(ATN) Upcoming Senate Vote on "Budget Wall"

(ATN) Upcoming Senate Vote on "Budget Wall"

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #157, August 21, 1992
John S. James

In September, Senator Tom Harkin (Democrat, Iowa) plans to introduce an amendment to the Fiscal 1993 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill to transfer $3.7 billion from unobligated Department of Defense accounts to a number of underfunded health, education, and human-services programs. This will include $100 million to the Ryan White programs for AIDS care, and $450 million for biomedical research (not broken down for specific diseases). The bill includes an increase for tuberculosis.

Because this amendment would break the budget agreement which prevents defense funds from being used for domestic programs, 60 votes will be required in the Senate, instead of the 51 usually required.

This amendment faces an uphill battle, since President Bush is expected to veto it if it passes; then a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress would be required. Also, because of the deficit and because of the way the issue of domestic vs. military spending has been framed, there is reluctance in Congress to override the budget agreement. But whether or not this particular proposal becomes law, it is important as part of the ongoing effort to build a broad-based coalition including children's, education, medical research, and public health activists in a united effort.

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