Bruce F. Vento: “almost all of the money in this bill that is being expended is for good purposes. The problem is not with what is in the…”

“almost all of the money in this bill that is being expended is for good purposes. The problem is not with what is in the bill, it is what is not in the bill, what is out of it. I am glad we are able to do something on community service, put $100 million in, but we take $1 billion out of LIHEAP. I am glad we are able to provide some money for education, but when someone says the Federal Government is the program, is the sum and total program for higher education, that is it. The nonprofits and others are running out. But the real problem is that beneath the veneer of fighting for fiscal discipline and budget balance, the policy path evoked by this measure will build upon the distorted priorities of the 1996 Republican appropriation effort, in sum, adding to the human deficit in this Nation, a human deficit which is borne by those with less power, the children, the working poor, the students, and those who struggle to achieve the promise of America. The opportunity to get ahead. Investment in people is our best American investment. It pays the greatest dividends. Yet this measure in the Republican-led House has repeatedly broken faith with our children, our workers, and, in reality, our American future. I urge my colleagues to oppose this measure for that reason. As a teacher, as a science educator, I understand. In my district, 25 percent of the kids are Southeast Asians. They need the bilingual education.…”