The Committee on Appropriations , which makes funding decisions on every discretionary program in the federal budget. As Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Dave has been a leader for funding key programs for the Department of Education, Health and Social Services, and Labor including medical research at NIH, student assistance programs, manpower programs, and a variety of childhood development and social services programs. Dave is the Democratic spokesman on appropriations issues, but has nonetheless established a good working relationship and strong personal friendship with his Republican counterparts on the Committee. Dave also has a good working relationship with the present Republican Chairman Bill Young. I have an obligation to fight and to fight hard for what I believe in and for the progressive principles that we are supposed to defend, Dave stated.
Life s too short to have it any other way.
As the top Ranking Democrat on the Committee, he is often the leading Democratic spokesman on a host of budget priority issues. He believes that American parents ought to be able to know that their children are being taught in smaller classrooms by well-trained teachers in safe, modern buildings that maximize a child s ability to learn. He also believes that every child willing to work should have a full opportunity to get a college education. Dave believes strongly that every American should be covered by affordable health insurance. He also believes that we should be greatly expanding our support for medical research to help people live longer and healthier lives.