Schakowsky Votes to Pass Omnibus Appropriations Funding Package

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) joined a majority of her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that invests in both American and global priorities. The Omnibus Appropriations bill, which includes key funding for projects in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, was approved on March 9, 2022. The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate before heading to the President's desk.

"Today, the House considered and passed H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. I voted 'YES' because our friends, family, and allies in Ukraine – and all over Europe – depend on it. While this legislation leaves major issues unresolved, it was critical that Congress pass this bill to fund our government, promote global democracy, and protect our humanitarian priorities around the world.

"This appropriations package includes $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake of Russia's unprovoked and illegal attack. It will address the dire humanitarian needs of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled Ukraine or been displaced within the country. It will also provide strong support to Ukraine and our allies and partners in the Baltics and Central and Eastern Europe so they can defend themselves against Russian aggression. Finally, it will ensure that our Treasury, Department of Commerce, and Department of Justice can enforce the tough sanctions that have been imposed on Russia and prepare for and respond to cyber threats.

"This bill also includes critical domestic funding to help lower the cost of living for working families, create good paying jobs, and provide a lifeline for our vulnerable communities. It establishes President Biden's new cancer research initiative known as ARPA-H, includes a $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award, and reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act. It also expands child care and early learning programs, expands access to homeownership, funds affordable housing, creates green energy jobs, and strengthens our nutrition assistance programs. It provides critical funding to support refugees around the world, expand global efforts to address the climate crisis, and support international family planning and gender equity and equality.

"While this bipartisan legislation includes many strong federal investments, I am disappointed that it includes many problematic provisions and lacks important pieces from the original House appropriations bill. As the daughter of immigrants, I am dismayed that this bill increases ICE funding and maintains capacity for a daily population of 34,000 people in abusive ICE detention. It also increases funds for invasive border surveillance technology and fails to rescind unspent money for the senseless border wall. I was also disturbed to see that it does not include the House bill's repeal of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force. It also failed to include the prohibition of funds for U.S. support of Saudi Arabia's offensive military operation in Yemen, which is fueling one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

"Finally, I am extremely disappointed that Hyde, Helms, and other coverage-related bans – harmful, offensive, and discriminatory barriers to reproductive health access – were put back in the bill. I am so grateful to my friends and colleagues, Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro and State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Barbara Lee, for their tireless leadership and work to protect access to reproductive care. Rest assured, we will keep fighting to prevent these measures from infringing upon people's bodily autonomy and reproductive health. I will also work to ensure that this funding is not used to harm our immigrant communities, fuel endless wars, or provoke new ones.

"Despite the flaws of this bill, I was grateful to see this package include $3.4 million in funding for several projects within Illinois' Ninth Congressional District. These projects will directly benefit our community.

"While this bill is far from perfect, it will help millions of hardworking Americans with the cost of living, create good paying green jobs, support our children and families, and help small businesses and restaurants that are key to our economic future. Taken together, the funding for the Illinois' Ninth and the funding increases for critical government programs will reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities and strengthen our nation."

This legislation will be voted on by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden later this week. A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

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