Ralph Regula

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Reclaiming my time, the Job Corps provides a comprehensive and intensive array of training, career development, job placement, and support services to disadvantaged young people between the ages of 16 and 24. Many people enrolled in the Job Corps Center never completed their high school education and have other barriers. For fiscal year 2006, this bill provides over $1.5 billion for these programs and this is an increase. And we likewise protect the safety of workers. Mr. Chairman, in order to implement more than 400 provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act and ensure that senior citizens receive the prescription drug benefits that we provide in MMA, we have allocated more than $1 billion over the fiscal year 2005 level to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration. While benefits that both of these agencies provide come through mandatory spending by way of the Committee on Ways and Means, this bill provides the funding for the agencies' administrative costs. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pay about one-third of national health care expenditures and pay for more than one-half of all senior health care costs. Let me repeat that. Medicare and Medicaid pay for more than one-half of all senior health care costs. More than 85 million Americans rely on these programs for health care coverage. Last year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services processed over 1 billion claims, answered over 52 million inquiries and reviewed nearly 8 million appeals. SSA, Social Security Administration, will also play a vital role in the implementation of the Medicaid Modernization Act, as they will identify low-income beneficiaries who might be eligible for drug benefit subsidies, make low-income subsidy determinations, withhold premiums appropriate to beneficiaries' selected plans, and calculate Part B premiums for high-income beneficiaries. The increases provided to CMS and SSA will enable them to implement and improve delivery of benefits and expedite the processing of disability claims, and that is very important. This bill meets our financial commitment for effective administration of these programs and ensures efficient services to recipients. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, much more could be said about this bill which touches every American at some point in life. We are mindful of the fiscal limitations on our bill and we have tried to use the allocation to fund our highest priorities. This bill does its part, its best, to meet the American people's needs. I want to say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and also on our side, it was a great subcommittee. Both Republican and Democrat members worked very well together, and we may have some disagreements on the amounts of money, but I think within the confines of what was available, we pretty much are in agreement with the assignment of priorities that were made. All the members participated very effectively. It is a responsible, fair, and balanced bill and I ask my colleagues to support it. Mr. Chairman, the following is a detailed table of the bill: [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.008 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.010 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.011 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.012 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.013 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.014 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.015 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.016 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.017 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.018 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.019 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.020 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.021 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.022 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH23JN05.023 Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA. Madam Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), a very fine member of our subcommittee.

Mr. REGULA. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of entering into a colloquy, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the committee acknowledges the good work that is done by the National Youth Sports Program, but was unfortunately unable to fund this program due to funding constraints.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the committee will do its best in the conference if additional funding is available to preserve the National Youth Sports Program. (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks at this point.)

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that debate on this amendment and any amendments thereto be limited to 30 minutes to be equally divided and controlled by the proponent and myself as the opponent.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment. I want to point out a number of reasons, not that I dislike public broadcasting or public television; I think they do great programming. My grandchildren love Elmo and Big Bird, and Between the Lions. I like a number of the programs. But keep in mind, that this was created at a time, what, some 30-plus years ago when we did not have the huge variety of programming that is available today. And keep in mind, of course, that we have limited amounts of money. I know that there has been a lot of conversation out across the country and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is involved here, and National Public Radio, they have the microphones available to reach people who are calling us. But I am not sure that those who call realize what would be eliminated if we were to adopt this amendment. Just let me enumerate those. What this amendment does to make up the 100 million for CPB is takes $58 million out of the Department of Labor. For what purpose? Employment and training and administration, training and employment services. Takes away from young people's training opportunities. That is extremely important in today's world, where we have 32 percent of our high school graduates, not graduates, 32 percent of our high school students that do not graduate. That is a national statistic. And we offer programs here, GEDs, training, all kinds of things to give them a chance later on as they realize their mistake in not finishing high school. But this