DeLauro Statement on the Omnibus Bill

WASHINGTON, DC (December 16, 2015) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement today regarding the legislation before the House of Representatives funding the U.S. government for fiscal year 2016. DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

"While the spending levels are increased over current levels, this bill still does not adequately fund the programs within the jurisdiction of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee. I worked hard to make sure that these increases happened, but I remain disappointed that the subcommittee received less than its fair share of the $33 billion increase provided by the budget deal.

"Though there should have been more investments in these areas, there are provisions in the bill that are important and will help working families and the middle class. First, this bill supports the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which is a victory for millions of Americans who depend on the lifesaving care provided by ACA health plans. Second, this bill includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health and a $160 million increase for the Center for Disease Control's antibiotic resistance initiative. These investments support medical research that spurs innovation, grows our economy, and makes our fellow citizens healthier.

"This bill also makes important investments in early education and development. It increases funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant by $326 million and increases funding for Head Start by $570 million. The bill also provides a significant and much needed increase of $455 million for special education and $500 million for Title I grants to support disadvantaged students. These investments in the lives of American children are essential to building the future of our country and our economy, but more can be done. There are fewer areas with a greater return on investment than early education.

"Job training programs are a core component of our work in driving the American economy and giving more individuals an opportunity to succeed. Under this legislation, Congress will provide a much-needed increase of $196 million for job training programs. These programs support both employers and employees, matching the skills of American workers with jobs that support families. At a time when investments in workforce development are more critical than ever to ensure that hard working men and women access the middle class, we must continue to provide additional resources to train skilled workers.

"As we move forward, I believe we must do better for America's working families. While many of the increases provided are significant, the bill still falls short of meeting the need. By shortchanging these programs, we endanger the future of our economy and our families."

A summary table of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill can be found here.

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