DeLauro Calls for Labor-HHS-Education Markup Next Week

Says Republicans Should Defend Their ProposalsPromptly, Publicly

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), RankingMember on the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education AppropriationsSubcommittee today called on Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) to hold afull committee markup of the subcommittee's FY2014 bill. Republicans areattempting to cut the bill's funding levels by 22 percent, slashing the amountof money available for critical education, job training and health services tolevels not seen since FY2001. Over the past decade, per-capita, inflationadjusted spending on labor, education and health programs have alreadybeen cut by roughly seven percent, or a total of $12 billion.

"We should stop wasting time and start doing our jobs. If myRepublican colleagues want to push even more children off of Head Start, kickseniors off of Meals on Wheels, stop funding cancer research and preventstruggling Americans from accessing critical job training services, they shouldstand up in the light of day and say so. I welcome that debate.

"I am calling on Chairman Rogers to hold committeeconsideration of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriationsbill before Memorial Day. We need to see the real impact their allocations willhave on American families. If my Republican colleagues truly believe they aredoing the right thing, they should be eager to proceed promptly. But I thinkthey know their proposal is the exact opposite of what our constituents want.

"Republicans are trying to cut more money from corepriorities like medical research, support for our schools, job training,financial aid for college students—and the list goes on and on. They may saythis is unfortunate, but necessary. That is simply not true. They did notappear out of thin air. These cuts are the direct result of voluntary choicesmade by the House Majority."