Political Quotes

“I rise against the Coburn amendment. I rise against this amendment because any cut in domestic programs is wrong--including the proposed 2 percent cut for Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Indian Health Facilities, Indian Health Services, and Veterans' Medical Care. The priorities of this amendment are misplaced. This amendment that seeks to take an across-the-board swipe against the challenges that working families and/or the struggling poor face in consequential areas such as job training, education, health care and affordable housing is morally wrong. Our nation is a nation divided when it comes to healthcare. There are those with access and those without. And as you know, the poor are less likely to have access to care. African Americans, Latinos and other minority groups are less likely to have access to care. That is why I believe that community and migrant health centers are so vital. Until we can have a national health care plan, health centers provide the gap for those that do not have access to coverage. Mr. Chairman, non-defense discretionary spending for FY2000 is approximately $40 billion less than provided for in 1999. Given the human needs in my district where the median income is $25,250, I cannot support another cut.”