U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today voted in support of the omnibus funding bill for fiscal year 2018 that passed the House with bipartisan support.
“Large bills like this should not be the way we fund our government or pass critical legislation our constituents depend on," Davis said. "Unfortunately, the dysfunction of both parties in the Senate has made major bills like this some of our only opportunities to get important policies signed into law. The good thing is, now many of the priorities we have focused on in the House, like fighting the opioid epidemic, securing our schools, mental health funding, and rebuilding our military, will finally get to the president's desk. The House had previously passed all 12 of our appropriations bills to reprioritize spending and there are still more than 400 other bills waiting on Senate approval.”
Highlights from the spending bill include:
Opioids: The largest investment to date to fight the opioid epidemic and further address prevention, treatment, and enforcement. The Rural Communities Opioid Response program specifically targets hard-hit rural America, like the 13th district.
School Safety: Provides funding for grant programs, like Secure Our Schools, to keep schools safe. Also funds programs to make sure schools have the resources they need, such as school mental health services, bullying and harassment prevention, counseling and training, to prevent violence. Additionally, improves the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Davis led a letter to include this funding.
NIH: Increases funding of the National Institute of Health for critical medical research and development, including fighting cancer.
Mental Health: Adds more funding to the 21st Century Cures Act to improve and expand mental health services and programs.
Grain Glitch Fix: Fixes an unintended consequence of the tax reform legislation, Section 199, that had the potential to drastically alter the agricultural marketplace for grains. The fix provides an equitable solution that creates balance in the marketplace and certainty for agriculture.
Military: Provides a 2.4% raise for our troops, the largest raise in 8 years. Also provides funding to rebuild the military and improve readiness.
Infrastructure: Includes new funding for modernizing our nation's infrastructure and increased TIGER grant funding for communities. Rural areas will see more bridge funding and expedited rural broadband expansion.
FEMA: Contains language directing FEMA to update Congress on how the agency can improve the disaster declaration process, including consideration of several local impact of disasters. Davis continues to fight to get a permanent solution.
