In mid-December, after much delay, Congress finally got down to the business of finishing up next year's budget. The budget also included a variety of funds targeted at those who live and work in the Milwaukee area. One of my goals of the 106th Congress was to improve the quality of education by reducing class size, improving teacher training, and starting the important work of renovating and modernizing schools. These funds will support the hiring of 8,000 new teachers, and an additional 432,000 children will enjoy the benefits of smaller classes. The rising cost of a college education has also been a source of concern for parents and students alike.
Biomedical research is also one of our national priorities.
Finding cures for diseases like Alzheimer's, AIDS, cancer, and Parkinson's, to name just a few, is incredibly important. Next year's budget also included a number of provisions which will benefit Southeast Wisconsin. These centers provide after-school programming for students and their families. As Congress begins the next legislative year, my priorities include adding a Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors, shoring up the Social Security program, passing a patients' bill of rights, continuing to pay down the national debt, and targeted tax cuts for working families. Democrats, Republicans, and the new President must work together to ensure that these necessary initiatives become law in a fiscally responsible manner.