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As the committee notes in its report, ``Medicare contractors are responsible for paying Medicare providers promptly and accurately.'' I am concerned that this funding reduction contradicts the committee's intent; it is likely to slow down claims processing activities and the ability of contractors to provide services to both beneficiaries and providers. We have all heard our constituents' concerns about the Medicare claim process--claims that are accidentally denied, slow payments, reaching voice mail more often than human beings. We should not exacerbate these concerns by reducing funding levels for Medicare contractors.
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Mr. Chairman, I impress upon my colleagues the need to adequately fund the Medicare contractor program. I am not asking for Congress to approve Medicare user fees. In the future, however, when the House and Senate conference on this appropriations bill, I urge my colleagues to revisit this issue.
Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, as we consider the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2001, a simple question comes to mind. Do we, or do we not care about the needs of hard working American families? By looking at this proposal it seems to me that the answer is a resounding ``no.'' The appropriations legislation put before us short-changes nearly every vulnerable group--children, dislocated and injured workers, and the elderly, to highlight just a few.
The American public time and again has rated education as a top priority--above tax cuts, above foreign affairs, above Pentagon spending, even above gun control and protecting social security. While I am not discrediting the need for Congress to address all of those issues, it is important that we listen to what constituents are saying. It seems ridiculous that at a time when our economy is booming, we still have schools that are under funded and under staffed, mainly due to the slight of hand indifferent policy path of the Republican leadership. How can the United States possibly expect to remain competitive in a global marketplace if we are unwilling to make the investment to ensure that our students are receiving the best education possible? As examples, H.R. 4577 short-changes students who need the most support, by inadequately funding Head Start, Title I, after school care, teacher quality and class size reduction initiatives. Additionally, this proposal supports block granting for several programs, a method of funding which dilutes the effectiveness of federal dollars in our classrooms.
This appropriations bill is a disaster when it comes to taking care of on the job workers safety and health. The rider blocking the implementation of an ergonomics standard is particularly offensive, an unnecessary delay tactic which could ultimately result in thousands more workers being needlessly injured on the job. Additionally, this legislation cuts dislocated worker programs--a slap in the face following the recent vote of PNTR for China--and cuts funding of summer jobs for at-risk youth, retreating from the modest temporary programs that ease the plight of working families.
Congress must do more and increase funding for important human needs and health programs. Instead, funding is reduced for Social Service Block Grants (SSBG), one of the primary sources of social service funding for states to provide vital services for children, youth, seniors, families, and persons with disabilities. Also, public health priorities such as Child Care Development Block Grants (CCDBG) and mental health services have not been satisfactorily funded. Now, in a productive economic time, Congress should not exacerbate social-economic disparities, but rather maintain commitments to guarantee all Americans an opportunity to contribute to and share in America's prosperity.
This bill is emblematic of how budget distortions and faulty priorities often have grave consequences for some of our most vulnerable citizens. I encourage my colleagues to oppose this legislation, which ignores the needs and priorities of American families.
Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Chairman, tonight, I come to the floor in opposition to the implementation of a uniform medical identifier and support of the Paul amendment, which would eliminate its implementation.
I, along with Representative PAUL, led a bipartisan group of members urging the inclusion of this amendment. We had less than 24 hours and limited resources at our disposal to gather support, yet within half a day we had 33 members by our side.
These members all shared the same fear. That fear was that unless Congress intervenes at this moment and stops the creation of a national database containing the medical history of every American, government and HMO bureaucrats across the country will be able to pry into the personal information of every American.
However, it is not just privacy that is at stake here. We also threaten to undermine the entire health care system. The confidentiality associated with doctor-patient relationship will be irreparably harmed. Embarrassing or emotional problems may never be shared. As a result, the treating physician will be unable to deliver the best treatment.
What we ask for today is nothing novel or extreme. For two straight years we have included similar language in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. I am confident that this House will stand in favor of this provision.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. LAHOOD) having assumed the chair, Mr. PEASE, Chairman pro tempore of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4577) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes, pursuant to House Resolution 518, he reported the bill back to the House with sundry amendments adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is ordered.
Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment? If not, the Chair will put them en gros.
The amendments were agreed to.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was read the third time.
MOTION TO RECOMMIT OFFERED BY MR. OBEY
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
Mr. OBEY. I think that is safe to say, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. OBEY moves to recommit the bill H.R. 4577 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment:
Page 84, strike section 518 (as added by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules to accompany H. Res. 518).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Wisconsin is recognized for 5 minutes in support of his motion to recommit.
(Mr. OBEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and to include tabular and extraneous material.)
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, this motion is very simple. It deletes a provision in the bill that was added by the rule through a self-executing amendment that has the effect of cutting the fiscal 2000 appropriation in this bill for Child Care and Development Block Grant by $506 million.
