Bustos Helps Pass Major Funding Package to Improve Rural Health Care, Lower Costs, Support Teachers, Strengthen Waterways & Defense
Committee Chairwoman Praises Bustos’ “Tenacious Advocacy” for Illinois’ 17th District
With Critical Bustos Provisions Included, Four-Bill Appropriations Minibus Passes Full House
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, helped pass a major funding package out of the House of Representatives. The legislation is a four-bill minibus and includes the following four Appropriations bills: Labor, Health and Humans Services, and Education; Energy and Water Development; State-Foreign Operations; and Defense. Congresswoman Bustos secured major wins for hardworking Illinoisans in this package by including language that addresses teacher shortages in our communities, improves rural health care delivery, strengthens our locks and dams and enhances our region’s defense capabilities.
“When I joined the Appropriations Committee, I knew I was in a position to deliver real results for Illinois families,” Congresswoman Bustos said. “This first funding package is one that I’m extremely proud of and will invest in the future of Illinois and our families – whether it’s improving our health care system, strengthening our waterways, supporting our teachers or strengthening our national defense. This bill takes meaningful action to grow our economy and better the lives of folks across our district and I hope the Senate will join us to get this legislation to the president’s desk.”
“Thanks to Congresswoman Bustos’ leadership and tenacious advocacy, we have provided robust funding in our fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills to meet the priorities of Illinois’ 17th Congressional District and of communities across the country, from job training and infrastructure to a strong national defense,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “I look forward to continuing to work with Cheri to support key priorities for her district and to make robust investments that give every person a better chance at a better life.”
“Today’s House-passed funding bill—which include resources for the Departments of Labor, Health and Humans Services, and Education—is a big step toward addressing the issues facing working people and the middle class,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro. “We have made historic investments in programs that provide opportunities for millions of people in areas like early childhood education, child care, public schools, workforce training, apprenticeship programs, groundbreaking medical research, public health, and many more. This bill will help people across the country at every stage of their life, and I urge the Senate to act on it quickly.”
“The 2020 Energy and Water bill makes historic investments toward our national priorities at the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior, and the Bureau of Reclamation,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Chair of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. “This legislation takes concrete steps to spur further innovation and the jobs that come with it at the Department of Energy, fund environmental restoration across the country, shore up our energy and water infrastructure to bolster trade, and invest in economic growth. As we prepared for this legislation, the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee held eight hearings and received significant member input from both sides of the aisle. I want to thank Congresswoman Bustos for her efforts to strengthen and update the aging locks and dams along the Mississippi River. We can be proud of the bipartisan effort that went into creating it.”
“This bill makes several efforts to focus on the well-being and morale of those in uniform, their families, DoD civilians, and defense communities,” said Congressman Pete Visclosky, Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “For example, in addition to a 3.1 percent pay raise for our women and men in uniform, the bill also provides increased funds for military childcare facilities because I believe that access to affordable and quality childcare is vital to retention in our all-volunteer force, particularly for mid-career enlisted personnel and officers, I look forward to continuing to work with all Members of Congress to complete our work prior to the start of the new Fiscal Year.”
BACKGROUND
Labor, Health and Humans Services (HHS), and Education
Congresswoman Bustos included the following provisions:
- A $15 million increase for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) – with total funding for the program at $120 million – which helps recruit primary care providers to underserved and rural areas through scholarships and loan repayment programs.
- A directive for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to examine how it can better recruit and train primary care physicians to address shortages of providers.
- A requirement for HHS to update the Appropriations Committee on strategies and best practices for coordination with schools and programs offering rural health curriculum – such as medical residencies – to improve the health care workforce in rural communities.
- A requirement for HHS to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and its newly established Rural Health Liaison to improve health outcomes in rural America.
- A requirement for the Department of Labor and the Department of Education to issue a report on teacher shortages and the factors contributing to challenges with teacher recruitment and retention.
The Labor-HHS bill includes $189.8 billion in funding – geared toward improving the health care law and providing Americans with quality, affordable health care; bringing down the cost of higher education; investing in our students and early childhood education; and better preparing our workforce through apprenticeships and training programs.
Other priorities of Congresswoman Bustos that were funded in the bill include:
RURAL HEALTH CARE – In addition to increasing funding for the National Health Service Corps, this legislation prioritizes rural health care delivery by increasing funding for telehealth programs to $28.5 million.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – This legislation increases funding for Head Start by $1.5 billion – with its funding totaling $11.6 billion. Head Start provides comprehensive early childhood education, health and nutrition services to low-income parents and children.
