WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) issued the following statement after supporting the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act:
“It has been more than twenty-one years since Congress has passed all twelve bills to fund the government and had them signed into law before the start of the new fiscal year. It’s what Arkansans and Americans expect of their government, and I’m proud of the good work we’ve started in the House to build on last year’s success of passing all 12 funding bills before the September deadline.
“The bill passed today includes critical funding for quality housing for the 1.4 million military families currently served by the Military Family Housing program – including families at the Little Rock Air Force Base and Camp Robinson, and an additional $3.9 billion to care for Arkansas and American veterans including speeding up claims processing. It also furthers Americans’ core priorities, including improving national security, increasing job creation, and strengthening America’s infrastructure – all while providing strong oversight and accountability of the federal government.”
Background:
Some of the provisions of the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019, H.R. 5895, include:
- $44.7 billion for Fiscal Year 2019 and provides funding for the Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Energy, and our nation’s nuclear weapons security programs, including:
- $15.3 billion for DOE’s nuclear weapons security programs, an increase of $644 million over FY18, and includes funding for the Columbia-Class Ballistic Submarine and maintaining the safety and readiness of our weapons stockpile.
- $7.28 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $451 million over FY18, for our nation’s ports, waterways, and flood protection infrastructure.
- $13.4 billion for energy programs that will advance our “all-of-the-above” strategy for energy independence.
- The bill also repeals the Waters of the United States rule.
- $96.9 billion for FY19 to provide the care and support for our veterans and their families while also strengthening oversight and accountability at the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
- $85.3 billion in discretionary funding for VA programs, $3.9 billion above FY18, including VA Medical Care, processing disability claims, VA construction, and the new VA electronic health record system.
- $10.3 billion for military construction to house military families, supports our troops overseas and their ongoing operations, and fund Guard and Reserve construction projects.
- $3.8 billion for the House of Representatives, Capitol Police, the Library of Congress, and support agencies of Congress.
- $1.2 billion for operations of the House, which provides funding for Members’ offices, IT and cybersecurity enhancements, and workplace rights training.
- $456.4 million for the Capitol Police to enhance security and safety of the U.S. Capitol Complex.
- $642 million for the Architect of the Capitol.
- Provides $709.8 million for the Library of Congress.
