Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6) applauded the passage of H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865, which provide funding for the 2020 fiscal year. The funding package includes Matsui-backed legislation and significant Democratic priorities.

“When the American people installed a Democratic House Majority, they endorsed our vision for the future: more affordable health care, rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, and a plan to reverse the effects of climate change. Today, we passed a funding bill that makes good on those promises and invests in our nation’s future,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “We believe in an America that funds critical research to reduce to gun violence and develop the miracle drugs of tomorrow. We believe that everyone should have a say in how this government runs, which is why we secured funding to protect our elections and ensure that the 2020 Census is conducted in a fair and accurate way. We believe that climate change is real, and we are experience its consequences right now. That’s why we fought for robust funding at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), disaster relief for families affected by wildfires.”

“Additionally, this legislation includes critical wins for the Sacramento region. We live in one of the most flood-prone regions in the country, and that’s why I fought hard to secure full and robust funding of programs projects that keep families and communities safe. I am proud to have secured $60 million for Sacramento-area flood protection projects. These funds will safeguard our water infrastructure, bolster flood resiliency, and ensure that the Sacramento region can grow and thrive. I look forward to working with the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as state and local partners, to strengthen our levees and see these projects through to fruition,” added Matsui. “This funding bill is a reflection of our values, and I was proud to cast my vote in support of this spending package.”

Matsui priorities included in the FY2020 spending package incude:

• Funding for flood infrastructure projects in the Army Corps of Engineers flood control construction projects, including $59 million for the American River Common Features Natomas Basin, $400,000 for the West Sacramento Project, and additional funding that will be made available through a Corps Work Plan
• Six undesignated “new starts” for Army Corps of Engineers Projects in the region, a critical designation for which projects like the West Sacramento Project may compete to move forward with construction activities
• Additional funding and language added to support water storage efforts such as groundwater banking, which will benefit the Sacramento Regional Groundwater Bank
• $1.8 billion in disaster relief funding for wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, and other natural disasters
• $5.553 billion for Wildland Fire Management (WFM) ($1.6 billion above FY2019)
• For the first time in over 20 years, funds gun violence research at the CDC and NIH (Firearm injury and mortality prevention research – $25 million)
• Election security grants to help safeguard the 2020 election (Election Security Grants to States – $425 million)
• Robust funding to ensure a fair and accurate 2020 Census ($7.6 billion, $1.4 billion over the President’s request)
• Bolstered funding for lifesaving medical research at the NIH ($41.7 billion, with significant funding for Alzheimer’s Disease and brain research)
• Renewed investments and increased funding for the EPA ($9 billion), Land and Water Conservation Fund ($495 million), and energy efficiency and renewables ($2.8 billion)
• H.R. 965, the CREATES Act of 2019, which combats anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs
• H.R. 2498, the PACT Act, which requires Medicare to reimburse hospitals for the full costs of bone marrow and cord blood transplant services

Additional Democratic priorities included the FY2020 spending package include:

• Increased funding for housing initiatives ($3.4 billion for Community Development Block Grants; $1.35 billion for the HOME Program)
• A 3.1% pay raise for federal civilian employees in the 2020 calendar year

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