Ralph Regula

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriations bill; and, therefore, violates clause 2 of rule XXI. In addition, the amendment is a tax or tariff measure and is in violation of clause 5(a) of rule XXI. Clause 2 of rule XXI states in pertinent part, ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if it changes existing law.'' The amendment amends existing law. Clause 5(a) of rule XXI states in part, ``A bill or joint resolution carrying a tax or tariff measure may not be reported by a committee not having jurisdiction to report tax or tariff measures, and an amendment in the House or proposed by the Senate carrying a tax or tariff measure shall not be in order during the consideration of a bill or joint resolution reported by a committee not having that jurisdiction.'' The amendment is clearly legislation as well as a tax or tariff provision, and is, therefore, in violation of the House rules. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the motion. I just want to say to all Members, we are getting close to finishing up here. I would urge all the Members to vote ``no'' on all of the amendments, and I would urge the Members to vote for the bill. It is fair. It is balanced. It meets the needs of the 280 million people of this Nation, and I think it is a very positive step. It is reasonable in terms of cost, and I would hope we have a strong ``yes'' vote in support of the bill and a strong ``no'' vote on all the amendments.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn). (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, we concede the point of order, and we will work together to solve this problem.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) that she made two statements I agree with. She said this is a good bill, perhaps not as much as they would like, but it is good given the constraints we have; and, secondly, education is a high priority. We agree it is a high priority, so much so in the last 8 years we have doubled the money that went to education, and we have tripled the money for the special needs children. Members need to keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind we are not debating a tax bill. That is behind us. That was a Committee on Ways and Means issue. We are debating a bill within the budget constraints given to us, an allocation which is about $138 billion. We have tried, and I want to say that the minority members as well as the majority members had input in trying to allocate the priorities and the resources in the best possible way. Now, we have heard about the letter from the administration, and I understand that because the administration has priorities that are somewhat different than the Members of this House. But if I read the Constitution correctly, the House of Representatives has the responsibility for setting policy, not executing it, but setting it. So if there is some difference, it is because we reflect 435 Members' priorities and 280 million people. This literally is the people's House. As such, in this bill we have tried to reflect the things that are important to the people of this Nation given the constraints. I want to say for the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the gentleman worked diligently to get some additional funding so we could meet the needs of the people of this Nation. I think we should not lose sight of that. This is a good bill. I hope all Members between now and tomorrow will familiarize themselves with what is in this bill. A ``no'' vote will be a vote for $1 billion less for special needs children. A ``no'' vote will be a vote against $680 million give or take for education. A ``no'' vote will be a reduction in impact aid, and on and on. It will be a reduction in an amount for NIH. Let me point out that it was this Republican majority that doubled the NIH budget over a period of 5 years. They have the highest number of projects, research projects, ever in history, something like 34,000 grants that have been made to do research on the medical health of this Nation. Let us remember that a lot of good things were done. This bill does have hope, and it has compassion; and that is our responsibility, to give the people of America hope that there will be better things ahead, and it does, and that we have compassion. I do not want to debate totally the bill tonight, we will have plenty of time for that tomorrow, but I just point out that our colleagues both on the majority and the minority side will familiarize themselves with what this bill does. We tried to be fair and I think the minority members of the subcommittee will agree that every opportunity was made to have witnesses and hear testimony from all aspects of America. If Members could sit in the hearing room and see the row of wheelchairs and needs of kids, we have tried to address that. We probably had more hearings than any other subcommittee because we are trying to represent the problems that challenge 280 million Americans, whether it is health care, whether it is people who have lost their job and want an opportunity to get some new skills, or whether it is the education needs of our young people. I think we have reflected that. It is the people's bill. Mr. Speaker, I would point out again that we have doubled education in the last 8 years. We have tripled the money that goes to special needs. We have increased the commitment to math and science. We have heard a lot about that, that we need more math and science teachers; and we have addressed that in the bill. We have addressed the fact that we need more highly skilled teachers in the classroom. We all can see that classroom teachers can make a world of difference. We have recognized that in the bill that is before Members. I would point out that in terms of NIH, we have recognized their needs. Actually, a lot of construction is taking