Sen. Reed, one of a dozen Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairmen, successfully includes over $229 million in Congressionally-directed spending for dozens of key Rhode Island projects in major spending bill making its way through Congress 

After decade-long ban, earmarks return & Reed delivers new funding to support RI priorities, including: infrastructure, health care, education, housing, job training, and economic development

Bipartisan bill includes $13.6B in critical aid for Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC – After months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, and with just hours to go before a potential federal government shutdown, the full U.S. Senate voted 68-31 late last night to pass the fiscal year 2022 omnibus spending bill, which provides $1.5 trillion across the federal government, including $13.6 billion in emergency funding for security assistance to Ukraine and other U.S. allies in the region. 

The bipartisan bill, which will fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year (September 30, 2022), now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.  Congress also passed a short-term continuing resolution to ensure there are no disruptions in federal funding while the law is enacted and no unnecessary slowdowns in getting U.S. aid to Ukraine. 

“This bill delivers a real boost for the American people.  It invests in improving schools, strengthening public safety, enhancing economic development, affordable health care, a cleaner environment, upgrading our transportation network, and more.  It also delivers critical assistance to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainian people can defend themselves from Putin’s brutal, illegal invasion,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and the Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.

The omnibus includes a 6.7 percent increase for non-defense discretionary programs, the largest increase in four years, and invests in critical areas that were underfunded or neglected by the previous administration, including: health care, child care, college affordability, science, economic development, small business support, confronting climate change, and lowering home energy costs. 

Notably, the bill also includes a long-sought reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that was co-sponsored by Senator Reed.  VAWA provides federal resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.  Originally enacted in 1994, and authored by then-Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), VAWA lapsed four years ago due to Republican objections related to a gun provision prohibiting convicted abusers of possessing firearms.  The new law does not close the ‘boyfriend loophole,’ but it strengthens the criminal justice response to domestic violence and expands support for survivors.

The omnibus also includes the bipartisan Adjustable Interest Rate (Libor) Act to protect Rhode Island retirees, students, homeowners, consumers, and small businesses from having their interest rates reset next year for mortgages, student loans, credit cards, bonds, and many other kinds of credit.  As the financial industry completes its transition away from using a little-known but critical interest rate called Libor, Senator Reed worked across the aisle to help ensure that borrowers will not pay higher interest rates as a result.

Through his leadership on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed successfully included Congressionally-directed spending – also known as “earmarks” -- in the appropriations package to fund numerous projects across Rhode Island.  As a result of Reed’s advocacy, over 85 projects in Rhode Island could see over $229 million in federal funds this year.

A senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD), Reed helped include over $700 million in federal funding for Ocean State transportation, housing, and economic development programs.  Notably, Reed successfully secured an extra $40 million in federal assistance for bridge repair and replacement projects in Rhode Island.

“This federal funding will help put more people to work, upgrade our infrastructure, and enhance safety.  This is a responsible and necessary step to help drive our economy forward,” said Senator Reed.

A number of Senator Reed’s earmark requests for community projects and priorities across Rhode Island were included in the final bill, such as:

FY 22 TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (THUD) APPROPRIATIONS: $41,677,000

  • $6.6 million for Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport Improvements, Including Cargo Services
  • $5 million for East Bay Bike Path Bridges
  • $5 million for Warwick City Hall Plaza
  • $4 million for Newport Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) Infrastructure & Resiliency
  • $3.4 million for Woonasquatucket River Greenway Design and Build Project Along the Woonasquatucket River in Providence
  • $3.2 million for the Washington Secondary Bike Path
  • $3 million for a public plaza in the City of Pawtucket’s Transit Oriented Development District
  • $2.5 million for Lead Remediation for Woonsocket bridges
  • $2.5 million for Parking Expansion at Kingston Train Station
  • $2 million to help Crossroads Rhode Island Build New Single Occupancy Residential Units for Very Low-income, Formerly Homeless Individuals
  • $1.08 million for NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley’s Neighborhood Healthy Housing, Jobs & Economic Development Initiative for Woonsocket
  • $1 million for Pavement Repairs to Centerville Road and Toll Gate Road in Warwick and West Warwick
  • $1 million for the Renovation and Expansion of Newport County YMCA facilities
  • $500,000 for the Knightsville Revitalization Project in Cranston to Upgrade Sidewalks and Streetscapes
  • $400,000 for the Construction of a Community Pavilion in Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland
  • $295,000 for the Restoration of the East Smithfield Neighborhood Center
  • $200,000 for the Town of Burrillville Riverwalk Replacement & New Pedestrian Bridge

FY 22 INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS: $12,600,000

  • $3.3 million for Providence Water Lead Service Replacement
  • $3.2 million to Replace the Lincoln Avenue Water Transmission Line in Warwick
  • $1.5 million to Upgrade the Warwick Sewer Authority’s SCADA System
  • $1.35 million for the Prudence Island Water District to Upgrade Drinking Water Infrastructure
  • $1.175 million for a New Water Main to Improve System Reliability in North Smithfield
  • $775,000 for the Removal of Lead Water Service Lines in Woonsocket
  • $500,000 for Trinity Repertory Company’s Lederer Theatre Center Renovation
  • $375,000 for North Providence’s Wendell and Link Street Area Stormwater Improvements & Flood Prevention
  • $325,000 for Greenville Water District to Enhance Water Quality for Residents
  • $100,000 for the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission’s State Archeological Collections Repository

