WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Ranking Member of the panel’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee, joined with members of the Appropriations Committee in announcing an Omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year.  The bipartisan agreement will help prevent a costly government shutdown and provides an annualized total of $1.16 trillion in federal spending.

Senator Reed noted that 160 partisan “poison pill” policy riders were removed from the bill and the final agreement includes restrictions on building an ineffective wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.  He also played an important role in crafting key pieces of the bill to help strengthen the economy, create jobs, and make critical investments in America’s future. 

“I am pleased we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement to keep the federal government working for the American people.  We scored a lot of key victories for Rhode Islanders and working families across the country,” said Reed.  “The Trump Administration wanted to gut clean air and clean water programs, weaken consumer protections, cancel after school programs, and put the brakes on scientific research at places like NIH.  This agreement beats back much of that harm, which would have been a serious drain on our communities.  We stripped out 160 policy riders and instead of cuts, NIH will see a $2 billion funding increase.  We also successfully defended Wall Street reform, blocked funds for the ill-conceived border wall and deportation force, restored Pell grants, and will make important investments in housing and infrastructure that will help create jobs and boost our economy.  This bill provides the resources we need to maintain a strong defense and a strong economy.  It makes important investments in education, housing, public health, and public safety as well as new resources to strengthen our workforce and grow the middle-class.”

Reed noted he was disappointed the omnibus cuts $80 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget, but noted the reduction of 1 percent is far less than the 31 percent cut President Trump proposed.  He also said there was no language included in the final bill for several of President Trump’s biggest priorities, such as his pledges to defund women’s health care and so-called sanctuary cities.

The THUD section of the bill authored by Reed and THUD Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) provides a total of $57.652 billion for programs to help build the U.S. transportation network, support housing programs, and spur economic development.  The bill also includes $983 million in disaster assistance for catastrophic flood events that occurred in 2015 and 2016, and disasters declared in 2017 and beyond.

“We were able to include federal funds to enhance transportation and community development projects in Rhode Island that will help keep our economy moving forward,” said Reed, who highlighted several key areas of the bill that will benefit Rhode Island, including:

Strengthening Our Transportation Infrastructure

Senator Reed helped increase funds for the Federal-Aid Highway program, resulting in a projected allocation for Rhode Island of $231 million in highway grants and $38 million in transit grants.

Keeping T.F. Green Airport Improvements on Schedule

Senator Reed helped protect core operations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), fully funding the budget request for air traffic control, safety oversight, and its facilities and equipment.  These funds should help keep improvements for T.F. Green Airport on schedule.  Reed says T.F. Green Airport is expected to receive an additional $13.9 million in funding from the Airport Improvement Program that provides grants to airports to expand capacity and advance customer service delivery.  The AIP funds may be directed to noise mitigation and land acquisition projects.  Reed also included report language directing the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak to complete an ongoing assessment of the feasibility of connecting intercity passenger rail services at commercial airports that are adjacent to the mainline of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, such as T.F. Green.  This feasibility study is necessary for Amtrak to consider expanding services something the state and Warwick have suggested.

Community Development Block Grants (CBDG)

Senator Reed led the effort to restore funding for CDBG and succeeded in providing $3 billion for the program.  As a result, Rhode Island should receive over $15 million in CDBG funds in the coming year.

Building Submarines in Rhode Island

Senator Reed led the effort to include $5.32 billion for the Virginia-Class submarine program, including an additional $85 million above the request for advanced procurement for the four ships planned in 2018 and 2019.

Confronting RI’s Drug Overdose Epidemic

Senator Reed helped include $801 million, an increase of $650 million, for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs targeted to combat opioid abuse, including a $50 million increase for CDC opioid abuse programs and a $51 million increase to SAMHSA for treatment and overdose reversal. The bill also provides $50 million for Community Health Centers treatment and prevention. Further, the bill continues to provide $500 million authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act, $1.9 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, $94 million in mandatory funds to Community Health Centers, and provides an additional $40.3 million to the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the NIH.

Assisting Local Law Enforcement & First Responders

Reed backed key operational grant programs that benefit Rhode Island, such as $376 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants; $481.5 million for Violence Against Women Act programs; $247 million for juvenile justice and mentoring grants; and $194.5 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring grants. A total of $65 million has been provided for the Community Trust Initiative within State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance for the purchase of body cameras, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, and the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation program for both planning and, implementation grants.  The bill also provides $345 million each for Fire Grants and SAFER (hiring grants), as well as $350 million in Emergency Management Performance Grants and $467 million for State Homeland Security Grants.

LIHEAP & Weatherization Funding for RI

Reed and Senator Collins led the effort to include $3.39 billion (level with FY16) for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), to allow states to provide home energy assistance to low-income households this winter and coming summer.  He also led efforts to include nearly $2.1 billion for Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs.  This includes $225 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program and $50 million for the State Energy Program.

Improving Our Schools, Preserving Pell Grants, & Making College More Affordable

Senator Reed helped pass a $550 million increase in Title I funding to help schools meet high academic achievement standards.  He also helped boost funds for special education programs.  The bill also restores the year-round Pell Grant so that students can continue their studies through the summer term.  This provision is expected to provide an estimated 1 million students an additional Pell grant of, on average, $1,650 during the 2017-18 school year. Additionally, the bill provides sufficient funding to increase the maximum Pell Grant from $5815 for the current academic year to $5920 for the 2017-18 academic year.  This legislation also provides increases for TRIO and GEAR UP, programs that provide critical outreach and support services to help students prepare for and succeed in college.

