Press Room
On The Issues
Photo Gallery
Committees
Just For Kids!

Contact Stephanie
Flag Requests
Visit DC
Casework

Sponsored 109th
Co-Sponsored 109th
Sponsored 108th
Co-Sponsored 108th

About Stephanie
About South Dakota
House of Representatives
Thomas
Blue Dog Coalition

News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH STATEMENT ON LABOR-HHS BILL

November 17, 2005, Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today defeated the FY2006 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations conference report by a 224-209 vote. Rep. Stephanie Herseth voted against the bill because it contained deep cuts to programs critical to rural America, including zeroing out funding for Rural Emergency Medical Services, Rural Health Research, and the Healthy Community Access Program.

Herseth said, “This bill shortchanged health care and education in significant ways, cutting these vital programs by approximately $1.4 billion. And rural communities, once again, are asked to bear the brunt of these cuts. That is a real cut compared to last year, not simply a restrained level of growth.

“I am hopeful that this defeat will lead the conference committee members to return to the table and produce a conference report that adequately funds health and education program and restores the unacceptable cuts to rural initiatives,” Herseth added.

# # #

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.  She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America.  She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests:  Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Resources.