place out there, so we have focused resources, given a 6 percent increase in program funding, which is an important element to ensure that the requests that come to NIH for research can be met. That is why we have the greatest number of research projects going on right now in the history of NIH. That is a tribute to the Republican leadership in doubling the budget of NIH. The Centers for Disease Control, we put substantial increases there because that agency has a special responsibility in terms of homeland security; and they are addressing it, and they recognize that infectious diseases are a real threat to this Nation. A former Senator said at a breakfast I was at that the greatest threat is bioterrorism, and we have tried to recognize that by giving CDC a substantial increase in funding. CDC is the watchdog in the sense that they are always looking out to keep these things away from America's shores and to give help to others. One of the things that we are trying to do with this bill is to streamline the health care delivery system. We have said let us make it seamless, every way from CDC to the local State health agencies to the local agencies so if there is a problem in a community, there is an immediate response all the way to CDC. Again, we are putting a protection in place for the health of American citizens. As far as job training, in this bill we increase the amount that goes to the Department of Labor to help the communities across the Nation have job training programs so they will be able to help those that are displaced because of imports, because of a shifting consumer market in products, again a recognition of the needs of people. This really is a people's bill. This really is a fair balance. I do not think that it is partisan. I think in constructing this we took the $138 billion that were available and said what can we do in the fairest possible way to meet the needs of education, health research and to meet the needs of those who need job retraining. I hope Members in the minority will look at what is in this bill and realize how valuable it is to the American people, and they will think twice before they vote against all of these programs that are very important to the people of this Nation.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

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

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky. I would like to address the issue of how our national emergency preparedness and response plan addresses older Americans, the disabled, and others with special needs. Our experience with the horrible attacks of September 11, 2001, exposed gaps in our response plan as many elderly and disabled people living near the World Trade Center were trapped for days before receiving assistance. Successive evaluations have identified particular problems, including lack of coordination in city-wide community services, lack of a system to identify and locate older and disabled people, and lack of access to necessary public information both before and after an emergency. I believe this issue is of great importance in the event of a future terrorist attack and I look forward to working with the gentleman in addressing this great need.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Connie Veillette for her 20 years of dedicated public service in my Washington, D.C. office and to the people of Ohio's 16th Congressional district. Connie began her career in my office just after completion of her college degree from Ohio University in 1982. Over the next 20 years, she became a vital member of my office staff, handling policy issues as diverse as foreign affairs and transportation. Connie also served as a key staff person handling Appropriations Subcommittee work in my office. Over the past 10 years, Connie has served as my Chief of Staff. In this role she managed the Washington office and oversaw the District offices, she acted as my principal policy advisor and continued to advise me on foreign policy matters, she served as my press secretary and coordinated all Ohio Delegation matters. During her tenure in my office I have valued her excellent management skills and relied on her good judgment with regard to policy and political matters. During her tenure in my office, Connie also served as the Congressional manager of the Congress-Bundestag exchange, a 20 year program that promotes greater understanding of the U.S. legislative process and the German parliamentary system. This vital exchange program has allowed hundreds of Congressional staffers to visit Germany and hundreds of German Parliamentary staff to visit the U.S. The program has allowed participants to gain insights into our different political systems and to develop personal and professional relationships that benefit both nations. Throughout her service in my office, Connie pursued her higher education goals, completing both a Master's Degree and most recently completing course work toward her Ph.D. in Political Science from the George Washington University. We were very proud when she completed her doctoral exams with distinction. These experiences have enabled Connie to develop an expertise in Latin American affairs which she will use in her new position as Analyst for Latin America with the Congressional Research Service. We are glad that she has not traveled far and that we will still be able to call on her excellent research and analytical skills as will all Members and staff in Congress. We wish her much success in her new endeavors.