Costa Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.

"Funding the government so it can fulfill its promises to the American people is one of Congress's most basic responsibilities. This legislation is a bipartisan compromise that provides vital funding for water and transportation infrastructure, veterans services, education, and community safety through the end of September 2017. This funding creates more certainty for our Valley's families and business owners, diversifies California's water supply, increases public safety and provides more opportunities to plan for the near-term future. However, this legislation is not a long-term solution to put our country on a more sustainable fiscal path. It's been over four years since Congress has passed a bill directing longer-term spending, which creates uncertainty for families and businesses and impacts their ability to plan for the future. Congress cannot continue this irresponsible governance. We must come together and have bipartisan negotiations to pass a long-term budget bill later this year.

"This legislation has wins for the Valley, including a critical investment to update and build California water projects. It's the funding we need to build water storage above and below ground. The bill also provides vital dollars for job training and community development in regions like the San Joaquin Valley. Furthermore, it does not provide wasteful spending to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border."

In April 2017, Costa was a lead author on a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations requesting that funding be provided for the California and west-wide drought-related authorizations included in Subtitle J of last year's Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WINN Act).

Funding highlights of the spending bill include:

$90 million for California water projects.

$481.5 million for the Violence Against Women programs.

$403 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants.

$248 million for community development in underserved areas.

$1.7 billion for Job Corps.

$279 million for Veterans Employment and Training Service.

$51 million to help provide housing for homeless and low-income veterans and $43 million in new resources to target assistance to homeless youth.

$1.5 million for Community Health Centers, with at least $50 million dedicated to expand mental health services and $50 million to prevent and treat opioid abuse.

$300 million for freestanding children's hospitals to use to train doctors, for research, and to care for vulnerable and underserved children.

$1.38 billion for medical research that helps our warfighters and veterans as well as their families and all Americans.

$43.2 billion for the Federal-Aid Highway program, which provides grants to state and local governments for investments in roads, bridges and public transit systems.