Press Releases
Rep. Young Secures Key Funding in LHHS Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C.,
November 8, 2007
Alaskan Congressman Don Young voted tonight in favor of the conference report on the 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, H.R. 3043. This bill targets the programs most in need of funding: those that aid worker development, provide access to educational opportunity and affordable health care, as well as provide funding for groundbreaking medical research. "This bill funds projects that are crucial to the well-being of Alaskans," commented Rep. Young. "It’s not the bill I wanted, it is way over budget, but these programs are necessary, and we cannot deny funding to that which will take care of our people. Child care, education, family health care and medical research…these are the programs which keep our country running and our families healthy and safe. They give us a future. I am especially proud of the following projects I was able to secure as a part of this important Appropriations bill: $400,000 for Anchorage methamphetamine education project which is the first statewide program to educate Alaskans about the dangers of methamphetamine use $200,000 for Akeela, Inc. for the re-Entry Program in Anchorage for the purpose of increasing treatment retention and capacity at the substance abuse treatment facility $200,000 AK Statewide Independent Living Council to continue and expand the Personal Case Attendant Program and to expand outreach efforts to the disabled living in Alaska $150,000 for AK Addictions Rehabilitation Services/Nugen's Ranch in Wasilla for the construction of a residential substance abuse treatment facility $200,000 for Providence's AK Family Practice Residency Program to recruit and train doctors that will treat the uninsured, underinsured and Medicare patients in Alaska "Throughout the year, I have met with hundreds of Alaskans who have expressed concern about funding for specific programs. I am pleased to share that funding has increased significantly for many programs vital to Alaska. In addition to the funding I was able to specifically secure, this bill also: Addresses the Family Health Care Deficit by providing an additional $200 million for community health centers. This increase would serve an additional 1 million uninsured people. Provides $307 million for rural health programs, area health education centers, and the National Health Service Corps. These programs support more than 1200 small, at-risk hospitals, create health care networks for more than 775,000 rural residents in underserved communities, provide access to emergency defibrillation devices, and support rural health research centers and State rural health offices. Provides $660.4 million for the Community Service Block Grant, and includes a $30 million increase to enable States to expand critical services. Increases the maximum Pell award by $390 increasing it to $4700. Provides $75 million for the Child Care Block Grant, an increase of 3.6 percent and increases Head Start by $75 million or 1.4 percent over fiscal year 2007. Also allocates $50 million for new child care centers at Job Corp sites. Provides $3.4 billion to address mental illness and substance abuse disorder, increase of $13 million for the Mental Health Block Grant as well as $35 million for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. "As the grandfather of 14 grandchildren, this bill hits me close to the heart. These children are our future, and this bill will help them build that future for generations to come."
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