Lynn C. Woolsey: “this HHS bill is worse than I ever thought possible. This bill will go down in history because it marks the beginning of…”

“this HHS bill is worse than I ever thought possible. This bill will go down in history because it marks the beginning of the end of the Federal Government's role in education and training. It is sweeping and radical legislation which guts our education system, weakens workplace safety and makes a mockery of our efforts to get families off welfare. It makes college education almost impossible for not only the very poor, but also for the working poor and for middle-income families. This bill ignores the Government's responsibility to educate our kids. It makes it impossible for mothers to get off welfare and into jobs. It forces education and training to take a back seat to tax breaks for fat cats and special interests. Mr. Speaker, with this bill, the new majority has declared war on our children and war on our workers. It must be defeated. I have heard from workers across the country about the new majority's effort to weaken workplace health and safety rules. Over and over again, spouses, parents, and children tell me that they are willing to see some of their taxes go toward enforcing health and safety rules so that they can be assured that their loved ones will come home from their jobs in the mines and other dangerous jobs, so they come home at night safe and sound. The majority, however, do not see it that way.”