Michigan Senators Peters, Stabenow Release Statements Following Passing of Federal Budget Bill

Michigan Senators Gary Peters, D-Michigan, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, have released statements following the passing of a federal budget bill for fiscal year 2022.

“This government funding bill will make critical investments across our state to improve lives,” said Senator Peters. “In addition to including resources for dozens of high-impact public local projects in Michigan, the legislation will help restore the Great Lakes, invest in workforce training programs, bolster local manufacturing and expand Michigan’s defense footprint. This bill also provides humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine as we continue to support the people of Ukraine and stand up to Putin’s illegal and appalling invasion.”

“This budget will continue to fuel Michigan’s economic recovery and help communities in every region of our state. From protecting our Great Lakes and water, to providing critical mental health and addiction services, to lowering costs for families, to addressing the workforce needs of our employers, this bill makes significant investments in our future,” stated Senator Stabenow.

Some of the provisions in the legislation include:

• Great Lakes: $348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to invest in the Great Lakes’ health, ecosystem and water quality. Additionally, $4.94 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, which is an essential chokepoint for keeping Asian carp from reaching the lakes.
• Support for Ukraine: $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake if Russia’s attack on Ukraine, including humanitarian, security and economic assistance for Ukraine and additional support for U.S. servicemembers and personnel deployed in neighboring countries.
• Manufacturing: $158 million for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers across the U.S. to ensure continued competitiveness. Officials say MEP Centers offer resources that enable manufacturers to compete globally, support greater supply chain integration and provide access to information, training and technologies that improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.
• Workforce Training and Development: $2.9 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State grants, along with $235 million for Registered Apprenticeships.
• PFAS Cleanup: $453.7 million for military-related PFAS cleanup, including at former bases.
• Military Construction Projects: $94 million in funding for three Michigan projects. These include: $23 million for Alpena Aircraft and Maintenance Facility, $12 million to Enhance Southfield Army Reserve Facility and $59 million to Enhance Battle Creek Facilities.
• Cybersecurity: Includes a provision based on Senator Peter’s Cyber Incident Reporting Act. Requires critical infrastructure owners and operators to report to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) if they experience a cyberattack or make a ransomware payment. $2.6 billion is also included for CISA, as well as additional funding for federal agencies to improve cybersecurity.
• Funding for Protecting Houses of Worship: $250 million in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to support the needs to houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations that look to secure their facilities against potential terrorist attacks.
• Telehealth Flexibility: Several provisions similar to the CONNECT for Health Act. Allows for telehealth services to continue to be provided to Medicare beneficiaries in the home and in all areas of the country for 151 days after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Expands practitioners eligible to provide telehealth services under Medicare. Allows qualified health centers and rural health clinics to continue to be reimbursed for telehealth services as distant site providers. Allows for audio-only telehealth to continue for Medicare for 151 days after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Opioid Treatment: $6.5 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to help end the opioid crisis, including funding for states and tribes, medication-assisted treatment, research and expanding the behavioral health provider workforce.
• Secure Travel and Trade Across Northern Border: $87 million for non-intrusive inspection systems, which have enabled Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to ensure safe and secure travel and trade across Michigan’s borders. Additionally, this includes a provision that would require CBP to provide a detailed plan for the completion of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza expansion project.
• PAWS Act: $3 million for the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, of which Senator Peters got enacted into law in 2018. PAWS grants are used to provide emergency and transitional shelter options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals, helping to empower victims of domestic violence to escape their abuse.
• Addressing Violence Against Women: Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act. Contains $575 million for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women.
• Pay Raise for Troops: 2.7% pay raise for all 2.1 million U.S. service members and approximately 750,000 civilian Defense Department employees.
• PROSWIFT Act: $5 million to fund a Commercial Space Weather Data Pilot program authorized by Senator Peters’ PROSWIFT Act, which will strengthen the U.S.’ ability to predict severe space weather events and mitigate harmful impacts on Earth.
• Federal Government Oversight: Increased funding for Inspectors General across the federal government, whose offices are essential to Congress’ efforts to safeguard taxpayer dollars and uncover fraud, waste and abuse in Federal Government.
• Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services: $315 million in additional funding for Senator Debbie Stabenow’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. 33 locations are being funded in the state.
• Lowering Cost of College: Increases the Pell Grant from $400 to $6,895, the largest increase in the maximum award in more than a decade.

Local northern Michigan projects were included in the bill:

• Alpena Community College will receive $1.1 million to create lab spaces and related career and technical education (CTE) instructional programs for Aerospace Technology, Nursing and related healthcare programs, Advanced Manufacturing and IT technicians to support greater broadband access in northern Michigan.
• Northern Michigan University will receive $1.2 million in funds for a project to provide rural communities in the U.P. and northern Michigan with fast and reliable broadband internet access.
• City of Midland will receive $750,000 to go towards Sanitary Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation to improve the sewer system’s resiliency to rain and flooding events.
• Tuscarora Township in Cheboygan County will receive $3.5 million to go towards providing a sanitary sewer system for 712 homes within an environmentally sensitive area.
• Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will receive $750,000 to go towards initial development of a sewer/water facility to support needed housing to serve low and moderate income tribal families.
• Midland County will receive $400,000 to go towards improving data collection to assess rainfall and water levels in the Tittabawassee River Watershed.
• Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority will receive $1.8 million to improve access to quality behavioral crisis services in northern Michigan.
• Central Michigan University will receive $960,000 to improve telehealth delivery of behavioral healthcare by tele-psychiatry providers.
• Midland Center for the Arts will receive $500,000 to support the Midland Center of the Arts Revitalization Project to help Midland and its economy rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic and May 2020 dam failure. Increase access for K-12 students and creates engaging experiences for tourists and visitors.
• Central Michigan University will receive $135,000 to digitize about 250,000 pages of historic Michigan newspapers and make them available online.

For a full list of funded local projects, click here.