I wanted to take a moment to highlight important provisions of the combined government funding (“omnibus”) and COVID-19 relief package Congress passed last week. After hearing from many folks, it is important to note the many positives in this bill, both for our nation and for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole, as we continue down the road of economic recovery.
This package was a critical funding bill that supports many of the priorities of the First Congressional District including increased and stable funding for our military, support for our Veterans, investments in broadband and our rural communities, assistance to our Law Enforcement Officers, and much-needed relief to millions of Americans. It fully funds the government through September 30th, 2021, and provides additional COVID-19 pandemic relief, relief to small businesses, American workers, and more.
There was a section of this funding package that was controversial and included spending on foreign aid. To combat this controversial spending, I offered a unanimous consent (UC) request on Christmas Eve to remove the foreign aid spending from the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
The UC request I put forward was offered in an effort to reexamine spending and address concerns of President Trump at a time when many believe that taxpayer dollars should go towards helping Americans most affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government’s top priority must be our families, communities, and small businesses as we get through this pandemic and restore our country.
Unfortunately, my UC request failed to be agreed to without support from Democratic House Leadership.
That said, there are still several great wins included in this package for our area that I was proud to support and believe should not be sacrificed due to an imperfect bill. Read below for more.
Government funding highlights and wins:
Provides our military with the resources to defend our nation and advance U.S. national security
Includes a 3% pay raise for the troops and provides the resources to continue rebuild our military, deter adversaries, and defend our national security interests
Supports Border security initiatives
$1.375 billion in new funding for the wall and additional funding for border security technology and enforcement
$20 million for new border processing coordinators
Protects the President’s authority to use funds for immigration and border law enforcement actions
Retains long-standing Second Amendment protections and prevents funds from being used to implement the Arms Trade Treaty
Rejects efforts to defund the police and provides strong support for our nation’s federal, state, and local law enforcement
Provides increased funding for Department of Justice initiatives, such as the STOP School Violence and the COPS Hiring programs, which expand threat assessment, violence prevention, school hardening, and resource officer support
Prioritizes funding to protect national security interests, enhance school safety, advance scientific research and exploration, and combatting the opioid epidemic
Prohibits coverage of abortions in the Federal Employee Health Benefit plan and bans both federal and local revenues from being used for abortion in our nation’s capital
Rightfully ends surprise medical billing
Wisely winds down the Federal Reserve’s Emergency Authority
Despite months of delays, unnecessary posturing, and piles of ignored legislation by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats, the package passed last week reflected key bipartisan priorities. It included vital provisions supporting our response to the pandemic, including targeted relief to small businesses, additional funding to speed vaccine production and distribution, and additional assistance to reopening schools and rebuilding our economy.
I share the same concerns about the broken funding and budgeting process in Washington. Congress shouldn’t have to consider these year-end omnibus spending bills anyway, if only lawmakers would get their work done on time. That is why I have long been an advocate to fix our funding problem by holding Members of Congress accountable for their inaction.
These provisions would hold members to the highest standard so that if they don’t do their jobs, they won’t get a paycheck or August Recess, which many Members use as a vacation. If we don’t fulfill one of our most basic responsibilities, frankly, there is no time for vacation.
I also has a bill in called the Inaction Has Consequences Act that goes one step further to say that if Members don’t complete appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year, their pay is withheld. By getting back to regular order, we can eliminate waste, introduce new, innovative programs, and avoid shutdown scenarios, especially as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes key government funding I was honored to directly advance in Washington for the benefit of all Americans and especially the people of Virginia’s First Congressional District.
Creates a new $300 Million Broadband Grant Program, as advocated for in my Serving Rural America Act.
Fully funds the Broadband DATA Act so federal funds can be more efficiently targeted to close the digital divide.
Expands telehealth grants by funding the FCC to carry out the temporary telehealth pilot program authorized under the CARES Act.
Allocates funding for two Virginia-Class submarines, one above the budget request, both of which are built in Virginia.
Provides $2.87 billion for the overall Columbia-Class submarine program, providing a great boost to the economy in the Commonwealth.
Allocates $10 million for the Cable Ship Security Program, which Congressman Wittman had authorized in the FY20 NDAA to shore up a critical strategic infrastructure gap.
Supports Congressman Wittman’s legislation that was included in the FY21 NDAA to bundle the acquisition of amphibious ships which will save the taxpayers roughly $1 billion.
Extends Section 3610 of the CARES Act to reimburse federal contractors, a large section of the workforce in VA-01, for the cost of providing pandemic-related leave.
Allows the transfer of National Park Service lands for the Long Bridge Project under Congressman Wittman’s Long Bridge Act.
Provides $25 million for the Veterans Treatment Court Grant Program, a program advocated for by Congressman Wittman.
Provides additional extensions and funding to vital Chesapeake Bay clean-up programs advocated for by Congressman Wittman, which have wide-reaching impacts in coastal Virginia.
This bill extends the vitally important Paycheck Protection Program and provided additional relief to small businesses. It included an extension of pandemic unemployment insurance, providing relief to the millions of Americans whose businesses have closed or who have been out of work due to the pandemic. And it included direct payments that will go to most Americans.
COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Highlights:
Small Business Tax Relief
Extends an additional lifeline to small businesses by ensuring additional relief to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, emergency EIDL grants program, and certain loan repayment assistance programs in the CARES Act by providing further guidance that the forgiven loan or grant amount shall not be included as gross income to the businesses and that businesses can still deduct the expenses paid with the proceeds of the forgiven loans or grants.
Provides over $280 billion to reopen and strengthen the PPP program
Businesses under 300 employees and have had a 25% reduction in revenue are eligible for a second round.
Increases the PPP loan amount for Restaurants and Hotels from 2.5x payroll to 3.5x, providing an extra month’s worth of payroll support
Codifies rules for faith-based organizations and churches to ensure eligibility remains intact.
Makes eligible 501c6s, destination marketing organizations (DMOs).
Creates a simplified PPP loan forgiveness application for loans under $150,000 dollars
Allows employers to deduct PPP related businesses expenses.
Reopening America
$20 billion for the purchase of vaccines that will make the vaccine available at no charge for anyone who needs it
$8 billion for vaccine distribution
$20 billion to assist states with testing
$20 billion distribution from existing provider relief fund
Stimulus checks -- $600 for both adults and dependents with safeguards to prohibit illegal aliens from receiving payment
Temporarily extends a number of unemployment programs created by CARES Act that expire Dec. 31, 2020
Provide unemployed individuals an additional $300 per week for 10 weeks from December 26, 2020-March 14, 2021
Extends and phases-out PUA, which is a temporary federal program covering self-employed and gig workers, to March 14 (after which no new applicants) through April 5, 2021
$10 billion for grants to childcare centers to help providers safely reopen
$4 billion for substance abuse – significant progress made over past several years on opioid addiction has been reversed because of impact of COVID lockdowns
$82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening for in-person learning that also includes $2.75 billion in designated funds for private K through 12 education
$25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistancefor individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic; extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021
For months, I had called on my colleagues in Washington to come to a workable deal for the American people providing targeted relief, an extension of the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program, and other vital services and programs for individuals, families, and businesses necessary for our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure, while not perfect, fully funded our government and went a long way towards helping our nation on the long road to recovery.
Here are just a few more critical components of this legislation that willgreatly impact our region:
National Security Wins
Provides our military with the resources to defend our nation and advance U.S. national security
Includes a 3% pay raise for the troops and provides the resources to continue rebuild our military, deter adversaries, and defend our national security interests
Extends Sec. 3610 of the Cares Act which allows for reimbursement to federal contractors for the cost of providing COVID-19 related leave
Funds two Virginia-class submarines, one above the budget request and $2.87 billion for Columbia-class submarine program; both of which are built in Virginia
Includes $10 million for the Cable Ship Security Program, which Congressman Wittman had authorized in the FY20 NDAA to shore up a critical strategic infrastructure gap
Supports Congressman Wittman’s legislation that was included in the FY21 NDAA to bundle the acquisition of our amphibious ships which will save the taxpayers roughly $1 billion
Increases the Navy’s shipbuilding budget by $3.4 billion to support the National Defense Strategy and allow us to compete on the global stage
Veterans Wins
Fully funds veterans’ healthcare, including the MISSION Act’s community care program, as well as other critical programs
Provides a total of $2.63 billion to continue VA’s transition to a new electronic health records system and increases congressional oversight of the program
Provides a total of $10.3 billion for VA mental health programs, including $313 million for suicide prevention outreach
Provides a total of $1.9 billion to prevent veteran homelessness, including $420 million for Supportive Services for Veterans Families and $270 million for the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program
Provides $661 million for gender-specific care to ensure VA meets the needs of women veterans, including $1 million for peer support programs
Broadband Wins
Creates a new $300 Million Broadband Grant Program, as envisioned in Congressman Wittman’s Serving Rural America Act
Provides $732 million for rural broadband, the highest level in history, including $635 million for the ReConnect broadband pilot for unserved and underserved areas as well as $60 million for Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants
Fully funds the Broadband DATA Act by appropriating $65 million dollars to carry out Title VIII of the Communications Act of 1934 so federal funds can be more efficiently targeted to close the digital divide
Appropriates an additional $250 million to the FCC to carry out the temporary telehealth pilot program authorized under the CARES Act and requires that the Commission equitably distributes the funding to the extent feasible
Rural Infrastructure Wins
Provides $3.9 billion for rural development programs, as well as more than $38.1 billion in loans for rural housing, rural utilities, and rural businesses, which assists in building sustainable rural infrastructure for the modern economy and helps create an environment for economic growth and opportunity
Includes $2 billion for highway infrastructure grants
Provides $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants, including a requirement that half of the grants go to rural communities; $400 million for discretionary airport grants; and $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $50 million above FY20
Healthcare Wins
Extends important public health programs for three years, including community health centers - eliminating several funding cliffs over next several years
Ends surprise medical billing
True and honest cost estimate for patients three days prior to scheduled procedure
Arbitration – independent dispute resolution process with no benchmark rate and multiple factors (but not government program reimbursement rates) which can be considered in arbitration process
Supports Front Line Health Care Providers by injecting billions of dollars into Medicare physician pay in 2021 and heading off payment cuts due to be enacted next year
Improves support for Rural and Underserved Health Care
Environment Wins
Allows the transfer of National Park Service lands for the Long Bridge Project under Congressman Wittman’s Long Bridge Act
Funds the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Consolidated Tribal Government Program above the enacted level, to the benefit of Virginia’s federally recognized tribes, which Congressman Wittman helped receive recognition in 2018
Funds the vital North American Wetlands Conservation Fund
Law Enforcement Wins
Rejects efforts to defund the police and provides strong support for our nation’s federal, state, and local law enforcement
Strongly supports our nation’s federal, state, and local law enforcement officers by increasing funding for the Department of Justice and preserving federal grant programs that bolster state and local efforts to keep our communities safe
Expands law enforcement resources in support of mental and behavioral health intervention teams, de-escalation training, agencies gaining accreditation, and small and rural law enforcement agencies
Provides increased funding for Department of Justice initiatives, such as the STOP School Violence and the COPS Hiring programs, which expand threat assessment, violence prevention, school hardening, and resource officer support
Combats the drug epidemic by increasing funds for Office of National Drug Control Policy programs such as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and Drug Free Communities
Reduces violent and gun crimes by:
Fully funding the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS);
Increasing funding for U.S. Attorneys; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Marshals Service to address violent crime; and
Providing $85 million in grants to states to improve records used in background checks, and $24 million for police active shooter and survivability training
Energy Wins
Continues to advance the nation’s “all-of-the-above” solution to energy independence through targeted investments in research and development in all energy sources, including nuclear, fossil, geothermal, and hydropower, as well as solar and wind
Provides $368 million to protect our nation’s energy infrastructure against cyber and other attacks and to increase the efficiency and technological advancement of the nation’s electricity delivery system
Pro-Life Wins
Prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment of the mother
Prohibits the creation or destruction of embryos for research purposes
Protects the Trump Administration’s Title X Family Planning regulations
Maintains the Hyde Amendment, Tiahrt Amendment, Helms Amendment, Dickey Amendment, and Kemp-Kasten Amendment, maintaining critical pro-life funding restrictions
Border Security Wins
Rejects poison pill riders that would have limited the ability of Border Patrol to detain illegal migrants in the U.S., and would have allowed taxpayer dollars for legal assistance to illegal immigrants
Assists Border Patrol Agents by providing $20 million for new border processing coordinators and $103 million for improvements to border patrol facilities
Funds the border wall, providing $1.375 billion in new funding
Provides funding for investments in border security technology, including at ports of entry, and $80 million over the request for additional enforcement aircraft and helicopters
I will continue advocating for the people of Virginia’s First Congressional District in Washington and will do my utmost to hold Members of Congress accountable to the people we serve.
