Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) voted in favor of a continuing resolution (CR), H. J. Res. 20, to ensure the federal government remains open and continues to provide services to the American people. The Resolution provides $463.5 billion for the operation of the government. While adhering to the spending limit in Republican budget, the resolution invests in key priority items such as veterans, education, health care, science research, housing and transportation.
“This resolution allows the current Congress to responsibly clean-up last year’s unfinished work and move quickly on this year’s business toward a new direction for the American people,” stated Congresswoman Matsui. “I would have preferred that we finished the appropriations bills last year – as would have many of my colleagues –, but that being said with the unfinished work on the table from the previous Congress, this funding measure is a responsible compromise that lets us boost funding for critical, long-term priorities while strengthening support for programs that millions of Americans rely upon every day.”
The CR makes significant new investments for high priority needs. This includes funding programs Congresswoman Matsui advocated for over the past year: The National Children’s Study, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and the COPS program. At the same time, the measure does not spend any more than Republicans proposed last year. § National Children’s Study (NCS): the CR directs $69 million towards the National Institute of Health’s budget – allowing doctors and researchers to move from the planning phase to enrolling participants in the study. The President’s budget had recommended eliminating the funding for this study. The NCS will provide answers to the causes of many preventable childhood illnesses such as premature birth, asthma, obesity, and autism. The research will be conducted in Sacramento and 104 other sites across the country, working with more than 100,000 children from across the country from birth until age 21. Click here for more on Congresswoman’s Matsui’s efforts on this landmark study click here.
§ Energy & Science Research Funding: $4.7 billion, an increase of $335 million, in the National Science Foundation’s research account to fund Innovation Programs. This increase is a down-payment towards enhancing U.S. global competitiveness by investing in basic science research. $3.8 billion, an increase of $200 million, for the Office of Science at the Department of Energy to support research including new energy technologies such as improved conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuels. And $1.5 billion, an increase of $300 million, for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources also at the Department of Energy to accelerate research and development activities for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Click here for more on Congresswoman’s Matsui’s advocacy for energy and science research funding.
§ AmeriCorps*NCCC: the CR maintains the FY06 funding level of $26.73 million, which ensures that the program is not eliminated as the President proposed in his budget. NCCC is a full-time, team-based volunteer program for men and women age 18 – 24. Members live at one of five residential campuses, including one in Sacramento at McClellan Park. Click here for more on Congresswoman Matsui’s efforts to protect this volunteer program.
§ DOJ State and Local Law Enforcement and COPS: $520 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Formula Grants, an increase of $109 million and $542 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), an increase of $70 million. Click here for more on Congresswoman Matsui’s support of funding for local law enforcement.
§ Veterans Healthcare: $32.3 billion, an increase of $3.6 billion from the previous year, to provide service for an anticipated increase of at least 325,000 patients and to meet rising healthcare costs. Over fiscal years 2005 and 2006, the Veterans Administration posted shortfalls of $3 billion. Congresswoman Matsui has been a strong advocate for veterans, click here for more on her work in 2005 and click her for her efforts in 2006.
§ Defense Health Programs: $21.2 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion to provide care for service members and their families – including treating service members wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
§ Pell Grants: $13.6 billion, an increase of $615.4 million, to increase the maximum Pell grant by $260 to $4,310. This increase – the first in 4 years – will help over 5.3 million students pay rising college expenses.
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