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Tuesday, November 6, 2007

harkin announces congressional agreement for domestic priorities funding bill

Senate to take up House/Senate conference report this week

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee (LHHS), today unveiled the joint House and Senate conference report of the subcommittee’s bill. The $150 billion funding bill, which invests in essential, life-supporting and life-saving services for millions of people, enjoys strong support on both sides of the aisle and reflects American values and priorities. The bill now heads to both chambers for final approval before being sent to the president’s desk. President Bush has said that he will veto the bill regardless of Harkin’s compromise of taking out provisions expanding stem cell research.

“This bill was crafted with the help of both parties; it was approved overwhelmingly by both chambers; soon it will land on the President’s desk,” said Harkin. “President John Kennedy said that ‘to govern is to choose.’ It is now President Bush’s responsibility to choose to promote cancer research or slash it; to choose to give kids a real chance through Head Start or kick them off the rolls; to choose to make America a priority again or leave it fending for itself.”

Among other elements, the joint conference bill provides funds for the following American priorities:

  • $2.4 billion to strengthen aid for poor children and families through the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Community Service Block Grants (CSBG).
  • $1.1 billion increase to promote life-saving techniques through the National Institutes of Health.
  • $509 million increase to support students with disabilities through Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state grants.
  • $250 million increase to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP).
  • $225 million increase to improve health care access through grants to Community Health Centers.
  • $153 million increase to start children’s education early through the Head Start program.