Tom Harkin: “I am pleased that the Labor-HHS bill has reached the floor relatively early this year. In the past few years, we have…”

“I am pleased that the Labor-HHS bill has reached the floor relatively early this year. In the past few years, we have been sort of on the caboose end of the train. It is an extremely important bill. It addresses many issues that are vital to the strength of our Nation--our health, education, job training, the administration of Social Security and Medicare, biomedical research, and child care, just to name a few. Given its importance, I think it should be one of the first appropriations bills considered. But this is certainly the earliest this bill has gotten to the floor in many years. I am thankful for that. At the outset, I thank my chairman, Senator Specter, and his great staff for their hard work in putting together this bill. As usual, Senator Specter has done so in a professional and bipartisan fashion. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his patience. This is always one of the most difficult bills to put together. This year the job has been especially difficult. I also thank the chairman of the full committee, Senator Stevens, and the ranking member, Senator Byrd, for their support this year. Their help has been invaluable. Before I say a few words about the contents of the bill, I think it is important to briefly discuss this year's budget resolution because we operate within its framework.”