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Miller-Meeks Statement on Omnibus Package

March 9, 2022

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, March 9th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) released the following statement after voting YES on H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022:

The final government funding package that passed the House increases defense spending by over $40 billion to support our troops and provide them with the tools they need to succeed while also cutting wasteful spending by nearly 9% across the board. We were able to secure much needed aid for the people of Ukraine, reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, my bipartisan VET TEC Enhancement Act, and ensure that American tax dollars will not fund abortions at home or around the world. I was proud to see so many of my priorities in this bill, including community-based projects, legislation, and important policy provisions to help the American people. I was able to work with leaders across the district to ensure that important programs and projects received the funding they deserve and will continue to fight in Congress for the benefit of all Iowans.

Background:

Included in the legislation are several community project funding that will directly benefit the constituents of the Second District:

  • $45.1 million for the Corps of Engineers Construction Upper Mississippi River-Illinois WW System project (NESP)
  • $1.7 million for the City of Burlington for a sewer separation project
  • $2.5 million for the City of Ottumwa for the Blake’s Branch sewer project
  • $2 million for Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, for college and career transition counselors’ initiative in Higher Education
  • $2 million for the Reconstruction of Iowa Highway 38
  • $850,000 for the Mahaska Oskaloosa Driving Economic Success (MODES) Planning Study
  • $600,000 for the Scott County Bridge Replacement
  • $750,000 to Iowa City Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility

Also included in the bill are several pieces of legislation Miller-Meeks has supported:

The legislation also includes several of Miller-Meeks’ funding priorities:

  • Provides $13.6 billion in critical military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help respond to Russian aggression
  • Includes the Hyde, Weldon, Kemp-Kasten, Helms, and Tiahrt Amendments to prevent the use of taxpayer dollars for the funding of abortion services at home or abroad
  • Prevents the Biden Administration’s plans to cancel $1.9 billion of existing border wall funding
  • Exempts farmers and livestock producers from burdensome greenhouse gas permitting and reporting requirements
  • Increases funding for ICE by $400 million
  • Provides $1 billion for the Iron Dome Air Defense System to support Israel’s ability to defend itself
  • Provides $15.5 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • Funds a 2.7% pay raise for our servicemembers
  • No changes in mandatory programs are included in the bill related to biobased energy programs of the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program and Biomass Research & Development Initiatives
  • $1.74 billion for Community Health Centers in the Health Resources and Services Administration
  • $106.4 million included for anti‐trafficking programs
  • $2.27 million for the broadband deployment programs authorized in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
  • $50 million in loans is supported by the bill for the Rural Energy for America program, an increase of $30 million
  • $674.5 million for the Department of Justice Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program
  • $511.7 million for Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, including $246 million for COPS Hiring grants
  • $45 million increase above the Defense Health Program budget request for peer‐reviewed ovarian cancer research
  • Stomach cancer research remains eligible for funding under the Peer‐ Reviewed Cancer Research Program
  • Stomach cancer research remains eligible for funding under the Peer‐ Reviewed Cancer Research Program
  • $150 million increase above the Defense Health Program budget request for peer‐reviewed breast cancer research
  • Bill language requires statements, press releases, requests for proposals, and other such documents to clearly state the amount of Federal funds for the project and the percentage of the project funded by the Federal government
  • Continue current law language to ban the purchase of Huawei and ZTE telecommunications products for certain information systems, unless first the agency has undertaken certain supply chain risk reviews and the FBI has reviewed the risk

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