Congresswoman Adams Statement on House Passage of Omnibus Spending Bill

Dec 18, 2015

Press Release

Congresswoman Sent Letter to Appropriations Committee in December

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12) today released the following statement after House passage of the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill which funds the government until September 30, 2016:

“Although I am not completely satisfied with the Omnibus Appropriations bill, it is a bipartisan compromise that excludes divisive policy riders to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act. This legislation includes key investments in education, research, and infrastructure, which will help create jobs and grow the economy. I’m disappointed the bill doesn’t include funding for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation Grant program; however, it does provide a significant increase in funding for HBCUs.

“I urged the Appropriations Committee to adequately fund several programs that would benefit North Carolina’s 12th District and I am pleased much of the funding I fought for, made it into the final bill, such as critical transportation and housing funding as well as funding to support our schools, our service members and our veterans. I voted for the bill to avert a disastrous GOP-led government shutdown and to ensure critical programs in North Carolina’s 12th District and across the nation have the funding they need to continue.”

The bill implements the Bipartisan Budget Agreement that was adopted by Congress in October. Earlier this month, Congresswoman Adams sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for several programs that would benefit many cities throughout North Carolina’s 12th District. Throughout the year, Congresswoman Adams has had several meetings with local leaders and municipalities to learn of their funding priorities.

The Omnibus Appropriations bill:

Transportation

Provides $2.2 billion for Capital Investment Grants which will support $75 million for Charlotte’s Street Car project and $100 million for Charlotte’s Blue Line Extension project.

Education

Restores the $2.5 billion cut in education that the GOP had proposed and also makes critical additional investments of $1.4 billion above 2015, in such areas as Title I that serves 24 million at-risk students.
Provides $2.8 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants which help provide more than 77,900 students in North Carolina with quality childcare.
Provides $9.2 billion for Head Start programs throughout the country which support more than 20,000 North Carolinian students.
Provides $22.5 billion for Pell Grants. More than 250,600 students in North Carolina received more than $920 million in Pell Grants during the 2013-2014 school year.
Provides a $22 million increase for the Title III, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) program.
Ensures $25 million for STARBASE, a STEM education program for fifth graders. This program is utilized by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County schools and is administered by the North Carolina Air National Guard.

Veterans and Service Members

Provides a 1.3 percent pay raise for military personnel.
Provides $300 million for VA Supportive Services for Veterans’ families.

Housing

Provides $3 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) which aid in housing rehabilitation, economic development, and infrastructure improvements.
Provides $950 million for HOME Investment Partnerships which support housing authorities such as the Charlotte Housing Authority and the Winston-Salem Housing Authority.

Energy Assistance

Provides $3.4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Earlier this year, Congresswoman Adams led a letter along with 74 other Members of Congress, urging for the release of the funds.

Health and Research

Provides $32.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Last year, more than $111 million was awarded to cities and towns in North Carolina’s 12th District.
Reauthorizes the key James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, making the Health Program permanent and reauthorizing the Victims Compensation Fund for five years.

Environment