Congressman Horsford: Nevada's Fourth Congressional District Priorities Reflected in House-Passed Appropriations Package

Press Release

Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) voted to pass a Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill that secures robust funding for numerous priorities of Nevada's 4th District and communities across Nevada

"I'm working every day to make bold, forward-looking investments for hard-working Nevada families," said Congressman Horsford. "I've listened to my constituents who have told me they want a Congress focused on helping them in their everyday lives. That's why I'm proud to support legislation that invests in education for children, brings down costs related to healthcare, improves workforce development resources to compete in today's economy, and protects communities through national security and defense."

H.R. 2740 totals $982.8 billion and consists of four Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bills that fund several federal agencies including the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State and Energy.

The bill will accomplish four main goals: build a pathway to access quality health care, education, and jobs, make future-focused investments in the clean energy economy, provide strong funding for America's leadership, and strengthen national security.

JOBS: The bill provides $3 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Grants to states and local communities, $1.9 billion for Job Corps helping at-risk youth develop necessary work skills, and $56 million in pubic health workforce initiatives. It also provides $150 million for training programs at community colleges, including the College of Southern Nevada, to encourage education for people of all ages and help meet the demand for a high-skilled workforce.

CHILDREN & FAMILIES: The approved funding supports food and nutrition programs with the Department of Agriculture including $71.1 billion for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), $24 billion for child nutrition programs, and $6 billion for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Another $4 billion will support early childhood programs including the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start.

EDUCATION: It allocates $42.1 billion for the nation's K-12 education programs. It raises funding for Federal student aid programs by $492 million and higher education programs by $436 million. The bill also dedicates $250 million to Registered Apprenticeships.

HEALTH: The bill increases funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $2 billion to expand lifesaving medical research. It gives $56 million to Center of Disease Control (CDC) public health workforce initiatives and $1.05 billion for food safety and inspection programs. It also increases investments for places like the Nevada Health Centers by $50 million and provides an additional $317 million for rural health programs.

INFRASTRUCTURE: It secures $400 million in additional funding for water resources projects across the nation. It dictates $150 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response efforts to secure the nation's energy infrastructure, reduce the risks and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities. $1.45 billion will support rural water and waste program loans. Additionally, over $655 million in water and waste grants is dedicated clean and reliable drinking water systems and sanitary waste disposal systems.

SENIORS: $464 million will go toward the Senior Community Service Employment for Older Americans Program, $64 million above the 2019 enacted level. It also gives $1 billion to seniors who need daily nutritious meals like those provided at the Martin Luther King Senior Center.

DEFENSE: The bill provides $690.2 billion in discretionary funds to defend against evolving threats, prepare for future challenges, and meet the needs of service members and families -- $15.8 billion above the enacted level. This allocation includes $1.055 billion for key readiness programs to prepare forces, including the National Guard and reserve, for combat operations and other peacetime missions. It provides almost $70 billion to military bases like Nellis and Creech Air Force Base to improve defense against evolving threats.

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