Improving Preschool Programs in RI and Expanding Access to Quality, Affordable Childcare

Reed helped provide $250 million to continue support for Preschool Development Grants.  At this level of funding, Rhode Island is slated to receive about $4.9 million to support and expand pre-K programs in Rhode Island.  Senator Reed also supported $2.9 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a $95 million increase, and $9.3 billion for Head Start, a $85 million increase. 

Coastal Management & NOAA Resources in RI

Senator Reed backed critical funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including $75 million for new vessels and nearly $1.5 million to continue planning for port infrastructure at Naval Station Newport for NOAA ships.  Naval Station Newport is currently home to the Fisheries Survey Vessel Henry Bigelow and hosts visiting NOAA vessels.  Reed also helped include $85 million for Coastal Zone Management Grants (including formula grans that support CRMC and $15 million for resilience grants), $63 million for Sea Grant, $52.5 million for Habitat Restoration, $36 million for Ocean Exploration (which supports the Okeanos Explorer and partnerships with URI’s Inner Space Center), $30.7 million for Integrated Ocean Observing Systems, $26.9 million for NOAA ocean education programs, $18.8 million for aquaculture -- including $9.5 million through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and $9.3 million for aquaculture through the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Energy, Water Projects in RI

Reed backed $6.038 billion, an increase of $49 million above the FY2016 enacted level and $1.418 billion above the budget request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including funding for operation and maintenance of water resources projects in Rhode Island, such as Fox Point Barrier, Woonsocket Flood Control Project, Block Island Harbor of Refuge, and Great Salt Pond, Block Island.

Restoring Narragansett Bay & Neighboring Watersheds

Senator Reed included $5 million to benefit the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) for Coastal Watershed Restoration.  The series of federal grants will contribute to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the Narragansett Bay Watershed and other surrounding watersheds in the southeast New England region.  Senator Reed led efforts to establish and fund the SNEP for Coastal Watershed Restoration in fiscal year 2014.

Clean Water Infrastructure Projects for RI

Reed led efforts to include $1.394 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $863 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which help create jobs and provide clean water to communities throughout the country by supporting water infrastructure modernization projects.  As a result, Rhode Island should receive an estimated $9.4 million through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and $8.8 million through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), for a total of $18.2 million in clean water financing for water quality protection projects and enhancements.

Strengthening RI Manufacturing

Senator Reed advocated for the inclusion of $954 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which helps provide technical resources to promote the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-ups.  The bill maintains funding for NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at $130 million and will help manufacturers accelerate development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for making new, globally competitive products.  These funds could provide additional support to groups like Providence-based Polaris MEP.

Increasing Opportunity & Strengthening RI’s Workforce

Senator Reed helped deliver increases for Job Corps and apprenticeship opportunities.  Additionally, the bill continues critical programs, such as YouthBuild and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Grants to states to provide job training skills and assistance to low-skilled adults, dislocated workers and low-income youth with barriers to employment, as well as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

Helping the RI Community Food Bank Combat Hunger

Senator Reed included $236.1 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP) and $59.4 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to assist low-income Americans with food provided through food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens.  Reed successfully inserted language into the Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill making it possible for Rhode Island to start participating in CFSP, along with six other states that did not have the program.  Thanks to Senator Reed’s efforts, the state will once again receive USDA commodities to distribute directly to Rhode Island seniors and over $100,000 in federal funding to help administer the program.

TIGER Grants

Reed led efforts to sustain a pot of $500 million for TIGER grants to support significant transportation projects.  States can compete for TIGER grants for a variety of transportation projects, including highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight railroads, and port infrastructure.  Since Reed helped create the TIGER grant program as part of the Recovery Act in 2009.  Since that time, Rhode Island has received over $90 million in TIGER funds to upgrade highways, ports, and public transit.

Lead-Based Paint Monitoring and Removal

The bill includes funding for critical federal programs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The CDC’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is the only federal program that provides funding for states and local health departments to conduct surveillance of where, how, and when children are exposed to lead will receive $17 million. HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes helps protect children from health and safety hazards related to lead-based paint and other home hazards.  It will receive $145 million, $35 million more than fiscal year 2016.  Additionally, the bill includes $25 million in new resources for the Public Housing Capital Fund to allow PHAs to conduct environmental interventions for lead-based paint hazards in public housing units.  These combined investments will remediate lead-based paint hazards in 3,250 units to provide safer homes for low and very-low income individuals and families.  Rhode Island has received $7.6 million in federal assistance through these lead-based paint hazard remediation programs over the past three fiscal years to remediate over 500 homes.

Supporting Public and School Libraries

Senator Reed led the effort to include $231 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, including an additional $628,000 for the Library Services and Technology Act, for a total of $183.6 million.  This is in addition to the $27 million Senator Reed secured for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Programs to support effective school library programs and literacy initiatives to ensure that disadvantaged children have books at home.

Reed stated that instead of passing short-term, stop gap spending bills and omnibus appropriations packages, Congress should get back to “regular order” and focus on passing the dozen appropriation measures included in the bill separately, with individual attention, debate, and votes on each major section.  He noted: “the reality is that this bill should and could have been passed back in November of 2016.  Instead, then incoming President Trump and the Republicans said ‘no’ in the hopes of negotiating a border wall and passing a bevy of poison pill policy riders.  Today, we learned that the Democrats are better at the ‘art of the deal’ and, more importantly, responding to the real needs of the American people.”

The House and Senate are both expected to vote on the bill later this week.  It must be passed and signed by the President before midnight on Friday in order to keep the government running.