Arlen Specter: “I am pleased to make the opening statement on the pending appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health…”

“I am pleased to make the opening statement on the pending appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health, Human Services and Education. The subcommittee, which the distinguished Senator from Iowa and I work on, has the responsibility for funding these three very important and major departments. We have come forward with a bill which has program level funding of $104.5 billion. While that seems like a lot of money--and is a lot of money--by the time you handle the priorities for the nation's health, by the time you handle the priorities for the nation's education--and the Federal Government is a relatively minor participant, 7 percent to 8 percent, but an important participant--and by the time you take care of the Department of Labor and very important items on worker safety, it is tough to find adequate funding. We have structured this bill in collaboration with requests from virtually all Members of the Senate who have had something to say about what the funding priorities should be based on their extensive experience across the 50 States of the United States. We have come forward on the Department of Education with a funding budget in excess of $40 billion, more than $4.6 billion more than last year, and some $100 million over the President's request. We have established the priorities which the Congress sees fit. We have increased the maximum Pell grants.…”