Congressional Candidate Kathy Dahlkemper Expresses Dismay at English Vote

Press Release

Earlier this week, Congressman Phil English failed to support the Labor H Bill which provides the largest increase for veterans in our history, rejects the Presidential cuts to needed resources for health care, education, job training, and home heating assistance, and makes critical investments in our future. Kathy Dahlkemper (D), Candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, released the following statement on Saturday, November 10, 2007calling on Congressman Phil English to support hardworking Pennsylvania families over President Bush's failed agenda: "How Congressman English can continually support President Bush's war in Iraq, yet walk away from supporting the men and women who fought in that war is unconscionable. Congressman English is turning his back on veterans on the eve of Veteran's Day which is certainly no way to give thanks. I believe our veterans deserve nothing short of the very best care and as Congresswoman I will always work diligently for what is in their best interest."

These two bills -- Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and Labor-Health-Education - were passed with strong bipartisan majorities, comply with a five-year balanced budget plan, and do the following.

Veterans :

* Providing the largest increase for Veterans' health care in history to strengthen quality care for 5.8 million patients -- $3.7 billion more than the President - in the 5th year of the war in Iraq;
* Reducing the backlog of Veterans (400,000 claims) waiting for their earned benefits by adding 1,800 claims processors;
* Investing in much-needed maintenance for VA health care facilities and treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury for returning Veterans.

Health Care and Education:

* Ensuring health care for 1.2 million more Americans through community health centers;
* Issuing nearly 1,400 more life-saving medical research grants than the President Bush, to potentially find cures for cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimers' and Parkinsons' disease, with new investments in NIH;

* Strengthening quality education for our children by training 51,000 more teachers;
* Giving extra math and reading help for 117,000 more children than President Bush funded;
* Increasing the maximum Pell Grant for college to $4,925--$875 more than President Bush; and
* Strengthening jobs skills and employment of 173,000 more adults, youth, and dislocated workers.

Referring to English's failure to support the Health & Education component of the bill, Dahlkemper added, "If not our children then who? Our children are our future and these issues go to the heart of this nation's future. I am very disappointed that Congressman English did not support this portion of the bill."

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