Pappas Delivers Key Funding for New Hampshire

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) issued the following statement after helping pass a package to fully fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2022:

"This bipartisan agreement will deliver much needed funds and support to our state. Ensuring we unlock all the funding available under the bipartisan infrastructure law, invest in our workforce and local economies, and fully fund law enforcement, veterans programs, and first responders have been my top priorities throughout this process. I'm glad the package passed by the House today reflects those priorities, and will help New Hampshire's communities thrive as we continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic."

"Additionally, I'm pleased this legislation includes substantial support for the Ukrainian people in the face of Putin's continued invasion. We must back up our words with the strongest possible action, and the support we are sending Ukraine today will help as they continue to defend their independence."

Pappas has repeatedly called on Congress to advance long-term appropriations bills to fulfill their duty to the American people and avoid the frequent possibility of shutdowns - an approach that jeopardizes critical funding for essential services and programs including public safety, veterans, and first responders.

The government funding package will:

Support Ukraine's fight for freedom. The package supports the Ukrainian people and defends global democracy by providing $13.6 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine in the wake of Russia's unprovoked invasion.

Provide $6.972 million secured by Pappas to fund community projects. The package includes funding secured by Pappas for key projects that will support New Hampshire's first responders and law enforcement, connect rural homes and businesses to broadband, invest in New Hampshire's infrastructure, and ensure community health centers can support the health of their patients.

Repair our crumbling infrastructure and strengthen our supply chains. The package will fully implement the investments of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, heeding Congressman Pappas's call for the Biden Administration to distribute these funds for infrastructure improvements as soon as possible, and strengthens our supply chains to lower costs for Granite State families by providing $2.05 billion for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund projects to bolster our port and waterway infrastructure.

Strengthen New Hampshire's workforce and small businesses. The package invests in New Hampshire's economy and workforce by investing directly in economically recovering communities, job training, apprenticeship programs, and Community College Training Grants; heeding Pappas's call to increase funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships which help small and medium-size U.S. manufacturers create and preserve jobs; as well as providing $1 billion for SBA to support investments in programs to help underserved entrepreneurs access capital and contracting opportunities, $290 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, and $35 million in funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission to target the economic development needs of distressed portions of New Hampshire by providing funding career and workforce training services for individuals affected by substance use disorder.

Support New Hampshire's rural communities. The package connects New Hampshire's rural residents to our 21st century economy by providing $550 million for the expansion of broadband development, including $450 million for the ReConnect rural broadband program.

Invest in public safety. The package provides resources for local law enforcement who are facing a period of great challenge with the resources they need to keep our communities safe through $674.5 million for Byrne Justice Assistance grants and $512 million for COPS program grants, $135 million for the STOP School Violence Act, and $575 million for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) prevention and prosecution Programs. In addition the legislation protects our communities from drug trafficking and its consequences with $297 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and $106 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program.

Support Granite Staters struggling with substance use disorder. The package will help Granite Staters recovering from substance use disorder by providing $3.9 billion for substance use treatment, including $1.85 billion for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants and $1.525 billion for State Opioid Response Grants, $5 million for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers, and $491 million for opioid overdose prevention and surveillance.

Ensure law enforcement can keep deadly fentanyl-analogues out of our communities. At Pappas's urging, the package will extend his bipartisan fentanyl analogue scheduling legislation to ensure there is no lapse in scheduling while he fights for passage of the permanent fentanyl analogue scheduling legislation he introduced in the House earlier this week.

Keep our promises to our veterans and servicemembers. The package provides our veterans with the care and benefits they've earned by making critical investments in health care, mental health care, suicide prevention, and VA's efforts to end the scourge of veteran homelessness; in addition to providing $300 million to protect our servicemembers from toxic exposure to PFAS chemicals.

Enact Pappas's Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act. The package will enact Pappas's legislation to ensure state veterans' cemeteries can choose to inter National Guard members and Reservists without jeopardizing their eligibility for federal grant funding.

Invest in renewable energy. The package invests in renewable energy development with $164 million for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and create new jobs in New Hampshire's wind sector.

Improve the resiliency of our coastal communities. The package provides $5.88 billion to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for climate research and mitigation efforts and $8.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for project construction, operation, and maintenance.

Preserve New Hampshire's natural environment. The package will appropriate $900 million to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund as directed by the enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act.

Ensure our communities have access to clean water. The package cleans up our water by providing $2.77 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and $43 million to address Combined Sewer Overflow, an issue Pappas has led on to address overflows occurring in the Merrimack River.

Support the health and well-being of New Hampshire's children. The package provides $26.9 billion for child nutrition programs, including school lunches, snacks, and the summer EBT program.

Help Granite Staters keep their heat on in the winter. The package provides $3.8 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides critical home energy assistance to those most in need for heating, cooling, and crisis assistance, weatherization, budget counseling, and other vital services to ensure they have safe and healthy indoor air quality and temperature.

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