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I first want to compliment the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) on an excellent summary of the role of the State of Ohio in dealing with the issue of slavery. We are building a museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was the key spot on the Underground Railroad. And as you travel throughout Ohio, you will find a number of communities that will have a marker saying that this community was one of the stations along the way. So I think it is great that the gentleman gave the Members and the audience that watches C-SPAN an understanding of Ohio's role, and it is a proud one, in dealing with these issues. Ohio is popularly known as ``The Mother of Presidents.'' Our good friends from the State of Virginia like to take issue with that, but we claim eight in our State, one of whom served the 16th District of Ohio in Congress. That would be President William McKinley, who was also chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. And if you go next door to the headquarters of the Committee on Appropriations, you will see a portrait of James Garfield, who also served in Congress and as chairman of Appropriations. Madam Speaker, I think our colleague from Illinois has touched on a number of the important people that are part of Ohio history. I do not know if he mentioned Thomas Alva Edison, who started what is today a great industry in terms of providing electricity, and certainly his contributions in progress and industry were a result of hard work. Thomas Edison used to say, ``Genius was 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.'' The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) mentioned John Glenn and his role. We are all very familiar with that. And so I think we in Ohio can take great pride in the part that our State has played in the history of this Nation's space program. We have had a number of people in science who developed different things that are important to all of us. The Inventure Place is in Akron, Ohio. It tells the story of inventors in the United States. It is a hall of fame for inventors. We have, of course, in Canton, Ohio the Football Hall of Fame. Many people are very familiar with that. And I would also mention that we have the National First Ladies Historic Site. It is the newest unit in the Park Service that tells how First Ladies have made a very great impact on the history of our Nation. These are all things that give us pride in the State of Ohio and, since I did mention McKinley, I would add that as President of the United States he was perhaps the first one to recognize that the United States was no longer an insular nation, and he became a champion of international trade. He championed the Open Door Policy to China and many other issues involving trade. And of course as a result of Spanish-American War, the United States became a world player. And we know today that the world looks to, at least part of it, in this day and age, looks to the United States for leadership. But William McKinley made a very great impact on the path this Nation has taken from originally being very protectionist, very insular to that of a Nation that does set the challenge to other nations to follow suit. I would urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. It recognizes that Ohio has been a State since 1803 and as such has made many great contributions to our Nation's history. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact-on issues of mutual interest. A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany during May 24 to June 7 of this year. During the 2-week exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat Members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. Participants also will be hosted by a Bundestag Member during a district visit. A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for 2-weeks in July. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington and visit the districts of congressional Members. The U.S. delegation is expected to facilitate these meetings. The Congress--Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to Germany and the United States such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. In addition, U.S. participants are expected to help plan and implement the program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are expected to assist in planning topical meetings in Washington, and are encouraged to host one or two staffers in their Member's district in July, or to arrange for such a visit to another Member's district. Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange. Senators and Representatives who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. Applications may be sent to Connie Veillette in Congressman Regula's office, 2306 Rayburn House Building by noon on Monday, March 31, 2003.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of this omnibus appropriations conference report. I want to share with my colleagues some of the things that are covered by this conference report. Our subcommittee section totals $133.4 billion, and I would emphasize this is the amount of the President's budget request. It includes funding for programs that touch the lives of all Americans from newborn health screening, Head Start, dozens of education programs, health research and prevention programs, training for dislocated workers to older Americans programs and the efficient administration of our Social Security and Medicare programs. All of these are encompassed in the bill. And for the education portion, it brings funding to title I to $1.4 billion, an increase overall in education funding of 7 percent. I think as was pointed out by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), this is a record. I think it is something we can all take pride in supporting on behalf of the people of this Nation. