Rep. Cleaver Votes for Government Funding Package with Major Investments in Missouri Families and Communities

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8294, a package of six government funding bills with critical support for families and communities across Missouri. The historic investments in the bill would help lower the cost of living for Missourians, create good-paying jobs in every community, focus on uplifting working class families, and provide additional support for small businesses throughout the nation. In addition to critical investments in everything from affordable housing to nutrition assistance, the government funding package includes $38,250,000 in funding for 14 of Rep. Cleaver's 15 Community Project Funding requests, with the 15th project expected to be funded in the final government funding package to be debated later this month.

"As Missourians face higher costs caused by the ongoing pandemic and Putin's vile invasion of Ukraine, House Democrats and I are laser-focused on fighting inflation and lowering costs for the American people--and today we passed a government funding package with critical investments that will provide much-needed relief to hardworking families in the Show Me State," said Congressman Cleaver. "For months, I have pushed House Leadership and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to increase investments in things like affordable housing, renewable energy, and nutrition assistance programs--all of which are critical to working class families. I'm happy to report that major increases in all those areas are included in the legislation I proudly supported today."

The appropriations package was passed by a vote of 220-207. The legislation would create good-paying jobs by rebuilding critical infrastructure, expand opportunity through homeownership and rental assistance, and promote safe transportation and public housing by providing $90.0 billion for the Departments of Transportation (DOT), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

HOME Investments Partnership Program, which is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. The program will receive $1.675 billion, $175 million over last year's total;
Public Housing Fund, which provides operating subsidies to housing authorities to assist in operating and maintenance expenses of public housing nationwide. The program will receive $8.733 billion, $282 million over last year's total;
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program, which helps individual households afford housing costs such as rent and security deposits. The program will receive $31.04 billion, $3.7 billion over last year's total;
Project-Based Rental Assistance program, which assists more than 1.2 million extremely low- and low-income families obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The program will receive $14.9 billion, 1$ billion over last year's total;
Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, which provides funding to develop and subsidize rental housing with the availability of supportive services for very low- and extremely low-income Americans with disabilities. The program will receive $400 million, $48 million over last year's total; and more.

The legislation helps to tackle hunger, lift up farmers and rural communities, rebuild our public health and safety infrastructure, and confront the climate crisis with $27.2 billion for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

School Breakfast Expansion Grants to expand public school breakfast resources will receive $10 million, a $4 million increase above last year's total;
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 by providing nutritious foods. The program will receive $6 billion;
Rural Electrification Loan Program, which helps electric utilities expand service in rural communities;
Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program, which helps improve and preserve the availability of affordable housing for low-income residents in rural areas; and more.

H.R. 8294 also helps to lower costs for working families, rebuild our water infrastructure, and invest in clean energy by providing $56.275 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, which aims to strengthen American energy security, environmental quality, and economic security, will receive $4 billion, $800 million above last year's total;
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy technologies, will receive $550 million, $100 million over last year's total;
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy State and Community Energy programs, which provide funding and technical assistance to states and localities, will receive $562 million, $135 million over last year's total; and more.

The government funding package will create jobs, combat climate change, and ensure access to safe drinking water by providing $4.8 billion for the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Indian Health Services. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which provides support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence, will receive $207 million, $27 million over last year's total;
Clean School Bus Program, which helps states and localities transition to low and no-emission school buses;
Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program (DERA), which provides federal grants and rebates that protect Americans' health and improve air quality by reducing diesel emissions, will receive $150 million, $58 million over last year's total;
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, which provides critical emission testing services for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and nonroad engine programs; and more.

"People often say that a budget is a list of values--and today's budget passed by House Democrats puts a high priority on lowering costs for working class families, investing in renewable energy and sustainable communities, and expanding opportunity for small businesses and American workers," said Congressman Cleaver. "As this funding package heads to the Senate, I will continue to push my colleagues to come together to meet the needs of the American people, something I think this budget does in a smart, effective, and efficient way."

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