WASHINGTON – Thursday the House passed nine out of 12 of the annual Appropriations bills to fund the government that included Rep. Peter Welch’s legislative priorities and funding for nine community projects. The appropriations bills include increased funding for affordable housing, public health infrastructure, education, and green energy projects, among other Welch priorities.

"These Vermont projects are a reflection of what makes our state great and will serve to help our communities recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” Welch said. “From investing in a food-oriented business incubator that could create more than fifty jobs and revitalize Rutland County’s agricultural center, to funding the construction of Vermont’s first mass timber building, which would allow a beloved local museum in St. Johnsbury to make science more accessible to all -- these projects will impact communities across the state. This is a critical first step and I will continue to push for this funding to be included as the bill moves to the Senate and hopefully signed into law.”

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee had given each Member of Congress authority to nominate up to ten community projects for possible inclusion in the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. A full list of Welch’s nine community projects nominated for funding in the FFY2022 Appropriations Bill can be found below. 

Two Welch-authored amendments in the package include:

• Instruction to encourage the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to complete and issue guidance on the labeling of plant-based milk alternatives. Welch has been a leading voice in the House to require the FDA to enforce their existing standards and protect farmers and consumers.
• Increased funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $10 million to $3.9 billion for fiscal year 2022. LIHEAP serves as a vital lifeline to the most vulnerable, low-income households, including older adults, people with disabilities, and families struggling with the high cost of energy bills during the cold winter months and hot summer months.

Welch’s nine community projects for funding in the FY2022 Appropriations Bill: 

 

Project Applicant: Henry Sheldon Museum

Project Name: Henry Sheldon Museum Historic Window Restoration and HVAC Energy Upgrades

Requested Amount: $85,000

 

Project Applicant: Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium

Project Name: Science Annex Mass Timber Addition         

Requested Amount: $2,465,176

 

Project Applicant: City of St. Albans

Project Name: Creating/Retaining Jobs with Redevelopment of Former Fonda/Solo Manufacturing Site

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

 

Project Applicant: Town of Derby

Project Name: Derby Park Project             

Requested Amount: $517,750

 

Project Applicant: Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region  

Project Name: Vermont Farmers Food Center’s (VFFC) Heart of Vermont Agriculture (HoVA) Program          

Requested Amount: $1,688,000  

 

Project Applicant: East Calais Community Trust

Project Name: East Calais General Store        

Requested Amount: $200,000 

 

Project Applicant: Behavioral Health Network of Vermont Inc., dba Vermont Care Network       

Project Name: Montpelier: Wheels and Waves – Opiate Use Disorder Treatment             

Requested Amount: $1,141,162  

 

Project Applicant: Vermont Housing & Conservation Board          

Project Name: Tri-Park Cooperative: Reducing Flood Risk & Increasing Resilience             

Requested Amount: $1,276,213  

 

Project Applicant: Vermont State Colleges – Northern Vermont University – Lyndon

Project Name: NVU – Lyndon Student Persistence and Retention of Low-Income, First Generation, and Disabled Students             

Requested Amount: $253,032

 

Project Applicant: Biathlon - Army National Guard 

Request: $16.4 million 

Recipient: Vermont Army National Guard    

Original source can be found here.