Schakowsky Votes to Pass Six Bill Appropriations Package

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 8294 – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2023 in a vote of 220-207.

"Yesterday, I voted for H.R. 8294, a six-bill appropriations minibus. This critical funding package invests in our nation's families, will help improve our infrastructure, confronts climate change, and invests more than $20 million directly into the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois through Community Project Funding.

"This minibus includes critical investments to tackle hunger at home and abroad. It ensures that more than 6.5 million people will not go hungry by fully funding SNAP, WIC, and child nutrition programs. It also includes $265 million for the McGovern Dole program to combat global food insecurity. The bill also strengthens the health and safety of American families by investing more than $3.6 billion in the Food and Drug Administration.

"I am proud to have secured report language that reflects priorities in my Safer Beauty Bill Package. I look forward to building on this success to increase the safety of cosmetics and personal care products that Americans use every day.

"This minibus also includes provisions vital to combatting climate change and protecting the environment. It invests more than $16 billion in clean energy. It also includes $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, that will greatly benefit the Illinois Ninth and its surrounding communities. It also provides $300 million to expand environmental justice efforts.

"By including more than $105 billion for the Department of Transportation, this package also builds on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – investing in our roads, highways, passenger rail, ports, and will help expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The bill also includes critical funding to protect housing for almost five million individuals and families nationally, by providing more than $45 billion for rental assistance and almost $13 billion for affordable housing.

"Finally, this minibus makes important investments in our military families and veterans, as well as American consumers and voters. It includes $118.8 million for veteran medical care and $2.1 million for military housing. It also ensures that the IRS has the resources it needs to finally make big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share and provide better customer service to families navigating our tax system.

"This minibus also includes critical protections for consumers by providing $166.3 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, $490 million for antitrust, privacy, and anti-fraud work at the Federal Trade Commission, and $2.2 billion for the Securities and Exchange Commission to combat financial fraud and corporate malpractice. This critical bill also includes $400 million to help improve the security of our federal elections.

"I applaud the work done by my friend and colleague, Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, for bringing this critical funding bill to the floor for a vote. As the Senate continues its work on their funding package, I will fight to ensure that these important provisions remain in the final bill."

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