CONGRESSMAN BISHOP HELPS LEAD FUNDING BILL TO HELP FAMILIES, SERVE VETERANS, AND BUILD COMMUNITIES
July 20, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, helped lead debate on and approval of H.R. 8294, a Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill which covered several U.S. departments, agencies, and programs. The bill was approved by a vote of 220-207.
The six-bill package consists of the 2023 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bills.
"Taken together, this bill funds a wide range of programs that can improve the quality of life for every American," said Congressman Bishop. "This bill helps our farmers and ranchers abundantly produce safe products that feed the whole country. It makes sure our medicine and medical devices are also safe. It also gets our rural, suburban, and urban communities the resources they need to provide clean water for their residents, improve housing, and grow economically. This bill helps build and maintain our roads, railways, bridges, airports, and military installations. It takes care of our military veterans. Georgia is home to over a dozen military bases, including three right here in Middle and Southwest Georgia. Many veterans call this area home and are served by our local VA facilities."
Congressman Bishop added, "I am proud to have secured direct funding for eight Middle and Southwest Georgia projects in this bill. Three projects will help Bainbridge, Colquitt, and Leesburg afford major improvements to their water and wastewater infrastructure. The other projects support youth programs and STEAM education, replenish housing lost to natural disasters, help Donalsonville improve broadband internet access, and provide vital communications equipment to our first responders across 12 counties in Southwest Georgia."
Some highlights H.R. 8294 include:
- $4.2 billion for rural development programs.
- Nearly $3.6 billion for agriculture research, education, and economic programs.
- $451 million in funding for water resources projects authorized in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, under the Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation.
- $33 million for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission in order to address economic needs of distressed portions of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
- $3.6 billion in funding for the National Park Service.
- $2.9 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to support drinking water, wastewater, and storm water management projects.
- $1.1 billion for the Small Business Administration.
- $326 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs.
- $118.8 billion is for veterans' Medical Care programs.
- $15.1 billion is for military construction programs.
- $775 million for National Infrastructure Investments (RAISE/TIGER/BUILD).
- $12.8 billion in funding for new affordable housing, critical health, safety, and maintenance improvements.
- $1.7 billion in direct funding to states and local governments through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
- $3.3 billion for Community Development Block Grants.
H.R. 8394 also includes eight community project funding provisions that the Congressman secured. Through this bill, the:
- Southwest Georgia Regional Commission would receive $3,941,986 to help provide emergency communications equipment to emergency services in 12 counties across Southwest Georgia.
- City of Donalsonville would receive $562,490 for capital improvements to expand high-speed internet for its public services, residents, and local businesses.
- City of Colquitt would receive $1,187,200 to repair its Water Pollution Control Plant.
- City of Leesburg would receive $949,146 to install a water pump station that would improve water/wastewater treatment infrastructure.
- Boys & Girls Club of Albany would receive $1,850,000 to make improvements to facilities that support its services in Dougherty, Sumter and Macon counties.
- City of Bainbridge would receive $1,500,000 to install a water tower as part of its broader water/wastewater infrastructure improvement efforts that will help develop West Bainbridge.
- Mt. Olive Community Outreach Center would receive $750,000 to help repair and replenish housing lost to recent natural disasters in Southwest Georgia.
- Columbus State University would receive $4,000,000 for its initiative to build a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) collaboration center with Muscogee School District.
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