Providing for Consideration of H. Con. Res 95, Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 95, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 -- (House of Representatives - March 16, 2005)
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida, for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the budget resolution. The rule allows for debate, along with three substitutes, two of which were offered by the minority. I think it is a good rule.
I commend the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Nussle) and members of the Committee on the Budget on a good product that addresses several of the concerns that I have had with President Bush's budget.
I am pleased that the budget provides for extension of tax cuts that have brought 20 months of job growth to our Nation's economy. I also agree with the increases for our national defense and homeland security to provide for our troops fighting the war on terror and to keep our communities safe.
One source of concern for me was the Community Development Block Grant program. It is crucial to city and rural areas across my district. The President's budget proposed reducing funds to the CDBG and 17 other economic development programs from $5.31 billion to $3.71 billion. I am pleased that the Committee on the Budget added an additional $1.1 billion to the President's request for the functional category encompassing these programs. This budget resolution makes no assumption on the President's proposed Communities Initiative.
Our veterans deserve the very best health care and services our Nation can offer them. Funding for veterans have increased by 47 percent over the past 4 years, and I am pleased that the committee added $297 million this year to the President's budget proposal for veterans, and I will continue to seek further and additional funding for our veterans and their health care.
I continue to have some concerns with the budget. I am a strong supporter of vocational education and TRIO programs. The President's budget proposal would combine these into a high school intervention initiative and reduce funding. TRIO programs are very successful. I actually worked in one in helping low income students with their transition to college.
Vocational ed programs offer many high school students the motivation to work hard in all of their classes and provide job skills who do not go on to college. I look forward to working with appropriators to ensure adequate funding levels for both TRIO and vocational ed.
Medicaid funds are very important also to all West Virginians, particularly low income West Virginians, and I urge my colleagues to avoid cuts to Medicaid as the reconciliation instructions found in this resolution are implemented.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that these priorities like veterans education, economic development and Medicaid are adequately funded as the process continues.
I support the rule and the resolution.
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