Nita Lowey: “Thank you to Chairman Obey, Ranking Member Walsh, and their staff for their hard work in crafting this bill. At the…”

“Thank you to Chairman Obey, Ranking Member Walsh, and their staff for their hard work in crafting this bill. At the start of the year, Chairman Obey asked us to consider not only the challenges of today, but those of the year ahead, and I believe the bill does just that. The bill addresses the appalling reality that 46 million people in this country lack health insurance by providing a $200 million increase for community health centers, $75 million for grants for States to develop plans to cover their uninsured, $75 million for States to create insurance pools for high-risk individuals. Furthermore, recognizing that one of the best ways to keep women healthy is to provide them with access to high-quality family planning services and other preventative health care, the bill provides a $27 million increase to the Title X family program for low-income women. The bill acknowledges that millions of students are shut out of college for financial reasons or lack of preparation in the early years and increases the maximum Pell Grant award by $200, restores proposed cuts to supplemental education grants, and increases both GEAR UP and TRIO. The bill provides desperately needed relief to after-school programs by increasing 21st Century Community Learning Centers by $125 million.”