Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
October 25, 2021
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced funding in the committee-posted Appropriations bills to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2022, which would support Connecticut priorities and invest in gun violence prevention, support for under-resourced communities, and national security.
“My focus on the Appropriations Committee is making sure the budget we write includes funding for Connecticut priorities and makes smart investments in the American people. On top of the congressionally directed spending for Connecticut projects, these bills will provide federal dollars to repair and upgrade the Northeast Corridor, protect Long Island Sound, conserve Connecticut’s natural beauty, and promote economic growth in our state. There’s also increased funding to combat gun violence, support historically under-resourced communities, tackle climate change, and boost national security. Republicans need to come to the table to pass annual appropriations bills for FY 2022, so we can make these transformational investments a reality. I’ll keep pushing to make sure we get this done,” said Murphy.
Murphy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, released a statement on the fiscal year 2022 Homeland Security bill. Murphy and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also released a statement on the inclusion of $94.4 million for Connecticut Congressionally Directed Spending projects in the six bills posted by the Appropriations Committee.
Upgrading the Northeast Rail Corridor: Murphy, a vocal advocate for investing in Connecticut’s rail infrastructure, secured the inclusion of federal funding for the Northeast Corridor, including:
- $968.6 million for Amtrak Northeast Corridor Grants, an increase of $268.6 million, for operation and maintenance of the Northeast Corridor rail network
- $220 million for Northeast Corridor’s Federal State Partnership for State of Good Repair program, an increase of $20 million, to help complete important capital projects that will reduce travel times along the NEC
Protecting Long Island Sound: The Long Island Sound is a multi-trillion dollar asset to Connecticut, and Murphy secured the inclusion of federal funding to protect and support the health of the Sound, including:
- $40 million through the EPA’s Long Island Sound Geographic Program, an increase of $9.6 million, to improve water quality in Long Island Sound.
- A 19% increase to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which runs a number of grant programs that support fisheries, grow our coastal economy, and protect our coastline, including:
- $2.5 million increase for aquaculture research at places like Milford Lab
- $5.5 million increase for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System to accommodate a pending designation of a Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve System site.
- $90 million for Sea Grant, a $2.1 million increase over last year
Land Conservation: Murphy supported the inclusion of federal funding to conserve Connecticut’s natural beauty, including:
- $17 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund including $10 million for Highland Conservation Act, $5 million for Silvio Conte Wildlife Refuge, and $2 million for Big Thicket National Wildlife Refuge
- 2 year extension and funding for National Heritage Areas
Crumbling Foundations: In addition to funding for Congressionally Directed Spending requests for crumbling foundation remediation assistance and a study of crumbling foundations in public buildings, the bill also provides $2.5 million and report language for NIST Pyrrhotite study at UCONN.
Combating Gun Violence: Murphy successfully fought for the inclusion of funding for gun violence prevention efforts, including a first time investment in a collaborative DHS-CDC program and:
- $100 Million for a new Community-based Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program
- $169 million for the FBI’s operation of the National Criminal Justice Information System
- $125 million for National Instant Criminal Background Check System and National Criminal History Improvement Program grants, an increase of $40 million above FY 2021 enacted and $36 million above the FY 2022 request
- $50 million for Gun Violence Research at the CDC and NIH, an increase of $25 million from FY 2021
Supporting Under-Resourced Communities: Murphy supported the inclusion of federal funding to support historically under-resourced communities and address education, economic, and health disparities, including:
- $179 million for magnet schools, a $70 million increase from FY 2021 and the largest increase in the program’s history, to support the creation and expansion of magnet schools
- $33.1 billion for Title I grants, an increase of $16.6 billion over last year, to help school districts that serve a significant number of students living in poverty.
- $15.5 billion for IDEA Part B State Grants, an increase of $2.6 billion over last year, to help schools provide equitable services to students with disabilities
- $7.31 billion for Child Care Development Block Grants (CCDBG), an increase of $1.8 billion over last year, to help communities expand their supply of high-quality child care and early learning centers
- $222.4 million for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, an increase of $41.4 million from FY 2021, to strengthen the agency’s oversight over insurance plans’ implementation of mental health parity laws
- $10.6 million for SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program, an increase of $600 thousand from FY 2021, to help expand the number of racial and ethnic minorities in the behavioral health workforce
- $153 million to the CDC, a $150 million increase from FY 2021, to address health disparities and inequities around the Social Determinants of Health
- $473 million for Juvenile Justice program at Department of Justice, an increase of $127 million above FY 2021 levels. This includes $50 million for a new program to assist states in making the transition from youth incarceration facilities to community-based alternatives.
- $90 million for Sea Grant, a $2.1 million increase over last year
- $515 million for the Legal Service Corporation, a $50 million increase over last year
- $27.7 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers and $13.97 billion for project-based Section 8 rental assistance
- $8.8 billion for public housing, which includes an $851 million increase in capital funds for remediation of housing-related health hazards and energy efficiency and resiliency improvements
- $1.45 billion for the HOME Investment Partnership program, to construct nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units and to provide rental assistance to over 19,000 low-income renter households
- $3.26 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $260 million more than fiscal year 2021
- $196 million for programs authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Act, a $21 million increase, to help provide services that support people with developmental disabilities access education, housing, and employment
- $34.5 million for educational technology, media, and materials, a $5 million increase over last year, to support media services and accessibility for students with disabilities in K-12 and higher education settings
Defense and Manufacturing: Murphy supported increases to federal funding to support Connecticut’s defense and manufacturing industries, including:
- An increase of $20M for Submarine Workforce Training
- An increase of $20M for UCONN/URI Undersea Vehicle Research
- An increase of $130M for Columbia Class Advanced Procurement
- An increase of $1.8B for 16 additional Air National Guard C-130 and Modernization
- An increase of $55M for Next Generation Helicopter Development
- An increase of $1.45B for National Guard Equipment
Foreign Policy and National Security: Murphy, also a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supported the inclusion of funding to support global health and climate change efforts, invest in the Global Engagement Center and the Development Finance Corporation, and provide increased assistance to important allies and strategic priorities. The bill includes:
- A 9 percent increase in overall funding for the Department of State, USAID, and foreign assistance
- An additional $25 million in funding for the Global Engagement Center to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation
- $698 million for the Development Finance Corporation to invest in development overseas
- $1.45 billion for the Green Climate Fund along with new reporting language on the status of reforms to ensure the fund is well-managed and effective
- $10.35 billion for global health efforts to combat COVID-19 and prepare for the next pandemic, a $1.2 billion increase over last year
- Increased security and economic assistance for Ukraine, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza
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