The product of compromise makes important
investments such as: increasing biomedical research at the NIH by $2
billion; increasing investments in early childhood and education
programs such as Head Start, Title I, IDEA, and afterschool programs;
making college more affordable by increasing Pell grants and making
them available year round; providing robust funding for public
broadcasting and community service; and investing in transportation,
housing, first responders, and providing our military with the tools to
deter and defeat threats abroad. It would also: ensure American citizens in Puerto Rico continue to
have access to health care; permanently extend health insurance
benefits for retired mine workers; increase funding to combat the
opioid epidemic; preserve Planned Parenthood's eligibility for Federal
funds; provide $1.1 billion in disaster assistance for regions affected
by storms and flooding, including North Carolina, California,
Louisiana, West Virginia, and more. It is imperative to note what this bill does not contain: not one
cent for President Trump's border wall or additional fencing; no
poison-pill riders that would have prevented so-called sanctuary cities
from receiving Federal grants, undermined the Affordable Care Act, or
harmed the FDA's ability to regulate tobacco products. While I am pleased we reached this agreement, we should not celebrate
coming to a full-year agreement in May for a fiscal year that began 7
months ago. Last year, our committee was negotiating in good faith until the
Trump transition team interfered, insisting on a CR until late April.
Keywords matched
border wall sanctuary cities