As the Republicans chip away at the foundation of every program that helps this coutnry run and still rack up lots of spending on an unjust war,
I need to take time to focus on what I am grateful for.
I am very glad to see the Senator Kennedy's Education amendment passed.
http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_low.html
MARCH 17,2005
KENNEDY'S EDUCATION AMENDMENT PASSES
Democrats and Republicans Work Together On Behalf of America's Students and Reject Bush's Education Budget Cuts
* Amendment description below*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: LAURA CAPPS/MELISSA WAGONER MARCH 17,2005 (202) 224-2633
Washington, D.C. Today the Senate passed Senator Kennedy's education amendment to budget that would help middle class families pay for college and help all Americans by ensuring that our citizens are equipped for the jobs of the global economy. Republicans stood with Democrats to reject Bush's budget cuts to higher education and vocational training and supported an increase in the maximum of Pell Grants. Kennedy's amendment will strengthen math and science education, boost college loan funding, and restore cuts to critical programs such as GEAR UP, TRIO, and adult literacy training.
"Today Democrat and Republicans worked together on behalf of America's students to turn this era of globalization into a new era of opportunity for all Americans. I am pleased by my amendment's passage and the signal it sends that this Senate can come together and restore Bush's education budget cuts so that students can compete in the global economy," Senator Kennedy said.
The amendment takes into account the many challenges we face as we witness the massive transformation of our industries and our workforce in this global economy. Since 1975, we have fallen from 3rd to 15th in producing scientists and engineers and we rank only 29th in the industrialized world in math and science education. Within ten years 3.4 million jobs are at risk of being shipped overseas. Instead of bolstering the support our students need to compete in this economy, the President's budget seeks to do the opposite, such as eliminating the Perkins loan program that currently helps 675,00 students across the country afford college. Kennedy's $5.4 billion amendment was paid for by closure of corporate tax loopholes.
A description of the education amendment is below:
KENNEDY -- Higher Education/Job Training Budget Amendment
Three Part Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a 21st Century Global Economy:
(1) Giving high schools graduates the opportunity to attain a college degree and better compete in the global economy by:
Securing resources for the Higher Education Student Aid Alliance proposal of a $1.5 billion increase in Pell Grant funding to pay for a $4,500 maximum grant today -- not in five years. (Note: 86,689 Massachusetts college students will get larger Pell Grants, if Kennedy's bipartisan amendment is agreed to by House Republicans as well.)
Securing resources for the Higher Education Student Aid Alliance proposal of a $1.6 billion in Appropriations Committee discretionary authority to restore Bush budget eliminations of TRIO, GEAR UP, LEAP, Perkins loans, and provide for cost of college increases in work-study, graduate education, and SEOG scholarships.
(2) Ensuring America is competitive in the global economy by maintaining strength in math, science, and technology by committing to the resources needed to:
Provide new math, science, and special education teachers in high need schools a guarantee of up to $23,000 in student loan forgiveness for four years of teaching. Estimated impact: 57,000 new math, science, and special education teachers per year to get full federal student loan forgiveness.
(3) Ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to work by restoring Bush budget cuts to job training/adult literacy ($975 million) and vocational education ($1.327 billion).
Total Cost: Approximately $5.4 billion in discretionary spending intended for education paid for by closing $5.4 billion in corporate tax loopholes. ##
I am not saying that this legislation is sufficient. But it is a start. I am grateful that our leaders were able to realize that our children are the future of our country and that providing them with a decent education is very important.
I also like the tobacco legislation the Kennedy and DeWine have proposed.
March 17, 2005
KENNEDY, DEWINE INTRODUCE HISTORIC TOBACCO LEGISLATION TO PREVENT YOUTH SMOKING
New Law Would Give the FDA Broad Authority to Control and Approve Tobacco Products
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Edward M Kennedy (D-MA) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) today introduced a bill giving the Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) the authority it needs to regulate the marketing and manufacture of tobacco products in an effort to curb youth smoking.
"Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, yet over 4000 children have their first cigarette every day. We cannot in good conscience allow the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency most responsible for protecting the public health, to remain powerless to deal with the enormous risks of tobacco -- the most deadly of all consumer products. The tobacco industry has a long, dishonorable history of providing misleading information about the health consequences of smoking. The largest disinformation campaign in the history of the corporate world must end," Senator Kennedy said.
"The detrimental effects of smoking are widely known," said Senator DeWine. "But many consumers, including smokers, are surprised to learn that no federal agency has the authority to require tobacco companies to list the ingredients that are in their products -- things like trace amounts of arsenic, formaldehyde, and ammonia. No federal agency has the authority to inspect tobacco manufacturers--how the cigarette and smokeless tobacco products are made, whether the manufacturers' machines and equipment are clean. By giving the FDA this authority, in combination with the authority to monitor tobacco advertising targeting America's youths, we will go a long way in combating a public heath problem."
Additional Republican co-sponsors in the Senate are Richard Lugar (R-IN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Gordon Smith (R-OR), John Cornyn (R-TX), John McCain (R-AZ). The Democratic co-sponsors are Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Jack Reed (D-RI).
The Family Smoking Prevention and Public Health Protection Act would provide the FDA the authority to regulate the sale, marketing and advertising of tobacco products to end practices that target youth and mislead the public. Additionally, it would give the FDA the authority to require tobacco companies to list all the ingredients added by a manufacturer to the tobacco, paper, and filter of a tobacco product. The legislation also would require stronger, more explicit warning labels and would grant the FDA the authority to change labels periodically to ensure the warning remains effective.
http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_low.html
This is excellent bipartisan legislation that can help protect our youth. People start smoking when they are young. Even though they are aware of the danger on some level, many people still make the choice to smoke.
On a personal note, I am grateful that I have started a new exercise program. Yesterday was National Diabetes Day at Bally's. If anyone donated $5.00, they received a month long membership. So a friend and I have given it a try.
I have stopped and started work out programs many times in my life. I can't say that I have ever reached a point where it just part of my lifestyle forever but I have not given up hope. I believe in the importance exercise in terms of a person's health and well-being.
What are you grateful for? Politcally or personally