would take away, this amendment would take away from the Department of Labor employment and training administration services, $58 million. So that means some young man and some young woman across this Nation who suddenly realize how important it is to their future and to their country and to their community and to their family that they get additional training would not have that opportunity so that we can have public broadcasting. Now, I point out that only 15 percent of the money that provides for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting comes from the Federal Government. And it has been pointed out that this would eliminate a number of these programs. But I would point out that Elmo and Big Bird and the Lions all make a lot of money, as was brought to our attention earlier today. And they have opportunities to raise a lot of funds. All of us have seen the fund-raising. But we do not see fund- raising out there to give young people a new opportunity to be retrained so that they can be employed. So let us not take that away. Another item that this would take away: the Department of Labor salaries and expenses. We need people at the Department of Labor to manage the programs, to ensure that workers' safety is taken care of, to ensure that workers' rights are protected. We are not going to have a fund-raising program to do that, as can be the case with public broadcasting. Third item. Takes away from the Department of Health and Human Services, health resources and services administration, health resources and services, $2.9 million. Well, what is important to the people in this Nation is health: health research, health management; NIH. Keep in mind that the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control are both part of the Department of Health and Human Services. We do not do fund- raising for them. But we are going to take the money away, or propose to take it away, for the public broadcasting where they have lots of opportunity to raise money in the private sector. Fourth item that is taken away by this amendment, that would be reduced, is the Department of Education, higher education. $27 million would be taken out of the Department of Education to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We have heard a lot of discussion today how important it is to have higher education, Pell grants, not enough. We have heard other items are not enough; and yet here we are proposing, in an amendment, to take away $27 million that is vital to the future of young people in higher education programs. Lastly, Department of Education, program administration, $8 million- plus. Someone has commented today that we originally wanted to get rid of the Department of Education. But we are not. We have a great number of programs here in the Department of Education to improve teacher quality, principals, to improve opportunity for young people, to provide, through the TRIO and through the other programs of that type, an opportunity to provide for the historically black colleges. All of this money has to be administered. And this would take away the money to do part of that. So I want to say to all of my colleagues, I realize all that you have been getting in the way of phone calls; but I dare say that if you said to those that call you, well, if we do what you are requesting me to do, would you be willing to eliminate the Department of Labor training services; the Department of Labor management; department of Health and Human Services resources; Department of Education higher education, and so on, I suspect that, if they were given the choice, that they would say, oh, wait a minute, these are important to us. They are important to my family. They are important to my community. They are important to the young people who are my neighbors and friends. And given the fact that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has the ability to raise a lot of money, has the ability to fund the development of programs like Elmo and Big Bird. Go into a store, you will see a lot of these things on sale. I know that they produce a lot of profit for those that sell them. So let me say to my colleagues today, when you cast this vote, keep in mind that you are trading off to give CPB more money, that they are very successful in raising money in the private sector; you are trading off against that all of these educational opportunities that will be limited to the tune of $100 million total. Members should weigh which is more beneficial to the constituents we represent. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) makes it very clear. We are trying to eliminate some potential amendments with colloquies, and I hope that some of the Members will consider withdrawing their amendments. We are making a real effort to try to finish it today; and with cooperation of all the Members, I think this can be accomplished. As the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) points out, I do not think the bill will be changed much in the final analysis by whatever amount of discussion we have. Amendment Offered by Mr. Fossella

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, let me say, reiterate, I am a fan of public broadcasting and public radio; and, of course, my family members like Elmo and Big Bird and Between the Lions. I do not have a closed mind on this subject. I am sure it will come up in conference in making agreement with the other body; but let me say to my colleagues, right now you are choosing between public television, and we provided $300 million in the bill, keep in mind there. We are not taking it all away. There is $300 million there. This is only 25 percent of this that we are talking about. On the other side of the scales, you are going to hurt employment and training for young people. You are going to hurt the Department of Labor. You are going to hurt the Department of Health and Human Services that provides the Centers for Disease Control, that provides the National Institutes of Health on health research. You are going to hurt the Department of Education and their higher education programs and their departmental management. I think when we put it on the scale, on one side is public television, we are giving them $300 million in this bill. They have the capacity to raise a lot of money in the public sector. On the other side of the scale are young people that need an opportunity for job retraining, that need an opportunity to participate in the American Dream. Those Departments have no ability to go out and raise money as does the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. It is not the last word on this subject, but understand the trade-offs that I think are very damaging to young people and their opportunities in terms of higher education and job retraining.