Honorable Cardiss Collins
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Cardiss:
Thank you for your recent letter concerning prostatitis. I appreciate your thoughts on this matter and I will attempt to accommodate your request.
As I am sure you know, we now have budget proposals passed by both the House and Senate that will reduce available discretionary funding substantially below FY 1995. It is clear that these spending ceilings for FY 1996 will require that to provide any program with an increase or even to hold it at last year's level will be very difficult.
My recent experience attempting to rescind funds from FY 1995 appropriations reinforced my belief that almost every program in my Subcommittee's jurisdiction has many members who support it and strong, aggressive constituencies. These supporters are active even in the face of a consensus that we need to reduce the deficit.
Given this very difficult task facing the Subcommittee it would be most helpful if you could suggest spending reductions to offset your request to increase, or not reduce programs. Such suggestions would be of great assistance to me and would make it easier to accommodate your request.
Please be assured, however, that I will give your request every consideration.
Sincerely
John Edward Porter, Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies