East Greenbush, N.Y. – In case you missed it, today, Sun Community News reported that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for New York’s 21st Congressional District. This funding will be used for various projects including providing critical resources for North Country programs and bolstering defense spending.
Read the full article below: Stefanik highlights impacts of Further Consolidated Appropriations Act
Sun Community News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement after voting to pass the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act which secured hundreds of millions of dollars for New York’s 21st Congressional District including critical funding for North Country programs and significant defense spending.
“My advocacy secured investments for our students in rural communities, strengthened our Northern Border security and staffing, and delivered millions in defense spending to bolster our military capabilities at Fort Drum and the Air Force Research Lab - Rome ensuring our service members have the resources they need to protect our national security,” Congresswoman Stefanik said Friday before the Senate approved the spending package early Saturday, preventing a partial government shutdown when formally signed by President Joe Biden Saturday.
While many agreed more work needs to be done in regard to border security, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deployment of resources and address staffing issues at the Northern Border, approved $283.5 million for border technology and funds 22,000 Border Patrol agents- the highest level ever funded. It also funds 41,500 detention beds.
Stefanik said in conservative wins, the measure prohibits the use of federal funds from being used for abortion, prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves, prohibits funds for UNRWA and pulls back $20.2 billion from the IRS.
In other upstate New York impacts, the spending package included:
NORTH COUNTRY DEFENSE WINS
-$25 million increase for Air Force Research Lab - Rome’s annual Future Flag testing and evaluation exercise, conducted in Essex County in Lewis.
-$5 million to begin research, design, development and testing for recapitalization of the LC-130H aircraft operated by the New York National Guard’s 109th Air Wing.
-$20 million increase for Agility Prime to help support BETA Technologies’ work in Plattsburgh.
-$10 million in RDTE for blast exposure monitoring to help support the NY-21 defense industrial base.
-$10 million increase for Air Force photonic chips for quantum computing at AFRL-Rome.
STRENGTHENING FORT DRUM
-$10 million to accelerate funding for the Army’s fielding of unmanned aircraft systems to light infantry units like the 10th Mountain Division.
-$15 million increase for the Army radio systems used by first responders to protect families and improve on-base security.
-$10 million to support the 10th Mountain Division Engineer’s land surveying equipment designed to perform reconnaissance, obstacle reporting, and construction management.
SUPPORTING SERVICEMEMBERS
-Includes a 5.2 percent increase in Servicemember basic pay.
-$70 million increase for DoD Impact Aid schools including Indian River and Carthage Schools.
-$25 million for the Peer-Reviewed Lung Cancer Research Program.
-$7 million for the Peer-Reviewed Tickborne Disease Research Program.
-$45 million for the Peer-Reviewed Ovarian Cancer Research Program.
-$150 million for the Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program.
-$10 million for the Peer-Reviewed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program.
STRENGTHENING U.S.-ISRAEL DEFENSE COOPERATION
-$300 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation.
-$80 million for Procurement of the Iron Dome system.
-$80 million for Procurement of the Arrow Weapon System.
-$40 million for Procurement of the Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD).
-$40 million increase above the Defense budget request for U.S.-Israel counter-UAS development including directed energy and laser technology cooperation.
-$47.5 million increase for U.S.-Israel anti-tunneling cooperation.
SUPPORTING NY-21 COMMUNITIES
-$45 million for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant program under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education program.
-$4 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program.
-$1.1 billion for senior nutrition programs.
-$1.5 billion for Impact Aid Basic Support payments program in the Department of Education.
-$1.9 billion for the Community Health Centers.
-$71 million for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention.
-$1.2 billion for Federal TRIO programs.
-$12.3 billion for the Head Start program.
“As a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I’m proud to have secured $45 million for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant program through this year’s appropriations process. These funds will help close the degree attainment gap between students from rural communities like Upstate New York and the North Country and their peers by funding educational programs that help students from rural communities explore career pathways and higher education opportunities,” Congresswoman Stefanik said March 24.
President and CEO of CFES Brilliant Pathways Rick Dalton said “Congresswoman Stefanik’s commitment to supporting rural education and communities is changing life trajectories throughout the North Country. We all are so appreciative.”