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this omnibus appropriations conference report and to share with my colleagues the important programs we are funding within the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies title. Mr. Speaker, this portion of the bill totals $133.4 billion, the amount of the President's budget request. It includes funding for programs that touch the lives of all Americans from newborn health screening, Head Start, dozens of education programs, health research and prevention programs, training for dislocated workers to older American programs and the efficient administration of our Social Security and Medicare programs. All these programs and more encompass this bill. As my colleagues know, students, parents and teachers are working together to see real gains in student achievement as established in the No Child Left Behind Act passed by this Congress a year ago. This bill provides the vital funding to bring the goals of the new law to fruition, including a $1.4 billion increase in Title I funding, aiding disadvantaged students. In the area of special education, we have also included an increase of $1.4 billion over fiscal year 2002 as we continue to increase the federal portion of special education dollars. And to assist those seeking to improve their skills through higher education, we have increased the maximum Pell grant to $4,050 while also addressing a shortfall in the program that has resulted from a larger than expected number of students returning to school by providing more than half a billion dollars over the President's request for the program. I am pleased to report that the bill includes the fifth and final year of a commitment to double biomedical research funding for the National Institutes of Health with funding set at $27.2 billion. At this level NIH will be able to fund more than 38,000 research project grants, the highest number ever funded. These grants span countless areas including basic research as well as that for specific diseases that are the leading causes of death and disability--Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, AIDS and hundreds of others, including rare diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been key in bringing new health research into practice through health promotion programs. Now, as we face continued threats to our homeland we call upon the CDC to act as our first line of defense against bioterrorism as well. We have provided $4.3 billion to the CDC for these important activities. Within the Health Resources and Services Administration we have included $1.5 billion for Community Health Centers, access points to those who have no health care, and $2 billion for Ryan White Aids program, a $96 million increase. The bill provides funding for services for our neediest people, including $1.8 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and $1.376 billion for programs for older Americans, including nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels and totaling nearly $719 million. This bill funds the Department of Labor at $11.9 billion, $116 million below last year. However, within the account for the Workforce Investment Act, we have tried to focus our resources on the needs of the many people in our country who have been dislocated from their jobs by boosting support for dislocated workers by $92 million overall. We are hopeful that the many good people in our local communities working to provide job placement assistance to these unemployed workers will use this funding to assist these workers in re-gaining employment as quickly as possible. Finally, Job Corps, an outstanding program that partners with so many businesses to train our nation's youth for productive employment is increased by $60 million. Job Corps provides a needed second chance to many of our youth who had not found initial success in school or work. Mr. Speaker, these programs serve the people of our great nation well and help to strengthen the educational, health and job opportunities for all Americans. I urge the support of the Members of this body in passing the bill today. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the members of my staff and that of Mr. Obey in the endless hours of work they have provided to bringing this bill before us today. Craig Higgins, Sue Quantius, Susan Firth, Meg Thompson, Nicole Kunko, Francine Mack- Salvador, and Elizabeth Bowles, as well as David Reich, Cheryl Smith and Linda Pagelsen have done a terrific job in producing the product before us. Thank you to each of them.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to provide appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2003. Mr. Speaker, this is an appropriations bill that truly touches every life in our nation--from funding our children's education, to research on countless diseases to job training funding to improve our nation's workforce and thus our competitiveness in the world economy. The bill I am introducing today provides $130,902,000,000 for the discretionary programs and activities within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies. It is the same funding level as the President's budget request and $3.3 billion over the fiscal year 2002 level. The challenging demands of funding the important programs in this bill have required us to seek a very delicate balance in crafting the legislation. Therefore, I would like to share with my colleagues some of the programs we have focused our attention on in structuring this bill. Health and Human Services First in the area of our nation's health, we are providing $26.6 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and increase of $3.357 billion over last year. This funding level brings us very close to our final investment in our five year commitment to double the NIH biomedical research budget. Research efforts to date have resulted in great progress in understanding, preventing and treating disease and I am pleased to support these efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is our nation's first line of defense in bioterrorism preparedness. The agency is also our nation's leader in promoting health and wellness