Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks as the House of Representatives debated H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010.  The House voted on four amendments to the bill, one providing valuable funding for our children’s schools ; the others concerning funds for our troops fighting in Afghanistan.  As a result of this evening’s votes, the House added domestic spending provisions to the war funding bill, which the United States Senate will now take up after the Fourth of July District Work Period.

“Madam Speaker: I rise in support of H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. I want to commend the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, my friend and colleague, Dave Obey (D-WI07), for his work to bring the bill to a vote.  This bill provides important funding for our troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, for pressing domestic needs like education jobs, and for the emergency in Gulf, among other things.

“H.R. 4899 allocates $37.12 billion to fund our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Secretary Gates and General Petraeus have called on Congress to approve these funds before we break for our July district work period, and I commend the House for responsibly taking action.

“I am supporting an amendment to the supplemental that provides essential domestic funding, including funds for education. Our children are our future, and I strongly believe we cannot allow our future to be hamstrung by a decreased investment in providing a quality education to all children.  This is why I supported funding necessary to address the Pell Grant shortfall, and I am pleased to see that this legislation includes $4.95 billion needed to ensure that the millions of students relying on these funds will be able to continue to pay for a college education.  Unfortunately, the continued economic distress faced by our state and local governments has led to many difficult cuts.  Far too many school districts in Michigan have been forced to close schools, while others have been forced to lay-off critical teaching personnel all as a result of budget crunches. 

“While I am pleased that the House amendment includes $10 billion for an Education Jobs Fund, this funding falls far short of the $23 billion needed to keep teachers in the classroom.  Further, I would have preferred that this funding had not come at the expense of the Race to the Top and the Teacher Incentive Fund.  That being said, we can not invest in education reform at our schools or the professional development of our teachers unless we have teachers in the classroom, which is why I am joining with my colleagues in supporting this language.  Rest assured, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to ensure that the funding for Race to the Top and the Teacher Incentive Fund is restored.

“The Supplemental also provides $5.1 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund to ensure that previous natural disasters are paid for and that we have funds available for any future disasters.  With Hurricane season approaching, it is essential this fund is filled.  Moreover, the legislation appropriates $100 million in disaster assistance for local communities that have been affected by extreme flooding this year. 

“In addition, H.R. 4899 provides $13.377 billion for our veterans exposed to Agent Orange and their survivors for benefits to pay for health-related problems like Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and hairy cell/B cell leukemia linked to the herbicide.  An estimated 86,069 people will be eligible to receive retroactive payments and 67,259 people will be eligible to receive new benefits.

“Finally, the legislation includes $304 million for the Gulf Coast oil spill, including $83 million for unemployment assistance related to the oil spill and an oil spill relief employment program; $7 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oil spill response activities, including scientific investigations and sampling; $14 million to respond to economic impacts on fishermen; $10 million for Justice legal activities; $5 million for economic recovery planning; and $31 million for the Department of the Interior to conduct additional inspections and enforcement and to strengthen oversight and regulation and for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a long-term risk study.  I am also pleased to support additional funding in the House amendment, which adds $12 million for the newly created Presidential Commission investigating the spill; and $130 million for an unemployment benefits program for those self-employed in the Gulf, like fisherman, and for training and employment services.

“Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the important funding included in the supplemental.”