Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) issued the following statement after voting for a collection of funding bills for FY 2020:

“This bipartisan funding deal makes many For The People investments, including robust funding for hard-working families through early learning programs, medical research, and veteran’s education, and makes smart investments in our country’s infrastructure, including restoration of Florida’s Everglades to keep the drinking water for over eight million residents and millions of visitors clean and safe.”

It includes reimbursements for local law enforcement for overtime costs of protecting President Trump in South Florida and for businesses at Lantana Airport, which lose business when the President is in town due to airport closure for security reasons.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Frankel advocated for an array of programs, many of which will positively impact South Florida, including:

Labor-Health and Human Services-Education

• $7 million in new funding for Veterans Student Service Centers, which provide resources and give a boost to student veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. 

• Earlier this year, Rep. Frankel introduced bipartisan legislation to create these centers across the nation. 

• $41.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a more than $2.6 billion increase over FY19 to this agency that provides life-saving research and care, including: 

o    $2.8 billion for Alzheimer’s disease research, 

o    $195 million for the Cancer Moonshot project. 

• $25 million for firearm injury and mortality prevention research, divided evenly between the NIH and the Center for Disease Control. This is new funding, not included in last year’s budget. 
• $5.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, an increase of $550 million from FY19 that will help low-income families afford quality child care. 
• $10.6 billion for Head Start, an increase of $550 million from FY19 to provide comprehensive early childhood education for low-income families. 
• $12 million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
• $4.1 million for the Violence Against Women health initiative, state partnerships.

Energy and Water

• $200 million for Everglades Restoration, a $133 million increase from FY19 levels. 
• $50 million for Beach Restoration, maintaining funding from FY19 levels. 
• Language ensuring the best available science is used when determining Lake Okeechobee water levels.
• Six new starts for Army Corps projects, in which Port Everglades may compete for their expansion project.

Transportation, HUD

• Extended funding to reimburse businesses at Lantana Airport, which lose business when the President is in town due to security restrictions.
• $1 billion for infrastructure grants.
• $2.2 billion for highway projects.
• $23.9 billion for affordable housing assistance.
• $2.78 billion for homelessness assistance grants.

Homeland Security

• Continued funding to reimburse local law enforcement for overtime when protecting the President.
• $50 million for physical security enhancements to churches, synagogues, and other non-profit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack.
• $83.5 million for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for airport exit lane staffing.

Financial, Services and General Government

• $425 million for Election Assistance Grants, to help states protect elections.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs

• $380 million to supportive service programs for veterans’ families.
• $880 million for medical and prosthetics support.
• $1 billion for homeless veterans assistance.

State-Foreign Operations

• $3.3 billion commitment for security assistance to Israel.
• $165 million to combat gender-based violence, a $15 million increase from FY19. 
• $15 million for combatting child marriage, a $4 million increase above FY19. 

• $265 million to help implement the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act, by supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that benefit the poor, especially women. 

Defense

• $500 million for Israeli missile defense programs, including the Iron Dome.
• $7 million for implementation of the Women Peace and Security Act.

Agriculture

• $8.5 million to fight citrus disease.

Commerce, Justice, Science

• $502 million for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs administered by the Department of Justice. 
  

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