as well as disease prevention. It is critical that we support the CDC's efforts in these areas, and we therefore provide $4.3 billion for fiscal 2003 to carry out these functions. The Health Resources and Services Administration programs provide the vital backbone for carrying out health programs across the nation. We provide $1.457 billion for Community Health Centers, the access points for healthcare for our nation's uninsured and underinsured. This is a $115 million increase over last year's level. At this new level, we anticipate that nearly 13 million people will receive these important services. The Health Professions account in this bill has a long tradition of support by the Members of this House, and I am pleased to report that the bill continues this longstanding tradition. We have included $377.6 million for the numerous health professions accounts. Included in this number is additional funding for nursing education, as our nation is now experiencing a critical nursing shortage. Two further health programs of importance to many Members in this body include funding for the Ryan White CARE Act, at $1.93 billion and Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education at $292 million. LIHEAP, the program that provides heating and cooling assistance to the poor will receive $1.7 billion in regular formula grant funding, the same level as last year. All of the funding is provided to the states for distribution to families and individuals rather than diverting a portion to emergencies as requested, as $300 million for emergency funding remains available for this purpose. Other human services programs we focus priority funding on include the Safe and Stable Family program that we fund at $70 million. To support those young people who are no longer of eligible age to receive foster care, we are providing $40 million for Independent Living Vouchers. Finally, for the Compassion Capital Fund we are providing $30 million and for abstinence education we are providing $60 million, bringing the total for discretionary pro-family initiatives to $200 million. education Turning to education, Mr. Speaker, this appropriations bill provides the funding for implementing our nation's new elementary and secondary education law, the No Child Left Behind Act. Since the enactment of this important law a year ago, much attention has been devoted to the need to fund this law, giving states and local education agencies the necessary resources to comply with the act. The bill I am introducing today provides the important resources to assist teachers, school administrators, parents and students to achieve the goals of this new law. Funding for the numerous programs included in the No Child Left Behind Act totals $22.3 billion. This figure includes increases in the following areas: $500 million for the Title I program; $100 million for teacher quality, $100 million for the new Reading First program and $87.5 million for Math and Science Partnerships. Also of substantial importance, Special Education is increased by $500 million over last year. Mr. Speaker, to some in the education arena this funding level may not be sufficient. However, I would like to take the opportunity to remind my colleagues that education is not exclusively about dollars. Historically, we have watched federal funding for Title I and other programs increase while test scores either remained stagnant or have actually declined. Hence, in the No Child Left Behind Act we seek results. Results in student achievement, results in accountability. How can we best accomplish these goals? I believe we can achieve these goals by ensuring that every year, every child has a good teacher in his or her classroom It is for this reason that I continue to dedicate attention and resources to teacher quality in this bill. Pell Grants continue to receive pressure for funding, as large numbers of people of returned to higher education as a result of our economic downturn. These new students seek additional skills to improve their position in our job market and in our global economy. In the bill we retain the maximum level for the Pell Grant set last year at $4000, providing $11.2 billion to fund the program. At this level nearly 4.5 million students are expected to receive this aid. Head Start is an important program that serves our nation's poor and is being called upon to more fully prepare our nation's children for school. We are providing $6.667 billion for this program. At this funding level, we anticipate that program may serve 915,000 children. labor Keeping in mind our nation's current economic situation, the bill focuses increases within the Department of Labor account on dislocated workers, providing an additional $113 million above fiscal year 2002. With this increase, local workforce development boards will receive a total of $1.4 billion for re-employment assistance to these dislocated workers. conclusion Mr. Speaker, the numbers before us represent our best efforts at crafting this bill. It focuses our priorities on protecting our nation against bioterrorism, providing assistance to dislocated workers and investing in our future by funding important education programs. The numbers are subject to change as we proceed to work both here in the House and together with the other body to produce a final bill.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me. I do not want to engage in the blame game; I just want to support the record that we have achieved in the past 6 years in terms of education. I think this is an outstanding record, and I must say, in fairness, that oftentimes or most of the time we have had the support of the minority party in doing this. