Louise Slaughter: “appropriation bills are the truest expression of Congress' priorities. All year long we may claim to support…”

“appropriation bills are the truest expression of Congress' priorities. All year long we may claim to support after-school programs and child care assistance or provide expanded job-search assistance to the 1.2 million unemployed Americans. All year long we may have expressed opposition to the new Labor Department overtime rules. Today is the day we match the deeds to words. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, H.R. 5006, the fiscal year 2005 Appropriations Act for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, shortchanges a wide range of programs important to the people we serve. Now, why are these programs being shortchanged? To meet our homeland security or our defense needs? To pay down our historic $422 billion deficit? No. Programs are being shortchanged to pay for tax cuts that the Congressional Budget Office found go disproportionately to the wealthiest Americans. Schools are shortchanged under H.R. 5006. And those who supported the No Child Left Behind Act should have a problem with the fact that this measure shortchanges our schools to the tune of $9.5 billion. The promises made when No Child Left Behind was signed into law over 22 years ago may be a faint memory to those who supported the bill, but let me assure you that school superintendents, principals, teachers, and parents have not forgotten.”