurance for almost 200,000 people who are medically high-risk.

* This is finally a Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill with the right priorities, one that puts working Americans first.

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