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) is ranking in our committee, and has been very supportive. Title I, aid to disadvantaged students. I think the important part that I want to say is that the record in education has been to help those really in need of help. Let us take Title I. It is up 62 percent from 1996, from $6.37 billion to $10.35 billion, a good record for this body that we can all take pride in. IDEA, special education grants. These are young people who need help. It is up by 224 percent. That is a remarkable increase over the past 6 or 8 years. We have tripled the funding for Federal reading programs from $300 million to more than $900 million. This is what the President promised to do. I think he deserves credit for that. We have increased the Federal teacher quality funds by 35 percent to help States and local communities to train, recruit, and retain quality public school teachers. I might say here, and this is almost a crusade with me, we should get a good teacher in every classroom, because if we ask any group, do you have some teacher that in your life has made a difference, without hesitation hands go up. That is why it is so important that we can continue the programs that will help the States and local communities to get good teachers in every classroom. No child will be left behind if they have a quality teacher. Pell grants. This is help to those from the low income to have an opportunity to get an additional education; it might be in a trade school, it might be in a college, a university, or whatever. We have increased them by 62 percent, from $2,470 to $4,000 in fiscal year 2002. That is a credit to this Congress, that it has recognized the importance of helping these young people. Head Start, another program to help those who are less advantaged, we have increased it by 83 percent over the past 6 years. I think it is a record to be proud of. We have increased Federal aid to America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities by 144 percent. Mr. Speaker, we want to continue this record because I think education is the most important responsibility, in cooperation with the States and the local communities. We need to have an educated population if we want to compete in the world of tomorrow, if we want to give the people of this Nation an opportunity, the young people. I would also like to point to the record in Health and Human Services. We have supported dislocated worker employment assistance. It grew by $271 million to $1.4 billion, again, helping those who need a helping hand. Community health centers. They delivered needed medical services to over 10 million patients in fiscal year 2001, and it grew by 77 percent since fiscal year 1996. Support for the Centers for Disease Control. We suddenly discovered after 9/11 how important the Centers for Disease Control were to this Nation, and they deal with infectious diseases. They are the traffic cop that stands between us and the incursion of many different types of diseases in our society. It grew by 400 percent; again, something that helps people all across the Nation. The Centers for Disease Control's chronic disease prevention, it has grown by 178 percent. Medical research by the National Institutes of Health: a commitment was made about 4 years ago or 5 years ago that we would double their budget. We have kept that commitment, and we would hope to do that again in this fiscal year. They have supported nearly 37,000 research projects. That is important. That is important to people, because out of those research projects will come cures, will come ways of helping individuals. If Members could sit in the committee that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and myself are responsible for and listen to the testimony, they would realize how important it is to the people of this Nation, and parents with children that need help; people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, you name it, we have heard from them in our subcommittee, and we have tried to help by enhancing the programs of the National Institutes of Health and many others. All I want to say to this body is that I think we have an excellent record we have accomplished on a bipartisan basis over the past several years, and particularly since the Republicans have had the responsibility for the programs as the majority party. But in fairness, I also want to say, we have had help in getting this record accomplished. We would hope that we will have the same kind of help. We know that we cannot do everything, that the resources are not as great as they might have been 3 or 4 years ago. I think one of the things we need to do is take a look at all the money we have poured into these programs and say, is it being spent wisely? Is it getting results? Is it producing value received to the taxpayers of this Nation? What we are trying to do in crafting these appropriations bills is to ensure that we are getting value received; that we are using the money wisely on behalf of the people who need the help. I would reiterate again that these programs help all Americans. They are not limited to any single group. Illness strikes at all types in our socioeconomic strata. Education is important, and we have had a real concern in making sure these programs serve the people. I think that is a record we can point to with pride, and I hope that we can work out appropriation bills that will continue this record of great service to the American people from every walk of life. Under Republican leadership, America's proven education programs have thrived. In the past several years, Republicans have: Increased Title I aid to disadvantaged students by 62 percent--from $6.37 billion in FY 96 to $10.35 billion in FY 02. Increased special education grants to states (Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA) by 224 percent-- an increase far larger than under Democrat controlled Congresses. Tripled funding for federal reading programs from $300 million to more than $900 million, as promised by President