WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) today voted in favor of H.R. 2471, the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This funding bill includes money allocated specifically for community projects Rep. Meijer sponsored that will benefit Michigan’s Third District. It also provides a much-needed investment in the Department of Defense and robust support for Ukraine. He released the following statement:
“Today’s omnibus agreement supports critical investments in important West Michigan priorities and provides strong support for the Defense Department as well as the people of Ukraine. This bill also guarantees funding to secure our border, support the Great Lakes, and bolster medical research at the National Institutes of Health. Republicans were also able to secure the longstanding pro-life Hyde Amendment and ensure that partisan poison pills were kept out of this bill. During a time when Congress is incredibly fractured, the robust bipartisan support for this bill is encouraging, and I am proud to have supported its passage.
“It remains deeply frustrating that our legislative process is so broken that we also had to pass yet another Continuing Resolution today. Congress once again failed to do the work of the American people on time, and I continue to have strong objections to this ongoing dysfunction. Nevertheless, I am hopeful the Senate does its part of the job swiftly and sends this omnibus to the President’s desk in short order.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes the following Meijer-sponsored community funded projects:
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- The Advanced Manufacturing program at the Kent Career Tech Center; Kent Intermediate School District to receive $900,000
- The applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI) at Grand Valley State University’s Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing; Grand Valley State University to receive $1,000,000
- The Student Resiliency Center/Behavioral Health Family Treatment Center at Starr Commonwealth; recipient Starr Commonwealth to receive $850,000
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- The Calhoun County Safe Schools Initiative; Calhoun County Sherriff’s Department to receive $1,700,000
- The Cure Violence Grand Rapids initiative; City of Grand Rapids to receive $600,000
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security
- The Gerald R. Ford Airport Emergency Operations Center; Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority to receive $1,000,000
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- The Eastpointe Commons Redeveloping Fulton Manor project; Hope Network to receive $3,000,000
- The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Concourse A Expansion and Widening Phase 1, Gate A3 Expansion project; Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority to receive $1,294,000
- The Rapid Zero Emission Bus Project; Interurban Transit Partnership (The Rapid) to receive $2,355,200
- $782 billion in defense funding, a $42 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2021
- Nearly $9 billion for the National Science Foundation to support cutting edge research
- $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $300 million for allies and partners in the region, including $180 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, $30 million for Poland, $30 million for Romania, $20 million for Bulgaria, and $40 million for Georgia
- Two longstanding pro-life riders: the Hyde Amendment and the Kemp-Kasten Amendment
- $166.8 billion for active, reserve, and National Guard military personnel; provides full funding necessary to support the proposed 2.7 percent military pay raise
- Increases funding for ICE by $400 million, includes funds to continue the “Remain in Mexico” program and provides funding for hiring additional Border Patrol personnel
- $348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
“We are incredibly grateful to Representative Meijer for his support to further expand and develop the Airport to increase our economic impact in West Michigan. The Community Project Fund will help to build a new regional Emergency Operations Center and support the expansion and widening of Concourse A, creating more than 150 construction jobs and providing an advanced facility for our emergency response teams to operate from for decades to come. This partnership allows us to better serve the community and provide an exceptional experience to those traveling to West Michigan.” – Tory Richardson, President and CEO, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
“The launch of a new, county-wide Student Resilience & Empowerment Center (The REC) will be a flagship for our work here at home, bringing together our schools, community health organizations like the YMCA and Summit Pointe, as well as our local, state and federal funding partners. My heart is full with the potential this new Center and programming will bring to Calhoun County children and families. We at Starr, along with all those who will be impacted, are grateful to Representative Peter Meijer for his advocacy of this important and courageous work.” – Elizabeth Carey, President and CEO, Starr Commonwealth
“We’re grateful for the partnership and leadership from Congressman Meijer. The appropriation will help us expand Career and Technical Education programming to meet the increasing demand in our community.” – Ron Koehler, Superintendent, Kent Intermediate School District
“Hope Network is honored to be part of the solution to Grand Rapid’s shortage of affordable housing. Through redevelopment of the former Holland Home on Fulton in a new space known as Eastpointe Commons, Hope Network will bring 118 units of affordable housing to Eastown and Fulton Heights. This brings much needed housing to the heart of Grand Rapids and addresses a major social determinant of health through housing with dignity.” – Tim Becker, COO, Hope Network
“The Calhoun County Safe Schools Initiative of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department is an extremely impactful project that will assist our community in providing a safe and secure learning environment for staff and students. With the increase in violence particularly around school shootings and the trauma that is associated both directly and indirectly with the event, this innovative project will aid in identifying threats, increased response time and ultimately the reduction in violence. The Battle Creek Community Foundation has worked with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies on addressing violence in our community as our mission is to assist people and organizations in investing in our community and its residents to make a positive difference therefore creating a vibrant, healthy, and viable community. We fully support this project and happy to participate as a partner in it.” – Annette Chapman, Senior Vice President, Battle Creek Community Foundation, and Steven Hinkley, Calhoun County Sherriff
“As The Rapid continues to work toward a zero-emission future, targeted investments in our fleet will be critical. This funding represents one of those investments, and we’re proud to work with Congressman Meijer to improve mobility and sustainability outcomes for the community.” – Deborah Prato, CEO, Interurban Transit Partnership (The Rapid)
“With Congressman Meijer’s leadership, AMDI will serve as a model of innovation that expands our reach into new ventures. This reflects Grand Valley’s historic role in forming public private partnerships that serve as economic catalysts for west Michigan. Congressman Meijer has been forward-thinking in promoting education and economic development.” – Philomena Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University
“I appreciate Congressman Meijer being engaged and helping Grand Rapids address the challenges of violence by securing funding for the community engaged Cure Violence Program. The Congressman has spent a considerable amount of time in our community and understands the importance of working with community members and law enforcement representatives when developing violence prevention programs.” – Mark Washington, City Manager, City of Grand Rapids
Original source can be found here.
