Rep. Stevens Secures Funding for MI-11 Priorities in House-Passed Appropriations Package
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, two minibus appropriations packages to fund the government through October 1st, 2020. The packages increase funding for key programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, in addition to increasing funding for critical agencies like the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and National Institutes of Health. Also included is a historic $25 million investment in funding for gun violence prevention research, and Rep. Stevens’ amendment calling for a national strategy to ensure the long-term economic and environmental viability of local recycling programs.
“H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158 provide funding for programs that will strengthen southeast Michigan’s manufacturing economy, protect our treasured Great Lakes, and prepare our workforce to thrive in the 21st century economy,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “I am especially glad that the legislation provides for $25 million to research gun violence prevention, which I have been calling for since the first day I took office. This is the first major congressional effort to investigate gun violence in 20 years, and I am hopeful that it will lead to new solutions to protect our children from gun violence.”
Rep. Stevens played a role in securing funding for several programs that are a priority for Michigan’s 11th District:
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: The GLRI is an inter-agency program designed to address the most significant problems in the Great Lakes, and works to protect, restore, and maintain the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 40 million people, and hold 90 percent of our nation’s supply of fresh water. Jobs, recreation, and tourism in Michigan and the entire region depend upon a healthy and flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program: The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program is a network of public-private partnerships in every state that gives small- and mid-sized manufacturers the services and resources they need to create well-paying manufacturing jobs and thrive in today’s economy. The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, which is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Michigan, is located in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
Advanced Technical Education Program: The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program is one of the largest federal investments in two-year colleges. The program supports two-year community colleges to train technicians to work with next generation technologies. There are several active ATE grants in Michigan, including a program to study the use of collaborative robots in advanced manufacturing systems at Oakland Community College.
The appropriations bills provide $43 million in new funding at the Environmental Protection Agency and partner agencies for scientific and regulatory work and cleanup assistance for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), more than tripling current spending levels for this work. The legislation also included Stevens’ previously House-passed amendment calling for improved enforcement of federal animal welfare crimes.
A summary of the National Security Appropriations minibus can be found here and a summary of the domestic priorities and international assistance minibus can be found here.
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