This vote was on an amendment by Bobby Jindal, R-La., that would increase funding by $50 million for the Centers for Disease Control’s division dedicated to eliminating tuberculois.  It would pay for this increase by reducing the Bureau of International Labor Affairs by an equal amount.  The amendment was offered to the bill that funds the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in fiscal 2008.

Jindal said boosting funding for tuberculoisis eradication is vital, considering that in 2006 more than 20 states reported increased cases of tuberculosis exposure.

“My home State of Louisiana, as well as most other States, have a large number of workers who travel the globe to share their expertise. Unlike tourists who stay in hotels in environments where TB exposure does not normally occur, Louisiana’s oil and gas workers spend months working and living in environments among the local population where exposure can and does occur. TB exposure in these communities can result in many fatalities,” Jindal said.

David Obey, D-Wis., said he thinks the Centers for Disease Control’s tuberculosis eradication program is a more than worthy cause, but that he cannot support increasing funding for it to the detriment of other important programs.

“My problem with this amendment is, while it seeks funds for a very worthy cause, in the process it takes away crucial funds for many other worthy causes. And sooner or later, even in the Congress of the United States, we need to think about the needs of the whole. We need to think about all of the needs that the government has to deal with, not just one concern of one Member or one concern of another,” Obey said.  “So in the interest of responsibility, I would urge a, very regretfully, defeat of the gentleman’s amendment.”

By a vote of 183-243, the amendment was rejected.  Of Democrats present, 19 voted for the amendment and 210 voted against it.  Of Republicans present, 164 voted for the amendment and 33 voted against it.  The end result is that an amendment that would have bolstered tuberculosis funding by cutting funding for the Labor Department was defeated.