David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, I guess this amendment is what I would put in the category of ``Thank You for Small Favors.'' What the…”

“Mr. Chairman, I guess this amendment is what I would put in the category of ``Thank You for Small Favors.'' What the subcommittee of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] originally did on this bill is to cut $5.9 billion out of programs such as Healthy Start, Chapter 1. Safe and drug-free schools were eliminated. Education for the homeless was cut in half. Tech prep was cut by $108 million. School-to-work was cut by $25 million. 100,000 State incentive grant scholarships were cut out for college kids. Public broadcasting was cut 10 percent the first year, $60 million the next year, and put on a 3-year route to oblivion. Summer jobs is totally eliminated in both 1995 and 1996. The new program to raise educational standards, Goals 2000, was cut by a large amount. The Eisenhower teacher training program was cut by a very large amount. All in total, $5.9 billion. In addition, the energy assistance program was ended under which 2 million seniors get help to pay their home heating bills. Even programs like Green Thumb were reduced. Veterans medical care was cut back by $200 million, something which the House has scurried now to reverse today. Now this amendment out of that $5.9 billion restores $200 million, about 4 percent of the mistake.”