FY 22 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE (CJS) APPROPRIATIONS: $8,036,000

  • $1.6 million for Laboratory Improvements and the Development of a Shellfish Hatchery at Roger Williams University
  • $1.375 million for the Providence Police Department to Purchase Police Vehicles and Related Equipment
  • $1.2 million for Thundermist Health Center to Provide Crisis Intervention Team Training for Police
  • $1 million for Sustainable Seafood Research at the University of Rhode Island
  • $1 million for Plastics Pollution Research at the University of Rhode Island
  • $900,000 for Providence Police Department Security Improvements
  • $300,000 for Save the Bay to Conduct Watershed Education Programs
  • $250,000 for a University of Rhode Island On-Water Center of Excellence for Teaching and Research
  • $150,000 for Providence Children’s Museum to Provide Services for At-risk Children
  • $140,000 for North Smithfield to Repair Mowry Tower, an Important Communications Hub
  • $120,000 for Tides Family Services to Provide Services for At-risk Children 

FY 22 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL APPROPRIATIONS: $79,100,000

  • $75 million for Construction of New Homeport for Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters at Naval Station Newport
  • $4.1 million in security infrastructure reimbursements for  Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport

FY 22 LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES (LABOR-H) APPROPRIATIONS: $18,003,000

  • $3.7 million for Skills for Rhode Island’s Future to Expand its Youth Job Training Program
  • $3 million for the City of Pawtucket to Create a Job Training and Lifelong Learning Center
  • $1.498 million for Thundermist Health Center to Provide Clinical Care Workforce Development
  • $1.25 million for Skills for Rhode Island’s Future’s Ready.Set.Work Program to Provide Career Services and Training
  • $1.2 million for High Performance Computing Technology for the University of Rhode Island
  • $1.06 million for Technology Improvements at the Community College of Rhode Island
  • $1 million for Wood River Health Services to Renovate and Expand a Health Center
  • $850,000 for Technology Improvements in Salve Regina’s Pell Center
  • $750,000 for the Rhode Island Department of Children Youth and Families to Recruit and Retain Foster Families
  • $750,000 for CODAC Behavioral Healthcare to Renovate a New Headquarters
  • $500,000 for AS220 to Expand its Workforce Development and Education Programs
  • $500,000 for Rhode Island College to Establish Innovation and Leadership Certificate Programs
  • $300,000 for Higher Ground International to Provide Senior Care Services
  • $300,000 for the PACE Organization of Rhode Island to Renovate and Equip its New Health Clinic and Adult Day Care Center
  • $230,000 for DORCAS International Institute of Rhode Island to Expand its Career Services and Training Program
  • $200,000 for RI Public Health Foundation Clinic Expansion
  • $175,000 for the RI Institute for Labor Studies and Research’s Pathway to Teaching Project
  • $140,000 for the Providence Preservation Society to Provide Workforce Training
  • $100,000 for Career Services and Training at Newport Community School
  • $100,000 for the Audubon Society to Provide Environmental Education and Teacher Professional Development
  • $100,000 for the Block Island Maritime Institute to Provide Environmental Education
  • $100,000 for Project GOAL to Expand Academic Enrichment Programs
  • $100,000 for Information Technology Upgrades at the Groden Center
  • $100,000 for Newport County Community Mental Health Center to Expand its Youth Mental Health Services

FY 22 AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES (AG) APPROPRIATIONS BILL: $10,440,000

  • $5 million for Cranston and Johnston to help with Pocasset River flood damage reduction
  • $2 million for the Warren Fire and EMS Center
  • $1 million for East Coast Shellfish Research conducted at the University of Rhode Island
  • $290,000 for the Scituate Rhode Island Land Trust to help with reforestation and revitalization of Esek Hopkins Park
  • $150,000 for Richmond police station renovations
  • $2 million for the Central Falls Ralph Holden Community Center project

FY 22 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT (ENERGY & WATER) APPROPRIATIONS BILL: $49,946,000

  • $42.05 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects such as: Fox Point Barrier, Narragansett Bay; Woonsocket Local Protection Project; Rose Larisa Park; Watch Hill Lighthouse; Providence River and Harbor; Little Narragansett Bay; Block Island Harbor of Refuge; and Great Salt Pond, Block Island
  • $5 million for energy improvements for Rhode Island schools
  • $2.9 million for the Narragansett Bay Commission’s project on Enhanced Biogas Collection and Energy Recovery

FY 22 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION-VA (MILCON-VA) APPROPRIATIONS BILL: $8,300,000 for projects at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Naval Station Newport, including:

  •  $4 million for the Next Generation Secure Submarine Platform Facility
  • $1.7 million for the Consolidated RDT&E Systems Facility
  • $1.4 million for the Submarine Payloads Integration Laboratory
  • $1.2 million for the Next Generation Torpedo Integration Lab

FY 22 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS: $2,250,000

  • $1 million for the Rhode Island Black Business Association
  • $500,000 for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society to Preserve Documents
  • $475,000 for the Social Enterprise Greenhouse
  • $275,000 for Hope & Main’s Providence Culinary Incubator Project

“I was pleased to work with elected officials and community leaders across the state to target their local needs.  These earmarks will help local governments and organizations with a variety of economic development, public health, and educational projects and priorities that will strengthen our communities,” said Senator Reed.

The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.