Press Release

ARCURI SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO BOOST AID FOR STUDENTS, VETERANS, AND WORKING FAMILIES

Washington, DC -- U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) today voted for legislation providing increased funding for veterans’ health care, Pell Grants, community police, and other crucial programs.  The legislation (H.J.Res.20), a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2006, is expected to be approved by the Senate in the coming weeks.

“The last Congress left us with a lot of unfinished business and it was important that we move forward to get our fiscal house in order and our priorities straight,” Arcuri said.

Today’s action by the House marks passage of the fourth continuing resolution considered by Congress since October 1, 2006. 

“Many of these projects are critical to residents of the 24th congressional district – the first Pell Grant funding increase in four years, veterans’ health benefits during this time of conflict, substantial investment in elementary education, and the COPS program to make our community safer,” Arcuri said.  “I am pleased to support increased assistance for these valuable programs while staying within our budget.”

In addition, H.J.Res.20 is clean of any Congressional earmarks and suspends pay raises for members of Congress until legislation raising the federal minimum wage is signed into law. 

“I made a commitment last year not to accept a pay raise until the American people got one and I’m standing by that promise,” Arcuri said. 

H.J.Res.20 will fund most federal programs at Fiscal Year 2006 levels, while others will be increased to meet critical national needs.

Highlights of H.J.Res.20 include:

• Increased funding for Pell Grants to $13.6 billion, an increase of $615.4 million to increase the maximum Pell grant by $260 to $4,310. This increase – the first in 4 years – will help over 5.3 million students pay rising college expenses

• Increased funding for The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by approximately $50 million above the 2007 House bill

• Increased funding for veterans’ health care by $3.6 billion above the fiscal 2006 level

• An additional 31,359 intelligence positions at the FBI, including 12,213 agents, and 2,577 intelligence analysts - doubling the number of intelligence analysts since 9/11 at the FBI

• Funding for 6,7000 schools that failed to meet the standards set by No Child Left Behind and increase funding for Head Start

• The construction of 300 new or expanded health centers that will serve 1.2 million new patients

• $3.8 billion for the Department of Energy, Office of Science, an increase of $200 million, to support research including new energy technologies such as improved conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuels

• $1.5 billion for the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources, an increase of $300 million to accelerate research and development activities for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs

• The Federal-aid highway program to be fully funded at the level guaranteed in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

• $542 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), an increase of $70 million

• $ 1 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, an increase of $197.1 million, to fund additional water and wastewater infrastructure projects in every state

###