HIGHER EDUCATION – This legislation stands up for students who’ve been crippled by student loan debt by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $150 per year – bringing the total to $6,345. It also urges the Department of Education to crack down on nefarious student loan servicers with a history of poor performance. Congresswoman Bustos pressed Secretary Betsy DeVos on this issue earlier this year. Finally, the bill helps students earn an affordable education by robust funding for the Federal Work Study program with $1.43 billion.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT – Congresswoman Bustos has consistently fought for affordable, accessible care – and this legislation shifts $100 million to the Affordable Care Act’s Navigators program, which helps consumers and small businesses find health care options in the marketplace.
HOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS – Home health care workers provide essential care to parents, grandparents and children – and this bill blocks the Trump Administration’s efforts that would have made it harder for these workers to pay their union dues and join a strong union.
WORKFORCE TRAINING – Congresswoman Bustos has been a strong advocate for workers – and this legislation invests $900 million in adult workforce training, $964 million in youth training and $250 million in apprenticeship programs. The bill also significantly increases funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) by $37.4 million – with total funding for CTE reaching $1.3 billion.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES – Continuing Congresswoman Bustos’ work to protect children and families from lead poisoning, this legislation includes $40 million for the childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program. It also includes $3.8 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps keep families safe and healthy by managing costs associated with home energy bills.
PUBLIC BROADCASTING – Congresswoman Bustos understands the importance of public radio and television to our communities, and this bill increases funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to a total of $495 million.
Defense
Our region carries a strong tradition of service, which is why Congresswoman Bustos fought to include the following provisions:
- Language that commends the Army on the creation of the newly established Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence at the Rock Island Arsenal and directs the Department of Defense to identify additional activities that will benefit from the unique capabilities the center has to offer.
- Language to continue current projects carried out by the Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) and lay the groundwork for future projects. Specifically, the bill includes funding to continue JMTC’s conversion of Humvees into ambulances, as well as new funding for converting Humvees into service trucks or Shop Equipment Contact Maintenance (SECM).
- Ensured service contracts are in full compliance with Department of Defense regulations and congressionally passed guidelines.
- Secured $79 million in funding for engine enhancement packages for C-130H aircrafts – like those in operation at the 182nd Air National Guard squadron in Peoria – so they are operating with state-of-the-art equipment.
Other priorities of Congresswoman Bustos that were funded in the bill include:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE – This bill provides an increase of $15.8 billion more than the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
MILITARY PERSONNEL – This legislation includes a 3.1 percent military pay raise. It also addresses quality of life and safety issues in the military by providing an additional $70.7 million in upgrades to childcare facilities and $297 million in funding for the Department and Services’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE – The House Appropriations Committee provides $1.055 billion above the president’s request for key readiness programs. These funds go toward preparing our forces, including the National Guard and reserve, for combat operations and other peacetime missions.
Energy and Water Development
Investing in our region’s water infrastructure has been among Congresswoman Bustos’ top priorities since being elected to Congress, which is why she included the following provisions:
- Language that urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Rock Island District to begin preconstruction engineering and design for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) following the completion of a new economic study. NESP is a program focused on navigation improvement and ecological restoration to contribute to the economic and environmental success of the Upper Mississippi River System.
- An increase of $2.5 million of funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s flood control and coastal emergencies account. This increase would go toward disaster preparedness, emergency operations, protection or repair of federal projects, advance measures and provisions of emergency water due to drought or contamination.
- $10 million in support of the Vehicle Technologies Program, which falls under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office and promotes research into energy efficiency in off-road vehicles like industrial and farming equipment. The bill includes her request that half of those funds be directed towards the study of fluid power systems, which could lead to cost-savings for producers across Illinois.
Other priorities of Congresswoman Bustos that were funded in the bill include:
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – In total, this bill provides $7.36 billion in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, which constructs vital projects along our waterways – including our locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR/BUREAU OF RECLAMATION – $1.65 billion are appropriated for the Department of the Interior, while $1.63 billion are provided for the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water infrastructure and rural water projects.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY – This legislation increases funding for the Department of Energy by $1.4 billion from fiscal year 2019 to a total of $37.1 billion.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISION – A net appropriation of $130 million are also set aside to fund the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which ensures the safe use of nuclear reactors and radioactive materials.
State-Foreign Operations
Priorities of Congresswoman Bustos that were funded in the bill include:
DIPLOMACY – This bill provides a total of $17.2 billion in funding for operation costs for the State Department and related agencies.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT – $1.7 billion are appropriated for the U.S. Agency of International Development.
STABILITY AND SECURITY ABROAD – This legislation funds antiterrorism programs, nonproliferation programs, peacekeeping operations and other critical international security efforts.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE – $7.97 billion will go toward humanitarian assistance to provide help to refugees, displaced peoples and those recovering from international natural disasters.
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