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WASHINGTON - Congressman Charles Rangel proudly joined Democrats and Republicans on Thursday in passing the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, a budget plan that re-invests billions back to Americans in the areas of education, health care and medical research..
"For far too long, we have had to live under Republican budgets that failed to fully fund our nation's most important domestic needs," said Rangel. "This budget is a step forward in correcting that neglect and ensuring that our people are healthy enough and educated enough to be a force in our global economy."
The bill, approved by a vote of 276 -140, allocates 151.7 billion in discretionary spending in FY 2008. Locally, it will provide close to 3 million to local programs and institutes, including $2 million to funding City College's Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service. The Center, which will be funded primarily from individual, foundation and corporate donors at the level of $30 million, will house undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to prepare members of underrepresented populations for careers at the managerial and policymaking levels of government.
"I am honored that City College chose to have my name attached to what is an important project, not just for the residents of my Congressional district, but for New York City and this nation," said Rangel. "No matter how one feels about the role of government, it is clear that the future of our democracy lies in having the most talented people across all classes and racial groups to participate in public life.
"The public and private funds that will fuel the Rangel Center will help us get that goal," Rangel continued. "It will train the next generation of public servants by offering courses, internships and fellowships that provide both a practical and intellectual foundation to resolve this nation's biggest public policy issues. It will give mid-career professionals the opportunity to develop the skills they need to advance in their careers and give their best back to their communities. Government is more effective when we have a workforce that is reflective of the population and personally knowledgeable of the needs of every cross-section of society."
MORE AID FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE
The bill makes college more affordable by increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $390, which is on top of an increase of $260 the Democratic-led Congress enacted in February. It also helps raise the achievement levels of America’s students by providing $2 billion over 2007, $1 billion more than the President’s request for No Child Left Behind programs.
In the area of health care, the bill invests in initiatives that will provide new access to health care for more than 2 million uninsured Americans, including $200 million more community health centers, $75 million for a new initiative of state health access grants and $50 million for an initiative to assist states in providing high-risk insurance pools to support affordable insurance for almost 200,000 people who are medically high-risk. It also invests in life-saving medical research by reversing GOP disinvestment and providing an increase for NIH of $750 million over 2007 -- $1 billion over the President’s request.
While the legislation offers increased funding for key priorities, the legislation’s overall price tag after adjusting for inflation and population is $2.9 billion below similar legislation passed by the Republican Congress and signed into law by President Bush in 2004.
“Fiscal responsibility does not have to come at the expense of sound public policy," said Rangel. "Democrats are keeping our promise to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars and invest in America's priorities."
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