Earlier today the U.S. Senate gave its bi-partisan approval to the “Health and Education Bill” that I authored. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to have authored this bill that makes so many critical investments in our home front.

The bill adds $1 billion to the National Institutes of Health budget, provides $450 million more to students with disabilities, allocates $200 million more to help children get a good start through the Head Start program and makes college more affordable by increasing the maximum Pell grant to $4,800 per year.

Through this bill we have shown the American people that they come first by pledging funds for new cancer research, educational assistance and top notch employment training. And in the interest of the American people, Senator Specter and I have promised a bipartisan bill that trumps personal interests. In an effort to see this promise through, we met the President halfway by removing the stem cell language and are hopeful that he will join us in this grand spirit of bipartisan compromise and sign this bill.

The huge bipartisan support of 79 Senators suggests that the Senate could override a veto, should the President choose to play politics with America ’s health and education.