WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass a package of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding bills for some government agencies, which includes provisions championed by the Congressman. 

“Our country’s budget should reflect our values as a nation. In this bill, I see critical investments that we need to make in our veterans, our democracy, and in local projects that affect New Jersey families every single day,” said Congressman Kim. “From creating good-paying jobs, to protecting veterans’ mental health programs, to supporting projects in Burlington and Ocean Counties that will improve roads, bridges, and housing, update water systems in Willingboro and Moorestown, strengthen Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, support Edgewater Park police and municipal services, and upgrade the Westampton VFW – these investments will have tangible impacts in our community. I will continue working with Republicans and Democrats to fund these local and bipartisan priorities, and look forward to upholding Congress’ duty to fund our government.”

This FY2023 partial government funding package includes the following provisions secured by Congressman Kim: 

Creating New Jobs and Lowering Costs for New Jersey

• Creating thousands of new, good-paying jobs rebuilding roads, bridges, rail, ports, and airports including:
  • $61.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to rebuild and improve the safety and long-term viability of our nation’s highway systems.
  • $4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments to provide clean, affordable, and secure energy. This will bolster American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy, and create jobs within that economy.

• Lowering costs by investing in America:
  • $185 million to support expanding affordable housing options, lowering the cost of living for families across the country.
  • $560 million for the expansion of broadband, providing better internet for less money.
  • $350 million to increase the resiliency and efficiency of the nation’s electricity delivery system, saving Americans money on their electric bill, while also incorporating clean, renewable, affordable, new energy technologies.

Putting our Veterans and Military Families First

• $13.9 billion for veteran mental health services– an increase of $743.8 million above the FY2022 level– including $498 million for suicide prevention outreach. Congressman Kim led a bipartisan letter signed by 106 Members of Congress to secure this increased funding.
  • Congressman Kim recently held a roundtable to discuss mental health and suicide prevention with veterans and servicemembers at Backwards Flag, a local, veteran-owned brewery in Forked River.
• $118.8 billion for VA medical care – an increase of $21.8 billion above the current enacted level and $66 million above the President’s budget request – this will provide care for 7.3 million patients expected to be treated by VA in FY 2023. Within this total:
  • $2.7 billion for homelessness assistance initiatives, an increase of $531 million above the FY 2022 level and equal to the President’s request.
  • $911.1 million for gender-specific care services for women – $70.7 million above the current enacted level and $10 million more than the budget request.
  • $662.8 million for opioid abuse recovery and prevention, an increase of $41.5 million above the FY 2022 level and equal to the request.
  • $85.9 million for Whole Health Initiatives – an increase of $2.3 million above the current enacted level and $10 million above the President’s request.  
• $3.9 billion for operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), an increase of $409 million above the current enacted level, to ensure the prompt processing of disability claims
• $274.4 million for child development center projects – $49.7 million above the current enacted level and $186 million above the President’s budget request –  to support increased child care capacity and better facilities for the 1.2 million children of active duty servicemembers worldwide. Child care is consistently identified as a top priority by Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL).

Community Project Funding Requested by Congressman Kim

• $7 million to construct an overpass on County Route 539. The overpass is needed for the safety of civilian travelers on the roadway and to provide an efficient passage route for heavy military equipment vehicles traveling from the McGuire/Dix side of the base to Lakehurst Naval on JBMDL.
• $3.45 million to provide needed upgrades to a Willingboro water treatment plant to remove PFAS/PFOA from the Well 5A raw water. The PFAS concentration of the groundwater pumped from Well 5A currently exceeds NJDEP requirements and has become a vital public health concern for the community. 
• $4.4 million to construct a new Edgewater Park Township Public Safety building to house the police department, emergency medical services, municipal court, and municipal court offices. The Edgewater Park Township Police Department is currently located in the basement of the existing municipal building, which is not ADA-compliant and is not up-to-code to current law enforcement standards. 
• $3 million  to construct a non-congregate homeless shelter in Burlington County. The intended project will directly benefit county residents who fall below the poverty line and provide a better alternative than emergency housing in unsupervised area motels/hotels.
• $2.24 million to install a new water main in Moorestown and ensure any other existing service line that provides drinking water to a residential or commercial user that contains lead be replaced.
• $20,000 to repair and paint the exterior of a municipal-owned building in Westampton housing American Legion Post 509. Repairs also include upgrades to the concrete porch and needed repairs to the interior of the building. 

Serving New Jersey Families 

• Language based on Congressman Kim's Security After Sandy Act providing authority to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to permanently waive the requirement for New Jersey homeowners to pay back federal disaster relief they received after Superstorm Sandy (known as "clawbacks"). Earlier this year, the New Jersey delegation secured a two-year reprieve in those recoupment efforts for debt owed to the federal government.
• $111.18 billion for SNAP. Including $3 billion for the SNAP reserve fund, which will serve more than 43.5 million Americans. 
• $6 billion for WIC to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package. In FY2023, WIC will serve an estimated 6.2 million women, infants, and children.
• $28.6 billion in funding for child nutrition programs – an increase of $1.7 billion above FY2022 levels. As children return to the classroom, this funding will support more than 5.6 million school lunches and snacks. 
  • The bill also provides $50 million for the Summer EBT program, a successful pilot program that should be expanded nationwide.  Summer EBT complements the Summer Food Service Program, which Congressman Kim has proposed to expand and improve through his Summer Meals REACH Act.

Protecting Our Democracy and Making Government Work

• $400 million for election security grants to states to improve security of the upcoming federal elections. 
• $310 million for Business Systems and Modernization for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help clear refund backlogs and allow the agency to invest in better customer service.
• $3 million to maintain the Truman Foundation and enable this independent Federal agency to continue encouraging young people to pursue careers in public service.

Each fiscal year, which runs from October through September, Congress must pass legislation to fund the federal government and all of the vital programs it administers. The bill (H.R. 8294) that passed on Wednesday will fund the following areas of the federal government: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Separate bills will be passed later this year to provide funding for other areas of the government, including: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Homeland Security; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Community Project Funding requests submitted by Congressman Kim that fall under these areas are still being considered for inclusion in the forthcoming legislation. You can learn more about the Community Project Funding requests Congressman Kim submitted on his website by clicking here.

Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

Original source found here.