U.S. House passes key funding for veterans, water infrastructure projects, and more
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON— Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) successfully helped secure millions in the fiscal year 2019 U.S. House of Representatives “minibus” Appropriations bill, which includes key funding for veterans, water infrastructure projects, and more. A “minibus” is a small group of federal spending bills combined into a single package that funds part of the Federal government. This minibus included three of the 12 appropriations bills – Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water Development, and the Legislative Branch. These bills passed the House and Senate, and are scheduled to move to the President’s desk shortly to be signed into law.
Congressman Cuellar secured funding through the FY19 Appropriations bills in several parts:
Supporting our Veterans
Congressman Cuellar included language and funding in the FY19 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that will increase access to cemeteries for veterans in rural communities, provide them with increased telemedicine, and help support homeless veterans throughout his district and along the border.
Congressman Cuellar also secured:
- $206 million for suicide prevention outreach;
- Language to ensure that Joint Military Bases have adequate training facilities and prioritize construction that will increase readiness and diminish impacts on surrounding communities;
- Language encouraging the VA to implement programming that would designate a VA liaison to work with local law enforcement to address the unique issues facing veterans returning from combat; and
- Language urging VA hospitals to collaborate with Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Investing in American Infrastructure
Congressman Cuellar included funding and language in the FY19 Energy and Water Development bill to support water infrastructure projects such as Mission Reach, Chacon Creek and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP).
Mission Reach
The Congressman included $25 million dollars in federal reimbursement for the San Antonio/Bexar County Mission Reach Project. The Mission Reach Project is a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project to prevent San Antonio River flooding and restore natural plant and animal habitats. Thanks to the help of Representatives Cuellar, Hurd, Doggett, Smith, Castro, and other members of the San Antonio Congressional Delegation, USACE has been slowly paying back the funds which were loaned to them by Bexar County. To date, the project has received $30.8 million in reimbursement.
Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project
Congressmen Henry Cuellar also helped secure $13 million in federal funding towards the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). CIP is a USACE project to expand the Port’s ship channels, allowing vessels to navigate the channel safely, meeting surging global demand for U.S. produced oil and natural gas. The Port of Corpus Christi is the largest export port of U.S. produced crude oil and is a major export hub for U.S. energy products.
Additional provisions secured include:
- $20 million for Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships Program ($200,000 increase from FY18);
- Language encouraging investments in Falcon and Amistad Dams;
- Language encouraging FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to determine ways to incentivize energy companies to invest in cybersecurity infrastructure;
- Language for Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships Program, which is designed to bring heightened awareness of STEM fields to Minority Serving Institutions;
- Language that increases efficiency and transparency of federal agencies;
- Language that improves cybersecurity for the electricity grid;
- Language encouraging development of natural gas technologies that are more efficient and environmentally sound;
- Language directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to report on its efforts to alleviate poverty;
- Language encouraging the DOE to partner with HSIs; and
- Language encouraging DOE to explore research and development opportunities to enhance our natural gas storage systems.
Supporting Higher Education
Congressman Cuellar’s language in the FY19 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill calls on various federal agencies, including the Library of Congress (LOC), to increase cooperative partnerships, fellowship opportunities and curriculum program associations with community colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other minority-serving institutions.
Streamlining the Federal Government
In addition, he helped secure over $125 million for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a $6 million increase from FY18, to help conduct research and analysis for Congress on a broad range of national policy issues. He also included language that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a report to Congress identifying duplicative programs throughout the Federal government.
“My constituents rely on federal dollars to help fund key programs in my district,” said Congressman Cuellar. “That is why I fought hard to secure funding through the appropriations process so that we are able to provide necessary assistance to people throughout Texas.
“The benefit that this funding will have on the district will expand into each community that I proudly represent. This money will provide veterans, who have devoted their lives to protecting our country, with the resources they need to succeed and thrive after returning to civilian life. It will also ensure that rural areas across South Texas have access to clean water and sanitary living conditions to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. In addition to these resources, it will save hard-earned, taxpayer dollars by increasing efficiency and transparency at our federal agencies. These bills will encourage federal agencies to partner with minority-serving institutions, typically underrepresented communities back home so that individuals will get the education they need to compete in a 21st-century, competitive job market.
Congressman Cuellar continued, “I look forward to the signing of this bill into law by the president. I will continue to work on the Appropriations Committee so that the people in the 28th district get the assistance and funding they need.”
Read a summary of the bills here.
Watch Congressman Cuellar speak on the House Floor here.
