Date: 2007-11-15
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Madam Speaker. I again urge my colSpeaker. I support this effort to override the leagues to join me in supporting this veto Presidents veto of the fiscal year 2008 appro- override. priations bill funding the Departments of Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker. I Labor. HHS. and Education. rise today in support of this veto override. After years of too little attention to our im- The conference report includes funding for portant domestic programs. this legislation many important programs and I am dismakes important investments in our health appointed that the President has vetoed it. I care and education programs. Several years recognize that. the conferees had a chalof flat funding and small increases have re- lenging task in shaping the report because of suited in funding reductions for the health. budget constraints. but Congress did a good education and labor programs that Americans job balancing critical health. education and rely on every day. labor needs with the tight budget. I am pleased that the bill provides the Na- This conference report provides much needtional Institutes of Health with a 4percent in- ed funding for health. education and labor procrease over current. funding levels. The $30 grams for the nation and for Colorado. For exbillion in this legislation will help expand our ample. included in the overall increase for the nations commitment to lifesaving medical re- Department of Health and Human Services is search. much of -which is performed in -my an increase in funding for essential research back yard at the Baylor College of Medicine. at the National Institute of Health (NIH) to inthe MD Anderson Cancer Center and many creasing health care access in rural areas. as other impressive research facilities located in well as additional funding for the Center for the Texas Medical Center. Disease Control (CDC). It also includes critical I also support the legislations $225 million funding increases for several important eduincrease for the Health Centers program. I cation programs. including No Child Left Beknow the administration supports this program. hind. Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). but by vetoing this bill. the.President puts in and Pell Grants. I am also pleased the labor jeopardy our goal to expand the program to a provisions of this report reflect a new direction level that will provide 30 million Americans and commitment to expanding job training and with a health care home. enhancing the safety of workers. by increasing H.R. 3043 also provides $200.000 in fund- funding for a number of employment. eduing for Gateway to Care. for the Community cation. and protection programs for the AmerHealth Center Technology Improvement Pro- ican workforce. gram. Gateway to Care is the community I am encouraged that the report includes an health care access collaborative in Harris increase in funding.for the LowIncome Home County. Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Gateway to Care will "utilize this funding to LIHEAP is a critical program that helps many help coordinate the deployment of health infor- Colorado families. who are struggling to get mation technology among the countys health by. avoid having to make choices between .care clinics. This funding will allow Gateway to paying their heating bill and putting food on Care to offer technical support to the devel- the table. The conference report will increase oping health centers in Harris Co. during the funding for this program by $250 million over implementation of a common Management In- the fiscal year 2007 budget. formation System. There are also critical Coloradospecific Additionally. this funding will allow Gateway funds in the report. The report contains fundto Care staff to lead workforce development ing for Childrens Hospital of Denver to help and training activities at health centers to uti- build the North Campus Ambulatory Surgery lize technology to improve the business man- Center. which will broaden access to pediatric agement and health care delivery in area care in the north Denver metro area. This new health centers. development will also add more convenient alIn this bill. the appropriators also generously temative to patients. families. pediatricians. dedicated $415.000 in equipment funding for and physicians while also decreasing the burthe Harris County Hospital Districts Diabetes den on other health centers in the Denver Program.. metro area. This project would help the Harris County It also contains funding for Avista Hospital. Hospital District procure the necessary equip- a leader in the Electronic Medical Record field. ment to establish a Diabetes Program. which to help Avista continue to implement a cutting will provide comprehensive diabetes care in edge system. an appropriate setting for a multiethnic. indi- The funding for programs included in this regent population. port is a cause for celebration. not a veto. The The interdisciplinary program will include an Presidents budget request underfunded many outpatient referral center. diabetes specialists. of these critical programs and I am pleased educators. nurses. nutritionists. social workers. that Congress has crafted a much better apcase managers and specialist services related propriations plan. While I am disappointed in to the screening and treatment of diabetes the Presidents veto of the conference report. complications. I am encouraged that we are attempting to Houston is the only large city in the U.S. override that veto today. This report is good without a single comprehensive diabetes pro- for Colorado. good for the country and I engram. which is why this funding is so impor- courage my colleagues to support it. tant to our community. The establishment the Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker. today diabetes program at the Harris County Hos- Republicans in Congress ignored the will of pital District would improve health out6omes the American people and rubberstamped the for its 40.000 patients with diabetes. Presidents veto of important funding for our I want to thank the Appropriations Com- domestic priorities. After 7 years of unremittee for al) of their hard work on this bill. strained spending and a ballooning deficit. the This piece of legislation provides critical and President and his Republican allies in Connecessary funding for programs that all of our gress have. under the guise of fiscal responsidistricts need. bility. rejected a $6.2 billion funding increase for education. health care. and workforce development. even as the President requests nearly $200 billion in unbudgeted. no strings attached funding to continue the Iraq War for another year. That is no way to balance Americas checkbook. Under the budget passed by the New Democratic Congress. we can take care of :America at home--increase funding for our schools. offer more student assistance for college. invest in biomedical research at NIH. expand health care access. and help Americans corhpete in the global economyand balance the budget by 2012. These priorities are Americas priorities. and Democrats in Congress will continue to fight for them. I yield back the balance of my time.