WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate Appropriations Committee today unanimously voted to favorably report out to key spending bills: the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Agriculture bill and the FY 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) bill.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island’s only member of the Appropriations Committee, who serves on the MilCon-VA Subcommittee, says the pair of bills contains key ‘Congressionally directed spending’ (also known as ‘earmarks’) he successfully included to fund numerous projects across Rhode Island.

“As an appropriator, it’s my job to help responsibly fund the government and ensure we are wisely investing in effective programs and strategically allocating federal funds.  And I am committed to ensuring Rhode Islanders have a voice in this process and our state gets its fair share of federal funds.  The critical spending bills advanced out of committee today will help us move the appropriations process forward and return to regular order,” said Reed.  “In Rhode Island, the federal funding in these bills will help feed the hungry, enhance public safety, support our veterans, their families, and our National Guard, and invest in research and infrastructure."

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies FY24 Appropriations Bill contains $26 billion in discretionary funding to support farmers and rural communities, protect the nation’s food supply, and reduce hunger.   A summary of the Ag Appropriations bill can be found here.  It also includes several earmarks Senator Reed requested, totaling nearly $7.7 million, including:

  • $3,500,000 for a Block Island Public Safety Complex
  • $2,025,000 for Flood Mitigation in the Pocasset River Watershed Floodplain
  • $1,950,000 for Aquaculture Diagnostics at Roger Williams University
  • $165,000 for the Town of Richmond to construct a Radio Tower
  • $55,000 for a new elevator at the Richmond Senior Center

The FY 24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies FY24 Appropriations Bill contains $154.4 billion, which includes $135.3 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and related agencies, and $19.1 billion in Pentagon spending for military construction and family housing.  The bill also includes $161.7 billion in mandatory funding to fulfill our nation’s obligations to our veterans, as well as advance appropriations for FY 2025 for veterans medical care expenses.  A summary of the Milcon-VA Appropriations bill can be found here.  It also includes several earmarks Senator Reed requested, totaling $31.9 million, including:

  • $30 million for a new National Guard Readiness Center in North Kingstown
  • $1.9 million in planning and design funds for a Collective Training Unaccompanied Housing Open Bay facility at Camp Fogarty Training Site

Now that these two appropriations bills have been approved at the committee level, they must pass the full U.S. Senate and be reconciled with versions making their way through the U.S. House of Representatives.  After identical appropriations bills are approved by both the House and the Senate, they may be sent to the President's desk to be signed into law.  The Senate Appropriations Committee continues to work on the remaining ten appropriations bills.