George W. Bush. Increased federal teacher quality funds by 35 percent to help states and local communities train, recruit, and retain quality public school teachers. Increased the maximum Pell Grant award by 62 percent--from $2,470 in FY 96 to $4,000 in FY 02. Increased Head Start funding by 83 percent--from $3.569 billion in FY 96 to $6.538 billion in FY 02. Increased federal aid to America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Graduate Institutions, and Hispanic- Serving Institutions by 144 percent--from a combined total of $140 million in FY 96 to $341 million in FY 02. Support for dislocated worker re-employment assistance grew $271 million, to nearly $1.4 billion since FY96; Support for Community Health Centers, which delivered needed medical services to an estimated 10.5 million patients in FY2001, grew $587 million, or 77 percent, since FY96 helping CHCs serve 2.4 million more patients over six years; Support for CDC's work in tracking, understanding and controlling new and re-emerging infectious agents grew $282 million, or over 400 percent since FY96. Support for CDC's chronic disease prevention activities, in areas such as breast and cervical cancer prevention, diabetes control, and cardiovascular disease prevention, grew $479 million, or 178 percent, since FY96; Support for medical research administered by the National Institutes of Health grew $11.5 billion, or 97 percent since FY96. NIH estimates that they will support nearly 37,000 research/project grants in FY2002, over 11,000 more than they supported in FY96; Support for Head Start grew nearly $3 billion, or 83 percent, since FY96. During FY2002, the Administration estimates Head Start will serve over 100,000 more children aged 3 to 4 then it did in FY96; and Support for helping low income Americans in meeting their heating costs through the LIHEAP program grew $1.1 billion, or 120 percent since FY96.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues in bidding farewell to Tony Hall. As Dean of the Ohio Democrats, Tony has provided leadership within the delegation. I have enjoyed serving as co-dean with Tony in working on issues that affect our state. From aerospace to defense to technology to education issues, Tony has been at the forefront of developing sound public policy for the benefit of all Ohioans. Tony has never shied away from the tough issues. His dedication to hunger issues and human rights was born long ago and derives from his spiritual commitment. His life embodies the second great commandment to ``Love your neighbor.'' That steadfastness has motivated others to get involved and to make a difference. His advocacy of these issues has taken him to numerous hotspots around the globe. Each time he returned home he brought new insights into the problems facing mankind and oppressed communities around the world. He will leave a legacy of better health and quality of life for thousands of less fortunate individuals. Tony's life will be an inspiration for many others. Like the ripple of a pebble in a pool of water, his life will ripple on in the lives and good works of many others. This is a remarkable achievement over a distinguished career in the House. Tony now brings these gifts to a new assignment at the United Nations. I can think of no other who will be as dedicated to improving the lives of others around the world as him. He is an inspiration to each of us and we are the richer for having been his colleague.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I would just reiterate what I said yesterday, that this is a major project. It is basically sold on the fact that we will restore the Everglades as a great national monument and part of our heritage, biological heritage. To not allow the Secretary of Interior to have a voice in the management of this project does not make any sense at all because it is fundamentally Interior. We have put in a billion dollars thus far from Interior. We are going to put 100 million in in this bill. And certainly the American people who are putting up the money with their taxes are doing this not because they care about Florida, but because they care about the Everglades. It is a great natural asset. Unfortunately, the language as it would be at the moment is that the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Development Association will be calling the shots. And what is the key to all of this? Water. And, therefore, the Secretary of Interior should have a voice in the access to the water because that is the thing that makes the Everglades what it is. And, of course, on this land issue I thought that they had that resolved in the 8.5 square miles because they changed it so that only a limited number of houses are affected by it. But if we want to restore the Everglades, and that has been the basic premise of which all this has been done, we have to have the water and we have to have the Secretary of Interior playing a role in management.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support this bill and point out that the chairman and the ranking member have done a superb job of dealing with something that is our Nation's jewels and that is our parklands. About a third of America that is public lands is fortunate to have the kind of leadership that Joe has brought to this assignment. Being a major landowner in New Mexico himself, he understands how vital land is to the health of a Nation and how vital these areas that we preserve are for all of the people. I particularly was pleased at the increase to the backlog maintenance account because that is a severe problem in our parks, forests and public lands, and we need to continue to work on reducing. We have the same problem with the Smithsonian. Also, I was pleased to note that he increased the conservation amount because, again, conservation is one of the ways that we can preserve