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House Approves Funding for Farmers, Veterans, Educators

July 2, 2010

Washington, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-2) announced today that the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 239 to 182, H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations bill for FY 2010. This legislation provides $10 billion for an Education Jobs Fund, $4.95 billion for Pell Grants, $701 million for border security, $163 million for schools on military installations, $142 million in additional Gulf Coast oil spill funding, $50 million in emergency food assistance, $5.1 billion for FEMA, $37.1 billion for the war, and $13 billion in mandatory funds to Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Congressman Bishop supported the legislation.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I have been integrally involved in the oversight of our nation’s funding and support of our efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as other initiatives aimed at supporting our war fighters, said Congressman Bishop. “This Supplemental bill strikes, what I believe to be a fair and balanced approach for the emergency needs of our war fighters abroad and the critical domestic issues we face right here at home.”

The bill also includes funds to settle both the Cobell v. Salazar and the Pigford v. Vilsack class action lawsuits; $1 billion for summer jobs; and also includes $31.5 million for the Farm Service Agency to cover costs associated with direct loans, guaranteed loans, operating loans and administrative expenses.

In order to hold the total amount to the President’s requested level over a ten-year period, the amendment includes $11.7 billion in rescissions from programs that no longer require the funding, have sufficient funds on hand, or do not need the funding this year or next, and $4.7 billion in savings from changes to mandatory programs. In total, the amendment saves the Federal Government $493 million over ten years compared to the President’s request.

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