The Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Congressional Record 108th Congress First Session Friday, January 24, 2003

I am pleased that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for FY2003 which the Senate passed includes a number of important projects for the nation and Michigan.

However, on balance, I could not support the overall bill because it fails in a number of areas to provide adequately to meet the needs and priorities of the people of Michigan and the United States. At a time when working people and our states are facing a huge economic crisis, we should be helping them to make ends meet - not drastically cutting funding for important programs for veterans, children's health, education, unemployed workers, aid to our farmers and many other important programs to make room for tax cuts which the President has proposed mainly for the wealthiest of Americans. Approximately $21 billion of such funding was cut from the levels approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee just months ago.

I supported efforts to increase funding for education and homeland security, provide necessary drought aid to our farmers, extend unemployment benefits and clean up our environment. None of these amendments was adopted. I also supported amendments to address the needs for additional funds for Medicare providers and health programs which the Senate majority did not adopt.

This bill fails to adequately fund the key federal agencies at the front lines of protecting our homeland. For example, $282 million was cut from funds for the INS for the Entry-Exit system, which would track the arrival and departure of non U.S. citizens; $92 million was cut for FBI information technology enhancements; $8 million was cut from the Customs Service container security initiative; and $132 million was cut from FEMA first responders. The Senate defeated an amendment that would have provided $5 billion to address urgent homeland security priorities in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.

This bill falls far short with regard to funding for our children's education. I supported an amendment that would have provided educational opportunities for needy children, hired more teachers and provide more afterschool opportunities for children. This amendment was defeated.

And, $692 million is cut in the Veterans Administration which could mean hundreds of thousands of veterans going without medical services or remaining on waiting lists for care.

I am also disappointed that the Senate failed to include the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Amendment offered by Senator Daschle. Over the past two growing seasons, farmers in Michigan and throughout the nation have suffered considerable losses due to a variety of weather related disasters. In Michigan, specialty crop farmers have hit particularly hard by a variety of weather conditions in each of the past two years. The amendment offered by Senator Daschle would have provided assistance for all farmers who suffered losses in the 2001 and 2002 growing year. While the aid included in the bill assist some of Michigan's farmers somewhat, it contains no assistance for Michigan's specialty crop farmers.

The bill also reduced funding on the environment by more than a billion dollars. Our ability to reduce air and water pollution, clean up Superfund sites, preserve our public lands and protect our wildlife will be hindered.

While it is not likely, now that Republicans control both Houses of Congress that the House-Senate conference committee will address the deficiencies in funding for these important priorities, I hope that the bill can be improved so that I will be able to support the final funding measure.