Clark Secures $1.1 Billion Increase to Child Care Programs, Funding for Gun Violence Research, Reproductive Health

Statement

Washington, D.C. Today, Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Congresswoman Katherine Clark voted with the majority of Congress in passing the final full year spending package for Fiscal Year 2020. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Clark secured a number of legislative priorities to support the success of Massachusetts' families, including a $1.1 billion increase to child care funding and $25 million toward gun violence prevention research, which is the first time in two decades that the House has allocated resources for this purpose.

"While we did not achieve all of our goals, House Democrats robustly funded policies that support American families and decisively rejected the President's draconian budget request," said Congresswoman Clark. "I am particularly proud of the increases to Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, two programs that will move thousands of children off waitlists and into classrooms.

"In addition, Congress funded for the first time two programs I passed into law - $12 million to develop a substance use disorder treatment workforce and $2 million to help survivors of domestic violence flee abuse with their entire family, including their pets. These investments will make a meaningful difference for Massachusetts families.

"Finally, after nearly two decades of inaction, we are investing $25 million in gun violence research, dollars that will help us to understand where and why gun violence occurs. Unlike our Republican colleagues, we refuse to allow special interests to control Congress and prevent action to reduce gun violence.

"Moving forward, we will build on the victories we secured in this year's funding package and continue the fight to invest in American families, protect our country, and hold this administration accountable."

The Congresswoman secured the following resources to support American families:

Children and Families:

-$5.9 billion included for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which is a $550 million increase over FY19.
-$10.6 billion included for the Head Start Program, which is a $550 million increase over FY19.
-$5 million included to fully fund the Maternal Depression Grant Program.
-This fully funds Congresswoman Clark's 2016 Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act.

Gun Violence Prevention:

-$25 million in new funds for NIH and CDC firearm injury & mortality prevention research.

Women's Health and Human Rights:

-$9.1 billion for Global Health Programs, including $523.9 million for international family planning and reproductive health.
-$32.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund.
-Extends funding for Community Health Centers.

Substance Use Disorder:

-$12 million included to fund the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program.
-This funds Congresswoman Clark's 2018 SUPPORT Communities and Patients Act.

Environmental Protections:

-$2.764 billion for clean water infrastructure.
-$1.184 billion for the EPA Superfund, an increase of $55 million above the 2019 enacted level.
-$3.5 million for the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
-$552 million for EPA compliance monitoring and enforcement activities, a $24 million increase.
-$43 million in new funding for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) drinking water and land cleanup assistance.

2020 Census:

-Included $7.56 billion for the Bureau of the Census, which is $3.7 billion above FY19 enacted.

NIH:

-41.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $2.6 billion above 2019 and $7.5 billion above the President's request, including:
-$2.8 billion for Alzheimer's research.
-$3.1 billion for HIV/AIDS research.
-$195 million for the Cancer Moonshot research initiative.

Domestic Violence:

-$50 million set-aside to assist homeless survivors of domestic violence.
-$2 million to support housing assistance for domestic violence survivors with pets.
-This funds Congresswoman Clark's 2018 Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act.

Military, Construction, and Veterans Affairs:

-$50 million included for the Soldier Systems Center Natick Human Engineering Laboratory.
-$135 million included to complete construction of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Advanced Compound Semi-Conductor Lab/Microelectronics Integration Facility.

The House passed the full year funding package for 2020 on December 17, 2019. The package consisted of two bills that funded all federal departments until September 30, 2020.

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