Congress Approves Omnibus Appropriations Bill to Fund Vital Ongoing Education, Health Care, Infrastructure Investments in Rhode Island

Press Release

Congress Approves Omnibus Appropriations Bill to Fund Vital Ongoing Education, Health Care, Infrastructure Investments in Rhode Island

The U.S. Senate today passed a $410 billion consolidated appropriations bill to help strengthen our economy, keep the government working for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, and make critical investments in America's future. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) voted for final passage of the bill.

The bill includes:

• $66.5 billion for education to help students succeed in the classroom, up from $62.1 billion in fiscal year 2008;
• $55 billion for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development programs, an increase of $6.2 billion, to put people to work and improve our transportation and housing infrastructure;
• $33.3 billion for Energy and Water Development programs, a $2.5 billion increase that will help expand clean energy initiatives; and
• $30.1 billion for the National Institute of Health, a nearly $1 billion increase, to invest in lifesaving research that will result in cures and treatments for debilitating diseases.

The legislation also includes over $32.3 million that Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, and Senator Whitehouse secured for a wide range of projects throughout Rhode Island.

"This legislation makes critical investments in education, health care, and energy efficiency, priorities that were overlooked and underfunded during the Bush Administration. These investments will help grow our economy, improve our infrastructure, boost our energy efficiency, and save and create good paying jobs in Rhode Island and nationwide," said Reed. "I am pleased to have worked with Senator Whitehouse, Representative Kennedy, and Representative Langevin to secure this important funding for Rhode Island. This legislation complements the economic recovery package we passed last month, and provides critical investments to strengthen Rhode Island's economy and our future."

"With our economy in trouble, this funding will help keep jobs in Rhode Island, strengthen our highway and water infrastructure, and support our doctors and hospitals at a critical time for out state and our country," said Whitehouse. "I applaud Senator Reed for his efforts on the Appropriations Committee and am happy to have worked with him to get this done."

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