Political Quotes

“today I rise to speak to an amendment to the VA-HUD, and Independent Agencies appropriations bill which increases the bill's funding for AmeriCorps up to the funding level requested by President Bush in this year's budget. The bill currently includes $340 million in a combined account for AmeriCorps grants, national and state grants, and education awards. My amendment would add $93 million to increase the total to $433 million, the President's budget request. The amendment is paid for by the necessary across-the-board reduction in the bill as a whole. As a part of the USA Freedom Corps initiative, President Bush is committed to providing resources for 75,000 AmeriCorps participants this coming year. Earlier this year, in July, the Senate supported an increase of $100 million in Fiscal Year 2003 funding. Unfortunately, the funding was not ultimately included in the supplemental spending bill to the detriment of many committed community service programs around the country and in Pennsylvania.”