these wonderful lands for future generations. I note, also, that there is a $96 million increase in the Everglades funding. Some of my colleagues might have heard me speak on the rule, and I opposed it for the reason that it gives a right to exercise a point of order that would take the Secretary of Interior out of the loop on the management of the Everglades. After all, the Everglades is a national park and deserves the leadership of the Secretary of Interior. The $96 million in this bill, added to $1 billion that has been appropriated so far by this subcommittee, makes it very clear that the Interior Department is a player. I hope that those who have the right to do this under the rule will not exercise the point of order on the bill that takes out the Secretary of Interior from a leadership role, along with the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Conservation District. We will see how it plays out, but again, Joe, you have been a wonderful member of the subcommittee. We have served together for many, many years, and I will miss you. I hope you get rain out there as a reward when you get home because even Ohio is dry these days, and we have some sympathy for your problem of the absence of moisture. We will miss your insights and your leadership on this subcommittee. You bring it the firsthand knowledge of how vital all of this is to our Nation's future and to the preservation of this wonderful heritage we call our public lands, and we thank you for that great service that you have given us.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, such time as is left, and I thank the gentleman for his comments. If the Secretary of Interior is not part of the management system, the emphasis will be on water, water for everything but the Everglades, and yet I think the people in the United States assume that we are going to restore the Everglades. The one individual who is a key player in all of that will be the Secretary of Interior, and that individual deserves a place at the table. I would urge Members to support a rule that leaves this section that is in the bill as put there by the wisdom of the chairman.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, but the rule has a serious flaw and let me point that out. I want to go back to WRDA, which was passed by an overwhelming majority in the year 2000 to do a restoration of the Everglades, and I quote from it: ``The frame work for modifications and operational changes to the Central and South Florida project that are needed to restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida eco-system,'' that is the Everglades, ``while providing them for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and food protection.'' Now, today's bill, and this is in the wisdom of the chairman, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), and I quote, ``Activities of the restoration, coordination and verification team as described in the final feasibility report and programmatic environmental impact statement for the comprehensive review of the Central and Southern Florida project shall be directed jointly by the Secretary of the Army,'' that is the Corps of Engineers, ``the Secretary of the Interior,'' because this is a national park and it is a national resource. It belongs to all the people of this Nation. ``And the South Florida water management district, `` because the way that water is managed is important to the people in South Florida. However, the rule makes it possible and as I understand it there will be a point of order against that section I just read. Now, the net effect of that is to take the Secretary of the Interior out of the management. But I thought we were doing this to preserve the Everglades. And who has a greater stake as an agency than Interior? This bill provides $100 million of Interior money that is collected by taxes from people in 50 State, not just Florida, but 50 States. In the Interior bills in previous years, we have appropriated approximately $1 billion from all the people in the United States. Who better can speak on their behalf on matters of the eco-system, which is provided in WRDA, and matters that are important to the south Florida system, the Everglades? And yet this point of order will take the Secretary of the Interior out of play. That is wrong. That is absolutely wrong, and I think that is a real flaw in this rule. And I believe that the only way we can correct that and pass this good bill is to defeat the rule and let this section be protected. The Secretary of the Interior who speaks for all of us who are paying the bill, a former head of the Corps of Engineers, estimated it might cost as much as $80 billion to restore the Everglades. Let us divide that by four, $20 billion to do the restoration and vision in WRDA, and yet we will not let the Secretary of the Interior have a voice? We will take that individual out of play? It is not just this Secretary of the Interior. This is going to be a long-term project, and unless the Secretary of the Interior is in on the ground floor, this will not work. I think we ought to go back, pass a rule and protect the section that gives the Secretary of Interior a voice as the present bill includes, thanks to the wisdom of the chairman and the members of the subcommittee.

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

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I want to point out to my colleagues that this bill contains $1 billion for the Pell grants. Why? Because more Americans are seeking these grants. This amount ensures that every qualified student applicant will receive a Pell grant and this can spell the difference of more opportunities for a better job and a chance to participate more fully in the American dream. I think it is vitally important that we approve the legislation with this particular feature in the bill.