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FY 2007 Budget Debate: Save Health & Education Funding
Updated: August 10, 2006
More Money Needed to Fully Restore CDC Epilepsy Program and Other Priorities
As you may recall, during the FY 2007 Budget debate, the Senate passed an amendment offered by Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) adding $7 billion to the President’s total funding request for disability, health, education, and labor programs. The amendment passed by an overwhelming margin with 73 senators voting for it.
When the Appropriations money was actually divided between the appropriations subcommittees, however, the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee only received $5 billion more than the amount asked for by the President. As a result of the lower amount, many programs like IDEA part B received flat funding or were cut in the Senate version of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, like the CDC Epilepsy Program.
After the August recess, Senators Specter and Harkin will ask their colleagues to sign a letter insisting that the Senate replace the $2 billion in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. The more Senators who sign the letter, the more likely the money will be added to the bill. The Specter-Harkin letter will be circulated after Labor Day. Contact your Senator and ask him/her to support the extra $2 billion in the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support the DeLauro (Specter-Harkin) Budget Amendment
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As you know, the Specter-Harkin Budget Amendment proposes adding $7 billion additional funding to the President's FY 2007 budget request for health and education programs. This funding is needed to fund vital programs for people with chronic health care needs and people with disabilities.
To date, only $5 billion of that amount has been provided. The lesser amount only flat-funds most programs for people with disabilities, and cuts other important programs like the CDC Epilepsy Program. Special education, family support and many other programs are losing dollars as well.
I urge you to support adding the remaining $2 billion to the FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. A letter to that effect may be generated and circulated by Senators Specter and Harkin in September. When you receive that letter, I hope you will demonstrate your commitment to people with epilepsy and other health conditions and disabilities by signing on.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
August 10, 2006
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