[Time: 16:15]
The motion to recommit simply strikes that provision, thereby adding $506 million back for child care, which is the same level that was requested by the President and which was the level included in this bill as reported out of committee.
This motion would provide child care for an additional 100,000 children. The provision in the bill which my motion strikes says that if the Fiscal 2002 advance appropriation across all appropriation bills exceeds $23.5 billion, then the child care program is singled out for rescissions that bring the total back down to $23 billion.
Since the Labor HHS bill and VA bill already exceed that total by $506 million, that means $506 million will automatically be lopped off the $2 billion provided in this bill for child care.
I am sure my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. PORTER), will say this is next year's funding, and so you do not have to worry about it. My response is this bill is either real or it is not. It is either a let-us-pretend bill. If it is not a let-us-pretend bill, then it cuts child care by $506 million.
I would hope that we would be voting for real bills, and I would hope that we would not be slashing programs like this.
I would point out that only one out of every 10 children who are eligible for child care under Federal standards today are actually getting it because of a shortage of that service. If Members are comfortable with that situation, then they should vote against my motion. If they are not, then I would urge that they vote for it.
If this motion passes, the committee will simply have to bring back a new bill immediately without this misguided provision.
Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the RECORD:
SEC. 518. If the total level of discretionary advance appropriations for fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years provided in general appropriation Acts for fiscal year 2001 exceeds $23,500,000,000, there shall be rescinded from the amount made available in
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| / | |
| Labor: | |
| Adult Training | $712 |
| Dislocated Workers | 1,060 |
| Job Corps | 691 |
| Subtotal | 2,463 |
| HHS: | |
| Child Care Block Grant | 2,000 |
| Low Income Energy Assistance | 1,100 |
| Head Start | 1,400 |
| Abstinence Education | 30 |
| Subtotal | 4,530 |
| Education: | |
| Title I | 6,205 |
| Title VI Block Grant | 285 |
| Teacher Assistance | 900 |
| Safe and Drug Free School | 330 |
| Reading Excellence Act | 195 |
| Special Education State Grants | 3,742 |
| Vocational Education State Grants | 791 |
| Subtotal | 12,448 |
| Related Agencies: CPB | 365 |
| Subtotal, Labor HHS Education Bill | 19,806 |
| VA HUD H.R. 4635, Section 8 housing assistance | 4,200 |
| Total advances | 24,006 |
| Budget Resolution limitation | 23,500 |
| Rescission of Child Care Block Grant | -506 |
Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I yield back the remainder of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LAHOOD). Is the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. PORTER) opposed to the motion?
Mr. PORTER. I am, Mr. Speaker, yes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the minority would offer this particular motion to recommit.
When the House reported the bill, it exceeded the $23.5 billion cap in advanced appropriations, which is what the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. OBEY) was referring to.
We funded the Child Care Block Grant at $2 billion in fiscal year 2002; that is an advance appropriation, which is roughly $800 million over the enacted FY 2001 amount.
In the rule, a provision was added to the bill that assures that we will not exceed the overall budget cap of $23.5 billion set forth in the budget resolution. This is the provision that the motion to recommit of the gentleman would strike.
If we adopt the motion of the gentleman and remove the sequester provision, it will simply mean that we will have to make it up somewhere else in the other bill. These bills will have to be cut, in order to stay within the budget resolution: we will have to make up the $800 million.
So where will we make it up? We may have to cut section 8 housing money in VA-HUD. We may have to cut law enforcement money in Commerce-Justice-State. We may have to cut other money in other bills.
So while this may seem like a very appealing provision, there has to be a way under the budget resolution to pay for it. Every one of the amendments of the gentleman during the debate on this bill have ignored the budget resolution. We cannot do so. We have to live under it. We have to live within the allocations made. And if we squeeze the balloon at one point, it comes out in another.
I urge Members to vote no. I urge Members to support the bill.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.
RECORDED VOTE
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 15-minute vote followed by a 15-minute vote on passage.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 212, noes 219, not voting 4, as follows:
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Baird
Baldacci
Baldwin
Barcia
Barrett (WI)
Becerra
Bentsen
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blumenauer
Bonior
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Carson
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Condit
Conyers
Costello
Coyne
Cramer
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Deutsch
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doyle
Edwards
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Forbes
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frost
Gejdenson
Gephardt
Gonzalez
Gordon
Green (TX)
Gutierrez
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hastings (FL)
Hill (IN)
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hoeffel
Holden
Holt
Hooley
Hoyer
Inslee
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
John
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
Kleczka
Klink
Kucinich
LaFalce
Lampson
Lantos
Larson
Lazio
Lee
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Markey
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
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