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Statement of Administration Policy provides the Administration's views
on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Bill, FY 2002, as approved by the Senate Appropriations
Committee. The Administration appreciates the manner in which the
Congress has worked to consider the FY 2002 appropriations bills.
The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to ensure
that the policy and program content of each of the thirteen appropriations
bills is acceptable to the President and that the bill totals are
within the recently agreed upon aggregate funding level of $686 billion.
A
number of the agencies and programs funded within this bill may
have modified requirements as a consequence of the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001. The Administration is continuing to review
these new requirements and will continue to work with the Congress
to ensure the highest priority needs are funded through the FY 2001
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery From and
Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States.
The
Administration appreciates the Committee's efforts to fund agencies
and programs contained in this bill consistent with this agreed
upon funding level. Further, the Administration applauds the Committee's
restraint in providing funding for earmarked projects.
The
Administration's views on specific issues are discussed below.
Stem
Cell Research
The
President strongly believes that the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which
for years has ensured that the federal government observes important
ethical boundaries at the same time that it provides support for
scientific research, should not be altered. The Administration therefore
strongly opposes the Senate version of the bill, which modifies
the existing language and would signal a weakening of the Federal
Government's commitment to protecting human embryos. The Administration
strongly supports the House version of the bill, which retains the
current language, and includes clarifying report language that is
consistent with the President's August 9, 2001 announcement. The
President's senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill
if it contains the Senate's language.
Department
of Education
The
Administration appreciates the Committee's support for the President's
elementary and secondary education reform initiatives. The Committee
bill fully funds or exceeds the President's request for Reading
First, Assessments, Teacher Quality, Transition to Teaching, and
Special Education. This funding, which we believe is contingent
upon the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reforms that
we are working with Congress to enact in the near future, will enhance
accountability and foster improved student achievement. We appreciate
the Committee's inclusion of report language supporting the President's
request for Character Education and Reach Out and Read programs.
The
Federal government has a special responsibility to support school
renovation needs for military dependents and children residing on
Indian lands, and to help promote school choice by helping charter
schools overcome infrastructure barriers that prevent their start-up.
Thus, we urge the Senate to support the full President's request
for both Impact Aid Construction and the Charter School Homestead
Fund.
However,
the Administration strongly objects to the $925 million for School
Renovation Grants in the Senate bill. While we recognize the importance
of ensuring the nation's schoolchildren have safe and modern facilities
for learning, in general, responsibility for school facilities that
are not affected by Federal activities should continue to be a State
and local responsibility. The Administration believes this Federal
program will do little to address the overall need to bring school
facilities into good condition, and will divert resources away from
other Federal priorities -- such as Title I -- that hold greater
promise for reforming and improving our nation's education system.
The
Administration is also concerned that the bill does not direct a
sufficient share of Education Department funding toward disadvantaged
students through the Title I program. Instead the bill funds over
two dozen small, narrow-purpose programs that have not been shown
to be effective. The Administration strongly prefers the House-passed
bill, which reallocates a greater share of funds from low-priority
programs to the Title I program. This will help low-performing schools
meet the new accountability requirements outlined in the pending
ESEA reauthorization, and the President's goal of ensuring that
no child is left behind. As mentioned above, the Administration
would prefer that funds from low-priority programs be redirected
to the Title I program, and that any increase to Title I be directed
through the Title I Targeted Grants formula.
The
ESEA conferees are now considering provisions for Bilingual education
and State Assessments that would require funding to reach a specified
level before the President's proposed reforms could go into effect.
While we strongly oppose these triggers, the appropriations bill
must provide sufficient resources to ensure the necessary reforms
go into effect.
Outside
of the elementary and secondary area, the Administration is pleased
that the Committee has increased funding for several Presidential
priorities including the New Freedom Initiative. The Administration
also appreciates the Committee's strong support for Pell Grants.
However, recent data indicates that maintaining the maximum award
level at the 2001 level of $3,750 will require $1.7 billion more
than the enacted 2001 level. This $1.7 billion increase is the same
amount provided in the House bill, which would be a record increase
in funding and would allow the largest number of students ever to
get funding. We urge the Senate to adopt the funding level provided
for Pell Grants by the House.
Department
of Health and Human Services
The
Administration is pleased that the Committee has funded the President's
health initiatives, including, Consolidated Health Centers and Global
HIV/AIDS activities. The Administration looks forward to working
with the Congress to fully fund the President's request for Drug
Abuse Treatment services.
The
Administration commends the Committee for taking the first steps
in funding the President's initiatives for children and families,
most notably the Compassion Capital Fund, to expand or emulate model
charitable programs, and the Maternity Group Homes initiative, which
will provide safe, stable and nurturing environments for teenage
mothers and their children. We look forward to working with the
Congress in identifying funds for the President's Mentoring Children
of Prisoners initiative, to support family rebuilding programs,
Promoting Safe and Stable Families, to promote child safety, permanency
and well-being, and Education and Vocational Training Vouchers,
to help youths who age out of foster care develop skills to lead
independent and productive lives.
Department
of Labor
The
Administration is also pleased that the Committee has supported
the President's request for the Department of Labor. In particular,
the Administration appreciates the Committee's funding for dislocated
worker assistance, and that the Senate has included funding for
the Trade Adjustment Assistance and NAFTA Transitional Adjustment
Assistance programs, whose authorizations expired on September 30,
2001. However, the Administration is disappointed that the Committee
has not provided the President's request for the Information Technology
Crosscut. This initiative will ensure a cost-effective, integrated
approach to financing the Department's technology investments. The
Administration also is concerned that the Committee increased funding
for the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) by 107 percent
above the President's request. Between 1996 and 2001, funding for
ILAB has risen by 1500 percent, expanding the Bureau's priorities
and jeopardizing the Department's ability to effectively absorb
these resources. Overly prescriptive direction on the use of ILAB
resources further complicates the Department's ability to manage
these unrequested funds.
Other
Language Provisions: Needle Exchange, Abortions, and Grant Funding
The
Administration appreciates that the Committee has retained the Hyde
language regarding Federal funding of abortions. On needle exchange
programs, the Committee's language would weaken existing protections
that prohibit the use of federal funds for needle-exchange programs.
The Administration strongly opposes the Senate provision, and believes
it is important to continue existing law as included in the House
version of the bill.
The
Administration strongly objects to section 514 of the General Provisions,
which would unduly burden Executive Branch operations by requiring
Committee notification before the announcement of any discretionary
grant award or cooperative agreement totaling $500,000 or more.
Potential
Amendment - Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
We
understand that an amendment regarding the Federal Communication
Commission (FCC) may be offered during Senate floor debate. The
Administration would oppose any amendment that would restrict the
FCC's ability to assign, via competitive bidding, spectrum licenses
that could be used by terrestrial (i.e., non-satellite) services.
Such a provision would interfere with the efficient allocation of
Federal spectrum licenses, provide a windfall to certain users,
and reduce Federal revenues.
Infringements
on Executive Branch Authority
The
Administration will construe Section 623 of the Senate version of
the bill, which addresses the Director's position in the Office
of Multi-Family Housing Assistance Restructuring, in a manner consistent
with the President's constitutional powers to nominate and appoint.
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