Sam Gibbons: “today is the very first day of the new fiscal year, and yet the government's budget is not in order. The Senate has not…”

“today is the very first day of the new fiscal year, and yet the government's budget is not in order. The Senate has not even passed a budget, while the House, we continue to fight all appropriation bills, to keep all appropriation bills in line with the President's responsible budget request. All the while political rhetoric continues to fly in the face of the real facts. Most recently I heard the troubling rumor that somehow we are trying to cut the education budget. Nothing, Mr. Speaker, could be further from the truth. In fact, under Republican leadership in the House, Federal funding for education has more than doubled over the past 6 years. Since 1998, the overall education budget will have increased by nearly 70 percent. The President's budget for the Department of Education for fiscal year 2003 is $1.8 billion more than last year. Mr. Speaker, these are the facts. In spite of the twin challenges of war and economic recovery, House Republicans remain committed and dedicated to funding our priorities. It is time others joined in our efforts in this regard.”