Palazzo Issues Statement on Passage of Appropriations Package

Press Release

Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5895, a package of three appropriations bills including Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water, and Legislative Branch Appropriations by a vote of 377-20.

"The Mil-Con and VA bill keeps our promise to veterans by ensuring they get the care they need and deserve. The Energy and Water bill is a sound federal investment toward sustaining and maintaining our nation's water and energy resources, helps small cities and localities improve and address their water and wastewater infrastructure, and provides dredging funds for our ports and waterways. As a member of the House Appropriations committee I also worked to ensure this legislation included our South Mississippi priorities."

The Military-Construction and Veterans Affairs bill provides the highest amount of funding for America's veterans by allotting $86.5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also includes $270 million in funding for rural health initiatives specific to veterans by expanding home-based primary care for veterans and retaining adequate staff levels.

The Energy and Water bill invests $77 million in environmental infrastructure nationwide which is vital funding for small communities and localities to address sewage and drainage needs. It also works to improve flood and storm control by providing the Corps of Engineers with $2 billion for damage reducing activities at rivers, harbors and shorelines.

H.R. 5895 has now passed the House and Senate and will head to the President's desk to be signed into law. This was the first time Congress has sent more than one Appropriations bill to the President before the start of the fiscal year on October 1 in more than ten years.

Below is a list of Mississippi priorities secured by Congressman Palazzo:

Mil-Con VA
Allocates $4.55 million to provide facility upgrades for the Air Force Reserve, Keesler Air Force Base, and the Aeromedical Squadron Facility.

Provides a $10 million increase in military construction funding support the U.S. Army's laboratory revitalization program. Mississippi is home to several Army research labs.

Dedicates $64.3 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport and Washington, D.C.

Energy and Water
Provided $13 million for USACE's National Coastal Mapping Program, which is executed by the Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise, located in Kiln, MS.

Provided $25 million for Research and Development, which will benefit the U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS.

Provided over $44 million in Operations and Maintenance funding for Mississippi dredging and maintenance projects in areas such as Biloxi, Gulfport, and Pascagoula harbors.

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