Huffman Votes for Omnibus Bill to Fund the Government

January 15, 2014

WASHINGTON­—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 3547, the omnibus budget bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014. The bill provides $1.012 trillion for the operation of the federal government and avoids a government shutdown. It passed by a bipartisan vote of 359-67. 

“This bill was far from perfect, but today’s vote demonstrated a vital step away from the hyperpartisan dysfunction that resulted in last year’s government shutdown,” Congressman Huffman said. “The bill reduces the damaging effects of the sequester and makes modest investments in education, infrastructure and job creation. I’m glad to report that the bill also includes funding to protect additional land near the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands, which I hope Congress will soon add to the California Coastal National Monument, and the Ryan Creek Conservation Easement near Eureka. It also includes a fix to repeal last year’s cut to cost of living adjustments for disabled military retirees and survivors, and allots a 13% increase to Head Start funding. Yet, I’m disappointed that Congress did not restore unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed. This remains a critical priority for more than 200,000 unemployed California job-seekers.”

The bill also includes:

  • $2.8 billion for Army Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance.
  • $65 million for the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund
  • $6.7 billion for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), sufficient to meet expected need in 2014.
  • $11.5 billion for Special Education state grants (IDEA)
  • $815 million for Seniors’ Nutrition programs
  • $600 million for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER)
  • $680 million for the Department of Homeland Security Fire Grants Program
  • $20 million for VA suicide prevention and outreach
  • $100 million for the Transit Security Grant Program
  • $156.5 million for DoD sexual assault prevention

A detailed breakdown of the FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act may be found HERE.

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