DeLauro Statement on Funding Wins in Labor-HHS-Defense Conference Committee Bill

September 14, 2018
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2018) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement on victories she achieved in the FY2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense Appropriations bill. The bill passed the House and Senate conference committee unanimously yesterday.

"This year's Labor-HHS funding bill includes significant spending increases for programs that are vital to people in Connecticut and across the country. From increased funding for medical research and opioid programs to nutrition assistance and home heating assistance, these programs touch individuals and families throughout their lifespan. Among the many wins, I am particularly proud to have achieved a $10 million increase for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which will assist children recently separated from their parents at the border, as well as kids who were affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. It is vital that we take care of the least among us, and these funding increases will go a long way towards that goal."

Notable Increases in the Conference Agreement

  • Increase of $10 million for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network—for a total of $63 million—to assist children recently separated from their parents as well as continue to serve centers mobilized in response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
  • Increase of $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health
  • A total of $1.5 billion for State Opioid Grants
  • The agreement includes increases for targeted initiatives at CDC and HRSA, with an emphasis on improving health care for pregnant women and newborns:
    • A new $50 million initiative to address maternal mortality
    • A new $10 million initiative to address emerging health threats to mothers and babies (such as Zika virus)
    • A new $2 million investment related to neonatal abstinence syndrome
    • An increase of $2.6 million for CDC's Newborn Screening activities
  • The agreement includes increases in other HHS programs, including:
    • An increase of $50 million for LIHEAP
    • An increase of $10 million for Senior Nutrition programs
    • An increase of $1 million for the Domestic Violence Hotline
    • An increase of $10 million for the Community Services Block Grant
    • An increase of $65 million across a group of emergency preparedness activities, including BARDA, BioShield, Pandemic Flu Preparedness, the Strategic National Stockpile, and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grants
  • The agreement reverses harmful cuts that were included in the House bill; instead, the agreement maintains funding levels for:
    • Title X Family Planning
    • Teen Pregnancy Prevention
    • CMS Program Management
    • Community Health Centers
    • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Fund (created in FY2018)
    • The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
    • Level-funding for International Labor Affairs (ILAB)
  • Increase of up to $275 million for the Social Security Administration's annual operating budget
  • Increases for early childhood education, including:
    • $200 million increase for Head Start, including an increase of $50 million for Early Head Start
    • $50 million increase in the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which builds on the historic increase from the FY 2018 bill
  • Increases for several education priorities:
    • $100 million for Title I Education for the Disadvantaged
    • $87 million for Special Education State Grants
    • $10 million for Afterschool programs
    • $70 million for Career and Technical Education programs
    • $15 million for Registered Apprenticeships (through the Department of Labor)
    • $60 million total for TRIO and GEAR UP
    • Maximum Pell Grant increase from $6,095 to $6,195

Riders

  • The agreement includes no harmful riders, and dropped those in regards to:
    • Anti-ACA riders
    • Anti-women's health riders
    • Monsanto rider
    • NLRB riders
    • Flores settlement rider
    • Discrimination in child welfare services rider

DeLauro serves as Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.