July 18, 1975
Page 23585
Mr. MUSKIE. I thank my good friend and floor manager of the bill Mr. Moss, who is also, of course, a member of the Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee included $46 million in the health function of the budget resolution for appropriations authorized by this bill. That was the figure the Commerce Committee estimated this bill would authorize when it made its report to the Budget Committee on March 15.
However, the authorization in the bill as reported is $51 million, $5 million over the amount contemplated in the budget resolution.
To go beyond that point to a more complete analysis, the budget resolution targets for the health function are $33.1 billion in budget authority and $30.7 billion in outlays. These target levels include $2.1 billion in budget authority and $2 billion in outlays in addition to the President's budget, which we used as a base for an estimate of the cost of current services. A portion of these additional funds was meant to provide for the probable rejection by Congress of the President's ill-advised proposed changes to medicare and medicaid. The rest, including about $600 million in outlays for fiscal year 1976, was for important new health initiatives.
With the passage of the conference report on S. 66, the Nurse Training Act of 1975, we committed about half of this $660 million in outlay funds available in the health function. Therefore, $300 million is left for other congressional initiatives in the health area. While the $5 million additional dollars in authorizing authority for the Consumer Product Safety Commission exceeds the amount contemplated in the budget resolution for this bill, the amount authorized is well within the remaining limits of the health function; namely the $300 million I referred to. In the case of this bill, like so many others; however, we must recognize that appropriation of the full $51 million it authorizes for this year would leave somewhat less for other health-related programs. A balance will need to be struck in the appropriations process if the budget resolution is not to be exceeded.
So I flag that $300 million to the fact that the additional $5 million for this program cuts into that which was made available by the Budget Committee.
It is my own opinion, Mr. President, that these funds will be used to the best interest of the consumer who is faced with health hazards which he should be made aware of and from which he should be protected. I commend the distinguished Senator from Utah for his leadership in this field, in the handling of this bill, and his contribution to the Budget Committee.