DeLauro Statement on House Passage of the Labor-HHS-Defense Bill

September 27, 2018
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC (September 26, 2018) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement on the House passage the FY2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense Appropriations bill, which included many key victories for families in Connecticut.

"With a $1 billion increase over last year's funding bill, this year's bill makes important investments in health, education, and families. From increased funding for medical research and opioid programs to nutrition assistance and home heating assistance, these programs touch individuals and families throughout their lives. No less important is the hundreds of millions of dollars in increased funding for child care programs and early education programs like Head Start and Early Head Start—so our youngsters start their lives off on the right path."

"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. More than that, this bill maintains the bipartisan amendments that House Democrats introduced to condemn the Administration's policy of separating families, to demand a reunification plan, and to ensure that HHS upholds the highest standards of care for children in custody."

"On the whole, this bipartisan and bicameral bill is a positive result that will help provide the American people a better chance at a better life. I am proud to support it and look forward to the President signing it into law."

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)
    • 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
  • Increases for several defense initiatives:
    • UH-60M —$156 million and 8 aircraft (specifically designated for the National Guard) for a total of 58 aircraft
    • Combat Rescue Helicopter -- $660 million for 10 aircraft
    • CH-53K — $1 billion and 8 aircraft
    • VH-92 — $649M and 6 aircraft
    • FVL RDT&E – $20 million in Aviation Advanced Technology for Capabilities Set 3 and an increase of $75.4 million in Aviation Advanced Development for Capabilities Set 1
    • MH-60R/S – $20 million in Navy RDT&E for Service Life Assessment Program

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.