Mike Levin: “the completely inadequate appropriations bill before the House speaks volumes about the Majority Party's priorities.…”

“the completely inadequate appropriations bill before the House speaks volumes about the Majority Party's priorities. Over the last three years, they've locked in tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the very richest families in America--those with incomes of over $1 million a year. As a result of this reckless tax policy, the federal deficit has ballooned to over $400 billion this year and these budget shortfalls are projected to continue as far as the eye can see. Another result of this tax policy is that we don't have the resources needed to fulfill the promises this Congress has made to the American people. The Republican budget passed earlier this year, which enabled the latest round of tax cuts, promised a $3 billion overall increase for education. The bill before us breaks that promise. Funding for special education in this bill is $1.2 billion short of what was promised in the budget resolution. Funding for Pell Grants to help families afford the rising cost of a college education falls $410 million short, and the maximum Pell Grant award is frozen. Title I funding promised in the budget to help school districts meet the new accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act falls $334 million short of what was promised. Funding for improving teacher quality and after-school programs is likewise significantly less than what was promised in No Child Left Behind.”