Harry Reid: “tonight the Senate adopted the fiscal year 2006 Labor-HHS-Education conference report by a voice vote. I would like to…”

“tonight the Senate adopted the fiscal year 2006 Labor-HHS-Education conference report by a voice vote. I would like to note for the Record that I do not support this legislation. This bill reflects the misguided priorities of the Republican Congress and will shortchange vital health care, education, and labor programs in order to cut taxes. At a time when the need for a well-educated, well-trained workforce is more critical than ever, Republican conferees provided education, health care, and job training programs $1.4 billion below last year's level. This bill cuts education funding for the first time in a decade. It cuts funding for No Child Left Behind Act programs, and the maximum Pell grant is frozen for the fourth year in a row, even as college costs are skyrocketing. And, for the first time 10 years, the Federal Government will slide backward on its commitment to students with disabilities because this bill cuts the Federal share of the costs of special education. At a time when most Americans cite health care as their top priority, Republican conferees provided health care programs $466 million below last year's level, including a $137 million in cuts to rural health programs and a $185 million cut to the Bureau of Health Professions. Cutting these programs will make it even harder to recruit qualified professionals in many parts of the country.…”