House Passes Bipartisan Funding Agreement, Includes O'Halleran Initiatives to Extend Funding for Community Health Centers, Special Diabetes Program for Indians

Statement

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865, legislative packages to fund all 12 appropriations bills through the end of FY2020 and keep the federal government open ahead of the December 20 deadline. Both packages passed yesterday include provisions championed by Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), including extenders for community health centers and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, as well as many other accomplishments for Arizonans.

"One of the most important jobs we have as members of Congress is passing comprehensive appropriations that provide for our national defense and military readiness, as well as key domestic programs and federal initiatives that support our nation's health and bolster our economy," said Rep. O'Halleran. "While I was pleased to see that funding for community health centers and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, initiatives I have championed, were extended through May of this year, this is not a permanent solution. I will continue to fight for permanent funding solutions for both of these important programs.

O'Halleran has fought to secure and plus up funding for community health centers and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians since coming to Congress, introducing legislation to protect both programs. Extenders on these programs are set to expire in May of 2020.

Legislative packages passed today also include an extension of the production credit for Indian coal facilities and the Indian Employment Tax Credit. Earlier this year, Rep. O'Halleran introduced legislation to make permanent the Indian Employment Tax Credit to address unemployment rates in Indian Country and attract business that can succeed to affected areas.

The bills allocate additional monies funding O'Halleran fought for, including:

-$90.4 million for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an increase of $941,000 from FY19. These funds will be used to enhance the National Broadband Map;
-$7.433 billion for the United States Forest Service, including investments in funding for improved health and management of our nation's forests;
-$2.8 billion for state, local, and tribal law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, which includes grants for State, local and tribal law enforcement entities, victims of crime, and juvenile justice programs;
-$502.5 million for grants authorized under the Violence Against Women Act;
-federal funding for gun violence research for the first time in 20 years;
-$7.56 billion for the Census Bureau to ensure a fair and accurate 2020 Census;
-$495 million for funding and preservation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an increase of $57 million from FY 19;
-$4 million for Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes, including NAU's Ecological Restoration Institute.

During the shutdown at the beginning of this year, O'Halleran introduced the Government Shutdown Impact Report of 2019, legislation that requires the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to submit daily reports to Congress on the impact and cost of a government shutdown on the nation's economy. Reports showed that the winter shutdown cost our nation $11 billion, $3 billion of which was permanently lost.

"Government shutdowns like the one we experienced earlier this year should never happen in the greatest country in the world," said Rep. O'Halleran in a statement following yesterday's vote. "I was pleased to vote for these funding packages to keep our government open and operating, provide security for hardworking federal employees, and ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to complete their missions at home and abroad."

Source