Chairman Miller: Democratic Budget Puts Children, Students and Workers First

Thursday, March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement commending the passage of the House Democratic Budget today.

"Today the Congress passed a Budget Resolution that will take our nation in a new direction -- a direction that puts America's children, students, and workers first. For too long, this administration and the Republican-led Congresses have mortgaged our children's future through escalating deficits, while ignoring the true needs of America's middle class. For too long, students and workers have been shortchanged by the underfunding of critical education and job training programs.  In stark contrast to the Republicans' record of red ink, the budget that we passed today reflects the priorities of the Democratic Congress -- a Congress that supports investing in our students, our workers, and our future while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

"This budget provides long overdue funding for our nation's key education laws, such as No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Act. With college costs continuing to skyrocket, this budget builds on our promise to make college more affordable by increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarships for low-income students, and provides Congress with the opportunity to improve the federal student aid programs to better help students and parents finance a college education. And this budget provides funding for our nation's job training programs -- ensuring that workers get the training and skills they need to support their families -- and to keep our workforce number one in a competitive global economy. I want to commend Chairman Spratt and House Democratic leaders for drafting and passing this budget resolution that will allow us to continue to strengthen America's middle class."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853