Thomas Daschle: “I would like to discuss an amendment that this body passed as part of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education…”

“I would like to discuss an amendment that this body passed as part of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. That amendment, S.1101, would have put into motion a strategy aimed at confronting fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the number one cause of mental retardation in this country. Even though S.1101 was a modest, non-controversial and wholly beneficial addition to the Labor/HHS bill, the House refused to accept it. There were no funding trade-offs involved, no unresolved policy concerns. Instead, the measure was killed because of 'jurisdictional issues.' To quote the conference report: 'This matter is one that is more appropriately considered by the authorizing committees; those committees have objected to the inclusion of the provision in the conference agreement.' Mr. President, those committees have had five years to consider this matter. That's how long there have been bills in both the House and Senate that would do exactly what the amendment aimed to do. While Congress considers this matter, tens of thousands of children are being denied the capacity to live a normal life. Tens of thousands of families are confronting overwhelming obstacles as their children drift in and out of hospitals, mental health institutions, detention centers, and substance abuse treatment.”