CONGRESSMAN BISHOP SUPPORTS BIPARTISAN BILL TO FUND SCHOOLS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, supported bipartisan legislation that will fund many federal departments, agencies, and programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024. The bill was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 286-134 and now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Across our country, communities now have a federal government with the resources needed to be a reliable partner in supporting healthcare, our children’s education, and the entrepreneurs that are the backbone of America’s economy. This bill also helps protect our border and ensure that our military is the strongest and most capable fighting force in the world,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am proud to be part of this bipartisan effort which moves our country forward and which rejected culture war amendments and harmful cuts to public schools and workforce training programs.”
The bill was negotiated by U.S. House and U.S. Senate leaders along with the White House. It will cover Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Once signed into law by President Biden, this bill will keep the federal government open and working for the people through the end of the fiscal year.
The bill provides funding for a wide range of essential federal programs that affect every American. Highlights of these include:
Investing in America’s Entrepreneurs as well as Students’ Future and People’s Health
- Supports teachers and workforce training programs, including protecting funding for Job Corps – including the Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Georgia
- $1.1 billion for the Small Business Administration, including $140 million for Small Business Development Centers and $41 million for Microloan Technical Assistance
- $1 billion for child care and Head Start
- $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias research and maintains funding support for the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia
- Protects women’s reproductive healthcare
Preserving America’s Strength at Home and Abroad
- In Georgia’s Second Congressional District, the bill includes:
- $1.32 million for Camp Merrill AST Barracks and $500,000 for Dexter Elementary School at Fort Moore, near Columbus, Georgia.
- $40 million for the Army Reserve Center and $64 million for a Consolidated Communication Facility at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia
- $35 million for the construction of a Battle Management Combined Operations Complex at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robbins, Georgia
- $172 billion for military equipment procurement – an increase of $3 billion from the previous fiscal year
- $148.3 billion for military research and development to ensure the U.S. military and its troops remain on the cutting edge of technology and capability
- Provides full funding necessary to support a 5.2% military pay raise and $39.9 billion for defense health programs that serve U.S. troops and their families
- $43 million for additional support to junior enlisted members and basic needs allowances
- $19.6 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an increase of $3.2 billion from the previous fiscal year
- $9.6 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an increase of $798 million from the previous fiscal year
- $25.3 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- $10 billion for Global Health to help prevent the spread of disease and reduce conflict
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