Arlen Specter: “This bill does not contain excessive funding. What we are looking at is a bill which has a cost-of-living adjustment to…”

“This bill does not contain excessive funding. What we are looking at is a bill which has a cost-of-living adjustment to what the figure was last year. The President has come in with a figure which is $3 billion less than last year. When you add the cost of living adjustment, and some very modest increases in very important programs, this is a modest bill. The National Institutes of Health, which have been increased under the stewardship of Senator Harkin and myself, has been increased from 12, now to $30 billion. Last year it was $29 billion. The extra billion dollars does not even keep up with inflation costs. We have mine safety, which is a major item. It was pared back as much as can be done consistent with the mine accidents most recently in Utah. Community health centers are still underfunded. Community health services, as has been noted by the President, are very important programs. GEAR UP, a program to deal with at-risk youth, very modestly financed. Very important to my State, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia, which had 406 homicides last year and a real effort to add mentoring to try to take at-risk youth and try to deal with this issue.”