Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal highlighted significant victories for western and central Massachusetts, and other communities across America in H.R. 7608, the first “minibus” of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, which passed the House on July 24 and H.R. 7617, the second “minibus” of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, which passed the House on July 31.
“Families in western and central Massachusetts understand the need to increase investments that expand opportunities for every person in every corner of the nation. The Trump administration’s callous proposal to slash these investments is the wrong approach at a time when we should be doing more, not less, to help families and communities,” said Congressman Neal. “I was proud to vote for these House Democratic spending packages to strengthen food security, prioritize public health and safety, invest in infrastructure, support veterans, service members and military families, protect the environment, combat climate change, and prepare for a brighter future.”
H.R. 7608 totals $259.5 billion in discretionary funding and consists of four FY 2021 appropriations bills: State-Foreign Operations, Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA, Interior-Environment, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
H.R. 7617 totals $1.3 trillion in discretionary funding and consists of six FY 2021 appropriations bills: Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Service and General Government, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development.
Below are a number of notable wins for American communities, including here in western and central Massachusetts, in both pieces of legislation:
SUPPORT FOR HOLYOKE SOLDIERS’ HOME
- Legislation includes $100,000,000 for State Survey and Certification activities to increase inspections of nursing home facilities in localities with community transmission of coronavirus. Thanks to Congressman Neal’s efforts, the legislation also urges Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs on oversight of long-term care facilities under the Department of Veterans Affairs, including surveys of such facilities including the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
FUNDS TO CREATE GREEN SPACE AROUND UNION STATION
- Thanks to Congressman Neal’s efforts, areas around Union Station would be eligible for grants in the $374,000,000 bus and bus facilities competitive grants program for activities to increase green space surrounding a bus transportation hub structure, similar to the bus hub at Union Station. The minimum grant award would be not less than $1 million.
CORONAVIRUS
- Gives FDA legal authority to require the recall of unsafe prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Restores funding for the World Health Organization, a vital U.S. partner in the fight against COVID-19, which President Trump has threatened to cut off
FOOD SECURITY
- Provides full funding for SNAP ($68.277 billion), child nutrition programs ($25.131 billion), and WIC ($5.75 billion)
- Blocks two unconscionable SNAP rules by the Trump administration designed to restrict program eligibility
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INFRASTRUCTURE
- $15.17 billion in water infrastructure and other infrastructure programs, including $12.97 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and $546 million to get lead out of drinking water
- $1.45 billion for rural water and waste program loans, and more than $610 million in water and waste grants for clean and reliable drinking water systems and sanitary waste disposal systems
- $990 million for the Rural Broadband ReConnect Program, $435 million above fiscal year 2020
- $107.2 billion in total budgetary resources for the Department of Transportation, $19.4 billion above Trump’s request
- $7.6 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including studies, construction, and operation & maintenance
- $1.64 billion for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water resources projects, including WIIN Act-authorized projects
- $75 billion in emergency funding to rebuild our nation’s transportation and housing infrastructure
- $61 billion in emergency funding to expand the availability of broadband to unserved and underserved areas
- $43.5 billion in emergency spending modernize water and energy infrastructure
- $24.425 billion in emergency spending to support state and local public health agencies and global health activities
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ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
- $13.83 billion for the Department of the Interior (non-LWCF), $304 million above fiscal year 2020
- $9.38 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, $318 million above fiscal year 2020
- $521.6 million for EPA’s Clean Air programs and research, $37.9 million above fiscal year 2020
VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES
- Provides $12.5 billion in emergency appropriations for VA to address sharply rising health care costs
- Veterans Medical Care – $90.0 billion, $9.8 billion above fiscal year 2020
- Mental Health Care – $10.3 billion
- Homeless Assistance Programs – $1.9 billion
- Gender-Specific Care for Women – $661 million
- Military Construction Projects – $10.4 billion, with language ensuring these funds cannot be stolen for Trump’s wasteful border wall
- Military Family Housing – $1.49 billion, $22 million above fiscal year 2020
MEDICAL RESEARCH
- $47 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $5.5 billion above FY20
- $50 million, an increase of $25 million above FY20, for firearm injury and mortality prevention research at CDC and NIH
EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING
- $73.5 billion for the Department of Education, $6.9 billion above Trump’s request
- $10.2 billion for the Employment and Training Administration, $1.5 billion above Trump’s request
HOUSING
- $50.6 billion for Housing and Urban Development, $13.3 billion above Trump’s request
- Blocks Trump administration rules targeting undocumented immigrants and LGBT people
STRONG COMMUNITIES
- $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, rejecting Trump’s proposal to eliminate the program
- $356 million for the Economic Development Administration, helping boost struggling communities
- $273.5 million for Community Development Financial Institutions, rejecting Trump’s proposal to eliminate the program
POLICE REFORM
- Implements key components of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, with strong funding for police reform
- Conditions federal grant funding for state and local law enforcement on significant improvements to police practices
SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY FAMILIES
- Provides full funding necessary to support the 3 percent military pay raise
- More than $33.3 billion for Defense Health Programs, including $512.5 million for cancer research
CLIMATE CHANGE
- $12 billion across Department of Energy programs to support clean, affordable, and secure energy
- $5.45 billion for NOAA, helping address important priorities such as climate research
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