Christopher Shays: “I rise in support of H.R. 4577, despite my concerns about the funding of certain critical programs. I commend the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4577, despite my concerns about the funding of certain critical programs. I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) for his commitment and dedicated service to this body during his 11 years of service. The chairman has lead the bipartisan effort to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and so many other valuable, worthy, and important programs. He has been a champion of increasing biomedical research and has tirelessly worked to ensure that no child is left behind in our educational system. I am particularly concerned about the Older Americans Act and, specifically, the congregate meal program funded under the act. I was disappointed, but not surprised, to learn that the congregate meal program was once again flat funded, at the President's requested amount, marking the fourth consecutive fiscal year without an increase. Because the congregate meal program is unauthorized under H.R. 4577, given the failure of this body to reauthorize the Older American Act, I am unable to introduce an amendment to increase the earmark for the program included in the report language. Mr. Chairman, funding for the congregate meal program has not kept pace with inflation, increasing only $20 million over the past 10 years. In 1999 dollars, funding for the program has actually decreased by $93 million over 10 years.”