"As you may know, I proudly supported an amendment by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) to add $7 billion in funding for health and education in the fiscal year 2007 budget. This amendment would provide funding equal to fiscal year 2005 levels for over 300 programs. The National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control, and other worthy programs would benefit by this increased funding. The amendment passed with bi-partisan support by a vote of 73-27 on March 16, 2006.
Unfortunately, only $5 billion of this increase was incorporated in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill. While I am encouraged by this progress, I nevertheless would like to see additional funding for these programs.
You will be pleased to know that I recently joined Senator Specter and Senator Harkin in urging Senate leadership to restore the additional $2 billion. We simply cannot short-fund health programs that provide essential research and services to prevent devastating diseases. Neither can we sacrifice education programs that invest in our nation's most vital resource, our children.
Please know that I will continue to work to ensure that health and education programs receive adequate funding. "
Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate