Hoyer Announces Fifth District Investments in FY 2012 Minibus

Appropriations Bill Includes Funding for James Webb Telescope, WMATA, and Projects & Programs Beneficial to Fifth District Businesses, Residents

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) announced that the Fiscal Year 2012 Minibus Appropriations bill approved today by the House of Representatives contains critical investments for projects and programs that will benefit Maryland's Fifth District and its businesses and residents.  This legislation funds the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the space program for fiscal year 2012. The bill also contains a Continuing Resolution which funds the rest of the Federal government through December 16, 2011.  The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this week before sending it to the President to be signed into law.

"I am encouraged by passage of today's conference report, which contains a number of positive investments for our nation and the Fifth District," stated Congressman Hoyer. "The legislation includes the third installment of dedicated funding for WMATA to continue to improve safety and access to those commuting to or visiting our nation's capital.  It also keeps on schedule the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, which House Republicans recently voted to terminate. Cuts to this program would have had a dramatic impact on local jobs here in the Fifth District and threatened the future of science research.  I am pleased that, working closely with Ranking Member Chaka Fattah and Senator Barbara Mikulski, we were able to preserve this important investment in our quest for knowledge and understanding of the universe."

Congressman Hoyer fought to ensure funding for the following projects and programs that will directly benefit Maryland's Fifth District:

 

NASA – James Webb Space Telescope – $529.6 Million

Continues our investment in cutting edge research by restoring funding to construct and, ultimately, deploy the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This funding protects numerous jobs at NASA Goddard and keeps the program on track for completion.

 

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – $150 Million

Includes the full amount sought by the Obama Administration and members of the Washington Metro Area's Congressional Delegation for WMATA, to be used for capital improvements and preventative maintenance.

 

Additional victories for Maryland residents and the American people include:

 

AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS

·   WIC:  Provides $6.6 billion for WIC, an increase of $570 million over the level in the House-passed bill and $36 million above the Senate – rejecting the House-passed level that would have denied food to an estimated 700,000 pregnant women, infants and children.

·   Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA: Funds the FDA at $2.5 billion, $334 million over the House level, allowing for the FDA to continue implementation of the landmark Food Safety Modernization Act – enacted on behalf of the 48 million Americans sickened from consuming contaminated food each year.  Provides $1.0 billion for FSIS, which is $32 million over the House level and will maintain current meat inspections.

·   Agricultural Research: Funds the Agricultural Research Service at $1.1 billion, $100 million over the House level, allowing for continued research critical to ensuring the safety and quality of our food supply and improving the productivity for our nation's farmers and ranchers.  In part, this funding will support the work at USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Prince George's County.

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE APPROPRIATIONS

·   Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)/State & Local Law Enforcement: Provides $198.5 million for COPS programs, including $166 million for the COPS Hiring Program, while the House bill proposed no funding. For state and local law enforcement grants, the agreement includes $2.2 billion. 

·   Federal Law Enforcement: Provides increases above the FY 2011 level, and the House and Senate levels, for Department of Justice's Federal law enforcement components, including Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms.

·   NASA:  Provides $17.8 billion, $1 billion over the House level.  Includes $529.6 million for the James Webb Space Telescope, the full amount needed according to NASA's revised life-cycle cost estimates for the telescope released in August of this year.

TRANSPORTATION, HUD APPROPRIATIONS

·   Highway and Transit Funding:  Includes $39.8 billion for the federal-aid highway program, $12.1 billion more than the House draft bill and consistent with the annual funding levels assumed in the surface transportation extension act.  This means 400,000 more jobs than the House proposal.  The bill includes $10.5 billion for transit programs, $2.5 billion more than the House draft bill. 

·   Disaster Assistance: Contains $2.3 billion for disaster aid, including $1.66 billion to rebuild roads and bridges destroyed by this year's floods in the Northeast and Midwest, $367 million for Agriculture, $200 million for the Economic Development Administration, and $400 million for Community Development Block Grant.   

·   Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH):  Provides $75 million, equal to the President's budget and an increase of $25 million over the FY 2011 level, for the HUD VASH program for long-term housing for homeless veterans.

·   Home Loan Limits:  Increases for two years the higher Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loan limits that expired September 30, 2011. This action will help stabilize housing markets by providing more homebuyers and homeowners with low-cost loans for home purchases and refinancing.