Funding for Essential Projects in Illinois

Floor Speech

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Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the bipartisan fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill becoming law, I am proud to have secured over $10 million to fund 10 projects in communities across northern Illinois.

These essential projects will reduce wait times for mental healthcare, upgrade infrastructure to ensure clean water, make college more affordable and accessible, support foster youth and families, and strengthen local emergency response and community safety.

Last summer, I visited many of the organizations that sponsor these projects to learn more about how these funds will impact Illinoisans. Independence Health & Therapy will receive $60,000 to expand tele- psychiatry hours and reduce wait times for mental health services in McHenry County.

The DeKalb County Regional Office of Education will receive $150,000 to expand the work of the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative and provide quality early learning opportunities to residents of Sandwich, Sycamore, and Hinckley.

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission will receive nearly $1.4 million to prevent impending dam failure of the Sylvan Lake Dam and protect nearly 500 homes from flooding and damage.

The Kendall County CASA Program will receive $200,000 to establish a CASA clubhouse which will serve the growing foster youth population by providing a free, safe location for families to meet during court- ordered visitation.

McHenry County College will receive $825,000 to expand dual credit and dual degree programs, offering low-cost college credits to high schoolers across McHenry County.

The Wauconda Fire Protection District will receive $36,000 to replace a 28-year-old natural gas emergency backup generator to power the fire station's emergency operations center, which provides essential services to the 40,000 residents in Lake and McHenry Counties.

And over $7.5 million is being directed to critical water infrastructure projects to ensure safe, clean, and sustainable drinking water for residents of Joliet, Pingree Grove, and Richmond.

From day one, I have worked hard to bring the voices of the 14th District to Congress. And as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I will continue to ensure that our communities' priorities are reflected within Federal funding.

These projects will create jobs and improve the well-being of our communities, and I am so proud to deliver this $10.5 million investment to my constituents.

This month, the House passed the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act which would expand healthcare for 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and an original co- sponsor of the bill, I am proud to champion this historic legislation.

Simply put, the Honoring our PACT Act is a full accounting for the true cost of war. When our servicemembers signed up to defend our country and our freedoms, we made a promise to care for them when they returned home. For too long, we failed to keep that promise.

By passing this bill, we are upholding our end of the pact and ensuring every veteran has access to the care they deserve.

The Senate must pass this comprehensive toxic exposure legislation swiftly. Our veterans deserve nothing less.

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