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3010 and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole of H.R. 3010 pursuant to House Resolution 337, notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no further amendment to the bill, as amended, may be offered except pro forma amendments offered at any point in the reading by the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees for the purpose of debate, the additional amendments specified in this order, and amendments en bloc specified in this order; it shall be in order at any time for the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations or a designee, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations, to offer amendments en bloc as follows: Amendments en bloc shall consist of amendments that may be offered under this order, or germane modifications of any such amendment; such amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, except that modifications shall be reported, shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole; all points of order against such amendments en bloc are waived; the original proponent of an amendment included in such amendments en bloc may insert a statement in the Congressional Record immediately before the disposition of the amendments en bloc. The additional amendments specified in this order are as follows: amendments printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 24; an amendment by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) regarding coverage of certain drugs; an amendment by the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) regarding enforcement of certain compliance agreements; an amendment by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) regarding grants under the Public Health Service Act; an amendment by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) regarding designations of critical access hospitals; an amendment by the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) regarding certain appointments to Federal advisory committees; an amendment by the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) regarding United Airline pension plans; an amendment by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) regarding the content or distribution of public telecommunications programs and services under the Communications Act of 1934; an amendment by the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) regarding military recruiters; an amendment by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) regarding funding levels and income tax rates; an amendment by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) regarding special allowances under the Higher Education Act; an amendment by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) regarding interoperable information technology; an amendment by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) regarding funding for the Medicaid Commission; amendments by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) regarding veterans programs of the Department of Labor, LIHEAP, section 503 of H.R. 3010, or a limitation on the use of certain education funds; and an amendment by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) regarding funding for certain education programs. Each additional amendment may be offered only by the Member named in this request or a designee, or by the Member who caused it to be printed in the Record or a designee, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except that the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies each may offer one pro forma amendment for the purpose of debate; and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole; and an amendment shall be considered to fit the description stated in this request if it addresses in whole or in part the object described.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentlewoman has done a great job of describing the bill as part of the rule debate. The bill covers many items of great importance to people. The bill is a balanced bill. It is a recognition, of course, that we have limited resources. But within the framework of what was available and what was given to us by way of an allocation, I think we have done an excellent job, as was described by the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), in making priority choices. I was interested this morning when I read the Post that David Broder in his column says, ``As for the value of education, when asked to identify from a list of five options the single greatest source of U.S. success in the world, the public education system edged out our democratic system of government for first place, with our entrepreneurial culture, military strength and advantages of geography and natural resources far behind.'' Number one in public opinion was education. We will talk about this in the general debate, and the gentlewoman likewise pointed this out, that this bill emphasizes education and some new areas, putting emphasis on teachers and principals, because the people are what make a school system a success. Also in Roll Call today, an article by Morton Kondracke, the editor, the caption is: ``Avian Flu Could Become Top '08 Issue. Seriously.'' He goes on to point out in here how the Senate leader, a physician, made a speech and declared infectious disease and bioterrorism are ``the single greatest threat to our safety and security today.'' He went on to say fighting them will be the overriding purpose of his political future. That, again, we address in this bill. I just want to point out that the bill does as much as possible within the constraints of limiting spending, addressing two major issues that are both in the news today, education and the threat of bioterrorism. We will discuss that more in the general debate on the bill.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, just the facts: in 1996 the maximum Pell grant was $2,470. In this bill it is $4,100, almost a doubling in the past 10 years. One other fact: in 1997 the total funding for this bill was $75 billion. Today in this bill it is $142.5 billion, almost double. So, I think it is important for people to realize that we have in the majority party's tenure of the last 10 years almost doubled the total.