Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) helped pass a package of bills funding several government departments and agencies, many of which directly impact Hudson Valley farmers, veterans, workers, and families.
“I’m fighting for Hudson Valley priorities: supporting our farmers, keeping our promises to our veterans, and fixing our roads and crumbling infrastructure,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “I’m proud to support these investments, along with important protections for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the natural gifts we all enjoy here in the Hudson Valley.”
This package of bills, the second “minibus” package to pass in two weeks, will:
Support Hudson Valley Farmers and New York’s Rural Economy
- Increases funding for farm, conservation, organics, and beginning farmer loan and credit programs
- Provides $3.3 billion in funding to support agricultural research, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to help mitigate and stop devastating crop diseases, improve food safety and water quality, increase production and combat microbial resistance
- Includes Rep. Maloney’s amendment to provide an extra $5 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program to advance agricultural innovations that improve profitability and stewardship
- Includes funding for the new Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach (FOTO), which Rep. Maloney championed in the 2018 Farm Bill, designed to coordinate USDA training and outreach to beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers
- Includes funding for the new Local Agriculture Market Program, which Rep. Maloney fought for in the Farm Bill, to continue to support the small and mid-size farmers who bring their products to market and increase consumer education and access to local, healthy fruits and vegetables
- Supports child nutrition initiatives for low-income families and individuals, such as SNAP and WIC
- Strengthens food safety inspection programs and funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Keep our Promises to our Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families
- Funds mental health services for veterans, gender-specific care services for women
- Strengthens homelessness assistance programs, provides urgently-needed funds for military construction and military family housing
- Takes action to reduce the disability claims backlog for our veterans
- Addresses opioid abuse recovery and prevention for servicemembers and veterans
- Dedicates funds to suicide prevention outreach, rural VA clinics, and other VA programs
- Provides over $2 billion in federal funds to New York for repairs to roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports and public transit
- Includes $50 million for grants to improve safety at highway grade-crossings as well as Rep. Maloney’s amendment to include $1 million for research of new safety technologies at grade-crossings
- Ensures New Yorkers have access to safe and clean water by providing $3.08 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
- Invests in Community Development Block Grants and other individual community/federal program partnerships that give resources to address unique community needs, like affordable housing for seniors, veterans, people living with disabilities, and low-income families
Protect American Lands and Cultural Experiences
- Increases funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and Land and Water Conservation Fund
- Safeguards National Parks and public lands in New York
- Blocks the Trump Administration from eliminating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts
In last week’s first “minibus” appropriations package, Rep. Maloney voted to protect Hudson Valley air and water, strengthen access to rural health care and opioid abuse and treatment services, and expand K-12 and higher education opportunities for students across America.