U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent (R-PA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Tom Reed (R-NY) highlighted provisions of the House-approved continuing resolution (CR) on Thursday that will fund government operations through December.
President Barack Obama signed the CR on Thursday.
Dent, chairman of the House Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, noted that the CR includes $82.5 billion in military construction and VA funding, a $2.6 billion increase from last year.
“The bill also provides a four percent increase in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to maintain a high quality of care for the VA’s services and benefits,” Dent said. “Additionally, this bill will take steps to enhance oversight within the VA to address the mismanagement that has plagued VA facilities for far too long. Finally, this bill addresses needs both here in Pennsylvania — including a $20 million investment at Fort Indiantown Gap for a security access perimeter — and abroad, including funds for the European Reassurance Initiative and the NATO Security Investment Program.”
Dent added that the CR also includes $1.1 billion in funding for efforts to fight the spread of Zika virus.
“I’m glad that a bipartisan consensus was reached to provide the funding necessary to combat, contain and ultimately treat Zika,” Dent said. “The Zika epidemic has unfortunately created an environment of fear and uncertainty for families, young couples and communities across our country. This bill will provide crucial funding for those working on the front lines to research, prevent, and cure this debilitating virus.”
Kinzinger praised the bipartisan passage of the CR and highlighted investments in the military, veterans and communities that are outlined in the government-funding bill.
“We were also able to include vital funding to begin implementation of the Comprehensive Addictions and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation I worked on to combat the opioid epidemic plaguing the nation,” Kinzinger said. “Also included in this bill are the resources necessary to implement the ‘Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act,’ which will have a direct impact on manufacturing in my district. The regulatory reforms that come about as a result of this will strengthen protections for American families and workers, and will ensure that the United States is leading the world in safety and manufacturing in this industry.”
Reed, meanwhile, said that the passage of the CR demonstrates that Congress cares about making sure that the government is able to operate for the sake of taxpayers, veterans, senior citizens and national security.
“It was only right that we came together to support this bill as it prevents a lapse in critical programs,” Reed said. “We remain committed to prioritizing spending and focused on long term efforts to get the deficit and debt under control.”
Reed also applauded the inclusion of $37 million in funding to implement programs outlined in CARA.
“Having held roundtable discussions across our region on the opioid and heroin epidemic, we heard the stories of those who lost loved ones to addiction,” Reed said. “For their sake, we could not waste any more time getting funding to the law enforcement officials and the rehabilitation and treatment programs that help address this crisis.”