Morelle votes in favor of $460 billion spending bill that passes House
Package includes $725,000 for Oak Orchard Harbor
Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, a critical step towards fully funding the federal government and investing in the programs and services that support families across the United States. The $460 spending bill passed the House, 339-85.
“This funding package makes critical investments designed to uplift families, keep our neighborhoods safe, support our military, strengthen our economy, and more,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to have helped craft this legislation which not only delivers for our communities but prevents the enactment of harmful policies proposed by House Republicans, including measures to restrict women’s reproductive freedoms and reduce law enforcement’s ability to combat gun violence.”
Highlights of the appropriations package include investments in:
Bolstering Innovation in Rochester and across the country:
- $99.4 million for the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics to conduct advanced scientific research in inertial confinement fusion;
- $41 million for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program to create geographically-distributed “regional technology hubs,” focusing on technology development, job creation, and expanding U.S. innovation capacity. Last year, Rochester was designated to be a Regional Technology Hub as a part of the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub);
- $9.1 billion for the National Science Foundation to support their cutting-edge research;
- $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program, to help small and medium sized American manufacturers create and preserve jobs.
Supporting Servicemembers and Veterans
- $121 billion for Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care to provide essential health services for millions of veterans;
- $17.1 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund to provide care to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances while they served—including 7.4 million veterans this year alone;
- $3.1 billion for Homeless Assistance Programs to assist veterans who may be experiencing homelessness and their families.
Uplifting Our Families:
- $326 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to help low-income people reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient;
- $7.03 billion for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will ensure the program is fully funded for FY24;
- $16 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance to continue to house more than 1.2 million low-income households nationwide;
- $345 million for the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to protect families from exposures to lead paint, the lead-contaminated dust and soil that lead paint creates, along with other health hazards in homes;
- $57.5 million for Housing Counseling Assistance for renters, homeowners, and those considering homeownership.
Investing in Law Enforcement:
- $664.5 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs to place more police officers on the streets of our communities and strengthen community relations;
- $713 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women.
Protecting Our Environment:
- $9.2 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to combat the climate crisis;
- $2.8 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, including $1.4 billion in Community Project Funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater management projects across the country;
- $1.2 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to support programs to help control or eradicate plant and animal pests and diseases that can be crippling to U.S. producers including $500,000 for research towards the eradication of the Spotted Lanternfly;
- $6.4 billion in funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
- $5 million for the Great Lakes Authority to support the areas of the watershed of the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes System, including New York State.
Congressman Morelle also secured over $11.5 million in funding for local organizations who submitted requests through the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding process, including:
- Charles Settlement House: Teen Center—$652,330
- City of Rochester Police Department: Gunshot Detection System—$195,000
- City of Rochester: Public Market Expansion—$850,000
- City of Rochester: REJob Training Facility—$850,000
- Episcopal SeniorLife Communities, Inc.: Middle Income Senior Housing Development—$1,000,000
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: Regional Investigative Operations Center (RIOC)—$940,000
- Oak Orchard Harbor—$725,000
- Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority: ADA Compliant Bus Stops—$500,000
- Rochester Institute of Technology: Battery Prototyping Center—$1,250,000
- RochesterWorks, Inc.—$1,616,270
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, NY Inc.: Westmoreland House–$400,000
- Town of Gates: Community Park Updates—$500,000
- Town of Rush: New Water District—$500,000
- University of Rochester: Advanced Quantum Research Equipment—$1,250,000
- Village of Webster: Community Access Project—$400,000
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 includes funding for six of the twelve appropriations bills required to be passed by Congress once per fiscal year. The six bills included in this legislation are: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.