Moolenaar, House Pass Funding for America's Veterans and the Great Lakes

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers for the federal budget in 2019.

The legislation, previously passed by the House Appropriations Committee that Congressman John Moolenaar is a member of, has more than $71 billion for medical care at the VA, including $8.6 billion in mental health care services; $196 million in suicide prevention outreach activities; $589 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $387 million for opioid abuse prevention; and $270 million in rural health initiatives.

The legislation also approves $1.6 billion from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to be used by the Army Corps to dredge harbors and maintain breakwalls in Michigan and across the country.

It also instructs the Army Corps to present quarterly briefings to Congress on efforts to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Chicago.

Finally, the legislation includes funding for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University, meeting MSU's request for $75 million in 2019.

Congressman Moolenaar voted for the legislation and made the following statement:

"Michigan families love the Great Lakes. They want to preserve and protect them for future generations. This legislation will hold the Army Corps accountable in the fight against invasive species, help develop Michigan harbors, and allow Michigan residents to enjoy our rivers and lakes.

"Our veterans will also benefit from this bill. Some veterans face challenges when they return to civilian life including mental health and the opioid crisis. This bill gives the VA more resources to help them receive the care they earned defending our county.

"This legislation also helps bring jobs to mid-Michigan with funding for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. FRIB is bringing talented workers and good-paying jobs to our region and its pioneering research will benefit all of us."

Additional Appropriations Information

The House Appropriations Committee has now passed seven of the twelve bills it works on annually to fund the departments and agencies of the federal government in each federal budget year. Three of those bills have now been passed by the full House of Representatives and sent to the Senate.

Congressman Moolenaar has successfully worked to ensure Michigan's priorities are funded in legislation passed by the committee. This includes:

• $75 million for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beam Research at Michigan State University.
• $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
• $447 million for opioid overdose reversal drugs and prescription drug monitoring.
• $620 million in loans and grants for expanding rural broadband access.
• $1.6 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
• $2 billion for rural development grants, including those focused on rural water and waste program loans.
• $3.1 billion for agriculture research that helps stop crop diseases including funding for the sugar beet and bean research facility at MSU.
• $6.9 billion in loans for rural electric service and telephone lines.
• $46 billion for the Highway Trust Fund.
• $71 billion for VA medical care including $8.6 billion in mental health care services; $196 million in suicide prevention outreach activities; $589 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $387 million for opioid abuse prevention; and $270 million in rural health initiatives.

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